Decisions, decisions, decisions! Getting married is all about deciding -- and learning to compromise -- on just about everything from china and crystal to sheets, towels and curtains. Reaching consensus is important in a marriage, but when it comes to getting a good night's sleep, compromising on comfort is overrated, if not cruel and unusual punishment. Trying to find "middle ground" in terms of mattress size and firmness may leave both individuals tossing and turning.

The Better Sleep Council reports that one in four couples feels that they would sleep better if their partners were not sharing their bed. And in a survey conducted in February 2002 by Select Comfort, a bedding manufacturer and retailer, one in three respondents reported that their sleep partner prefers a firmer mattress than they do.

"Whether couples are newly married or are celebrating their 30th anniversary, they need sleep. Sleeping partners usually have very different requirements for rest and don't often realize that their bed might be preventing them from getting a good night's sleep," says women's health researcher Joan Shaver, Ph.D., R.N., professor and dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "The mattress may be too firm for one person, or too soft for another. Even the wrong pillow can make for a long night."

The Key to a Better Night's Sleep

There are several ways couples can get a better night's sleep, including a mattress that offers adjustable firmness on each side of the bed like The Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort. Unlike traditional innerspring mattresses, the firmness of a Sleep Number bed can be personally adjusted for comfort. A Sleep Number is a number between zero and 100 that represents each person's ideal combination of mattress comfort, firmness and support on a Sleep Number Bed. Dual-adjustable air chambers allow each individual to find their Sleep Number and choose the ideal firmness of their side of the mattress, without affecting their partner's choice.

In a study conducted at the Stanford University Medical Sleep Disorders Center, researchers found that 87 percent of those who slept on a Sleep Number bed experienced a greater percentage of REM sleep. The bed also is the only one clinically proven to relieve back pain and improve quality of sleep.

Accessories for the Odd Couple

Because a good mattress is only one element of creating an ideal sleep environment, Select Comfort offers a variety of accessories that recognize that no two people are alike, including the new "Odd Couple" accessory value pack.

If she is wearing socks to bed while he is tossing the covers on the floor to stay cool, a dual-weight comforter may be the solution. The dual-weight comforter offers a lightweight side for less warmth and a heavyweight side for more warmth. The package also contains two pillows of the couple's choice.

The "Odd Couple" accessory pack and other Select Comfort products are sold through its 328 retail stores located nationwide; through its national direct marketing operations; and on the Internet at www.selectcomfort.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content