Everything you need to know before buying a mattress for the first time, from someone who tests mattresses for a living

In the top left hand corner, mattress testers Ruth Jones and Frances Daniels unbox a Siena Memory Foam Mattress, still rolled in its packaging. Top right, Ruth and Nicola Appleton sit on the Saatva Classic mattress, Ruth using her laptop to research. Bottom right. Ruth sits on the Nectar Premier mattress while Lauren Jeffries lies next to her. Bottom left, Ruth and Nicola stand either side of a stack of mattresses on a bedframe.

Buying a mattress is a hassle and if it's the first time you've had the pleasure you might find yourself wondering just when beds got so complicated.

First, the bad news. Mattress shopping is overwhelming. Now, the good news: I've spent the past three years testing beds to find the best mattresses for all sleep styles and I'm here to help.