It's said you spend a third of your life in your bed -- so maybe it's time to treat the bed like the rest of your furnishings, and upgrade to cozy comforters, decorative linens and the best mattress money can buy.

Problem is, money can buy a lot of the best, from Egyptian cotton sheets to $24,000 memory foam, gold-thread mattress.

When it comes to outfitting the bedroom, a little knowledge goes a long way, and also helps you to figure out whether you're a down comforter / flannel sheet / pillow top kinda guy, or a girl who lives for luxury thread count, shams of every size and both a duvet and coverlet.

First up: The mattress

Sleep on it
Perhaps the most important, and certainly the most expensive decision you will make will be the type and size of mattress for your bed. For once in your life, this is a decision to be made lying down. For at least 15 minutes, on any of the mattresses you are considering.

Memory foam -- Made famous by NASA astronauts to help absorb G-forces in space, memory foam, or visoelastic, mattresses are all the buzz. Foam mattresses are known for conforming to your body and not bouncing or moving when one person turns over. All memory foam, however, is not visoelastic, which is the most expensive and most durable of the foam mattresses on the market today. Tempur-Pedic is the best known of the visoelastic brands, and has a foam density of 5.3 pounds. Less expensive and less durable foam mattresses have foam densities of 2 -3 pounds. Those more affordable alternative foam materials are polyurethane, and latex, which is an excellent choice for allergy sufferers.

Air chamber -- Instead of springs, air chamber mattresses like Select Comfort use air chambers to adjust the firmness of the mattress. For couples, this technology is a great option, as each sleeper can adjust the firmness of the bed to their liking. A divider in the middle means the firm mattress lover won t roll onto the soft mattress lover's side -- how that works with for intimacy, we know not!

Inner spring -- That old stand-by, theinner spring mattress, is still the most popular kind of mattress. And while model names and the look vary widely, they're all constructed in the same basic way. What sets one inner spring apart from another includes the number of coils, coil strength, the cover fabric, mattress height, and pillow top.
Springs come in three shapes -- hourglass, pocket spring and continuous coil; there are pros and cons to all, depending on your personal preferences.

Box spring -- Note that mattress pricing doesn't always include the price for that all-important lower layer of the bed, the box spring. Most experts advise buying the mattress and the box spring as a set, as using an old box spring will affect the longevity of your new mattress.

Mattress pad -- Mattress pads range from plain cotton, to down-filled to memory foam, and can help preserve your purchase for years to come. Again, personal preference will drive what pad best suits you; but a pillow top, for example, doesn't need anything but a simple cotton cover, but a memory foam pad might be a good investment if you re crying out for comfort but can t afford a new mattress.

Oh, sheet!
Choosing sheets is a lot harder than it seems on the surface, as one must consider not only the color, but things like thread count, fibers, and fit.

Thread count -- Its is simple as math when it comes to thread count; the higher the count, the softer, and usually more expensive, sheet. The count relates to the number of threads per square inch and determines the quality of the sheet. Sheets in the 300-plus range are more durable, and the fabric gets softer over time; they are also less likely to shrink. Sheets in the 80-to-120 range are less expensive and not as soft; lower-quality sheets are also more likely to wear through, so you will replace them more often.

Fabric -- Yes, satin sheets are still available -- but most folks prefer cotton. Muslin, combed, Egyptian, percale -- those are all types of cotton, and each has its own benefits. Pima and supima are used in higher-count sheets, as is Egyptian; muslin is more often found in character sheets you buy for kids, and flannel is warm and toasty for winter months, although are also surprisingly comfortable on warm nights. Go figure.

Synthetic fibers -- Polyester and names such as Modal and Lyocell are strong and durable, but not necessarily breathable. Their big selling point: They wash and dry easily. No ironing those pillow cases.

Fit -- You'll need deep pockets -- if you've got a pillow top or tall mattress. And the better sheets have elastic all the way around the fitted sheet, which helps prevent the bottom sheet popping off the corners.

Cover up
Grandma had the right idea with those quilts -- just pull the sheets and quilt straight, and throw the pillows on top -- and the bed is made. These days, however, dressing the bed is almost as complicated as dressing you.

Duvet -- In Europe, where the duvet originated (France) a duvet is what Americans think of as a down comforter, which many Europeans use in place of a top sheet and blanket. A duvet cover is the fabric covering the duvet is placed in think a bed-sized pocket filled with a down comforter. In America, a duvet is often used as a folded throw across the foot of the bed, mostly for decorative purposes.

Comforter -- A comforter is a covering for the bed, most often used as the top blanket. Comforters are sometimes covered with a duvet cover to protect them, and can be filled with down or synthetic materials for warmth.

Coverlet -- A decorative bedspread; usually just covering the top mattress.

Bed skirt -- Something men think is completely unnecessary. Just kidding. A bed skirt is just what it sounds like -- a skirt for the bed which covers the box spring.

Pillow talk
There are two kinds of bed pillows: The kind you lay your head on, and the kind you use for decoration.

First, the functional, lay-your-head-down-pillow it comes in three sizes: standard, queen and king. Be sure to buy the corresponding pillow cases, as there s nothing worse than an ill-fitting pillow and case combination.

Comfort is obviously key for pillows, which come in down, down and foam combinations, foam, and synthetic down. Consider sleeping positions as well as materials when choosing pillows. And think about buying pillow covers, which will help prolong the life of your pillows and keep them clean.

Decorative pillows, on the other hand, need not be comfortable -- they're all about good looks. Generally, there are standard pillows those in standard sizes but usually more plump than a sleeping pillow, perfect for leaving in a decorative sham to match your linens. Euro pillows are square pillows, usually 26-inches, and are also covered in a Euro sham for that finishing touch on your bed.


More on Home & Garden

See what's new on AOL Shopping!