Buying a bed is probably one of the most important furniture decisions that you will make, as about one third of your life is spent on it.

A normal mattress can last anywhere from five years to over a decade, depending on the quality and frequency of usage. However, if you start waking up feeling stiff or sore after using a mattress for just a few years, consider changing it.

But if you are using a waterbed, it may be longer lasting. 'A waterbed can last beyond 15 years. In fact some of our customers have been using their beds for over 20 years,' said Mr Michael Daryanani, spokesman for Fantasy Waterbeds.

Taking care of your mattress is also important, as it can prolong its lifespan by several years.

Ms Eileen Yeo from the Mattress Centre advised 'rotating and flipping the mattress every four to six months as this increases its durability and comfort', as well as gives it that 'new mattress feel' .

She also suggested using mattress pads to 'keep the mattress dry and clean'.

Mr Naveed Lee, managing partner of the online retail website www.beds.sg, said that the selection of the bedframe is important too.

'Make sure that the base supporting the mattress is flat. Bedframes that use strips of metal or wood are very harmful to the mattress,' he said.

However, any care that you lavish on your mattress will be to no avail if you do not pick a suitable one to start with. Here are the different types to choose from:

Innerspring: This is the traditional type of mattress, with coils embedded in it.

Pocketed coil innerspring: Similar to innerspring, but each coil works independently. This is good for people who are easily awakened by their partner's movements.

Latex: This is impression resistant, hypoallergenic, and bacteria and mildew resistant.

Memory foam: This takes longer to go back to its original shape than normal foam after being pressed and released. It also reacts to body heat by getting softer.

Bio-ceramic: The fabric in this bed is woven with ceramics and mineral oxides and emits warmth.

Do not assume that the longer the warranty, the better the mattress. Most manufacturers give long warranties. But if it's a 20-year one, for instance, you probably would have changed your mattress by then.

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This story was first published in the Mind Your Body supplement on Apr 9, 2008.