When the lights go out, and the sand man is calling, taking the road to dream-land requires a few essentials for the trip.

“One part of sleeping better is a mattress,” said Patrick Graham, owner of Relax the Back in Colorado Springs. “We say it’s part of your sleep environment.”

Graham describes the sleep environment as one with the proper lighting, comfortable temperature and the right mattress. “Does it make me relax? Does it make me want to go to sleep?” Graham suggests are questions to consider.

Sleepers have a long list of options as far as what kind of mattress to buy. Newer technologies claim their designed to provide deeper sleep, including memory foam and air systems that can be customized to provide a specific feel. The most important part is striking the right balance between comfort and support, which can be found in more traditional models, and boils down to preference. For example, a queen-sized Tempur-Pedic Classic Bed sells for as much as $1,550 through some retailers. A king-sized Steamboat Firm Mattress set with box-springs boasts a 4.5 star customer rating on FurnitureRow.com and is currently listed for $499.

"What we're looking for is something that makes you toss and turn less so you have a more restorative sleep," Graham said.

The decision to make a switch, or ditch a mattress can be considered if mornings bring more than sunshine. Physical therapist Krista Bohlen’s patients turn to her for advice on how to shake the symptoms that can go along with the wrong sleeping surface.

"You're going to move slow, you're going to be stiff and painful, it's going to slow your day from the start," Bohlen said. Her solutions involve finding better sleeping positions and, in some instances, taking a trip to find a better bed.

"If you wake up feeling good with no pain, you're obviously going to do better during those daily functions," said Bohlen.

The choice ultimately is up to the customer, but experts say a good night’s sleep means getting up feeling better than going down, and the mattress certainly matters.

For more information, 11 News has posted a blog with a shopping strategy geared toward finding the right mattress.