This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Sleep Number.

Shopping for a new mattress sounds simple until you start looking. Memory foam or hybrid? Soft or firm? Cooling covers, pressure-relief zones, motion isolation, sleep tracking — suddenly, you’re comparing features that barely existed the last time you bought a bed. Even the most expensive option could be a poor match.

So the more intuitive approach is to find out how you actually sleep. The right mattress should provide comfortable support for your sleeping position, suit your body type, and accommodate practical needs such as temperature and sharing a bed. Here’s how to narrow down the options without getting lost in the marketing.

Start with your sleeping position

Your preferred sleeping position offers one of the best clues to what kind of support you need. Side sleepers put more pressure on their shoulders and hips, so some cushioning can help those areas settle comfortably into the mattress.…