Hit snooze: How to get a good night's rest when your partner keeps you awake

Stock art

Tossing, turning, snoring, thrashing, blanket yanking -- it's amazing anybody who shares a bed ever gets any sleep. If your loved one is keeping you up, you're definitely not alone. According to a recent survey, 37 percent of cohabitants have considered sleeping in a separate room from their partners to get a better night's sleep -- 40 percent of women and 35 percent of men.

"Sleep is very personal because everybody likes something different," says Chris Hutson, manager at Hutson's Fine Furniture in Cape Girardeau.

Getting some shut eye means creating a space that's conducive for sleep, and that usually means a great mattress placed in a dark, quiet room. The survey results back this up: for 79 percent of those surveyed, a comfortable bed is the key to getting a good night's rest.

Hutson says mattress technology has changed a lot in the past 10 years, and there are plenty of ways to customize your bed to suit you and your partner's sleep styles.

"At the end of the day, what you're really buying is sleep, and how well you sleep and how well you feel really is tied to your health. The better you sleep, the better you feel," says Hutson.

Here are some ideas that experts say can benefit both of you in your search for sweet dreams at night:

* In-store mattress auditions: Don't be afraid to take a nap in the store. You'll be happier with your mattress if you test it out in the store for longer than a few minutes, according to the Better Sleep Council.

"Some people can sleep on just about anything -- they have no pain in their back and they're in pretty good shape. It's always best to get both people in here to try it out at the same time," says Adam Ross, general manager at Ross Furniture in Jackson.

For two people to sleep side-by-side comfortably, try to get a queen or a king-size mattress.

* Prevent turbulence: Twenty-nine percent of people say their partner's tossing and turning keeps them awake at night. To minimize disturbances, invest in a new mattress that doesn't transfer motion, so when your sleep partner moves, you don't.

"Foam beds have less transference of motion from partner to partner," says Hutson. "One person can move, get up and roll over, and the other person doesn't feel it because of the way the bed absorbs energy instead of pushing back."

Memory foam is one option under this category.

"There's probably a 50/50 shot whether you're going to like memory foam or not," says Ross. "What it does is there are little cells inside, and as the body heats up and lays on it, it conforms to you. It can cut down on pressure points, but you end up sleeping in the mattress [instead of on top of it] and some people don't like that. It's harder to turn over when you're conformed to the mattress."

Latex foam or fabric-encased coil mattresses are an alternative for people who don't care for memory foam technology. These mattresses still eliminate transference of motion, but the body rests on top of the mattress instead of sinking into it, Ross says.

* For couples who just can't agree on a mattress, Ross recommends an air mattress, which can be customized for each partner.

"Each side can separately adjust the firmness or plushness," he explains. "If he likes firm and she likes plush, they each can have their own type of bed."

Air mattresses also provide the ability to change the mattress to suit changes in your body, such as weight loss or gain or a need for better lumbar support.

A split king-size bed also allows each partner to choose the mattress style of their choice, says Hutson. Mattresses can even be made with adjustable bases to raise or lower the head or foot of the bed as needed. This may be helpful for people with acid reflux, injuries, snoring problems and more.

* Turn off technology: In today's 24/7 world, it's hard to unplug completely. According to the survey, 30 percent say they sleep in a high-tech zone and 25 percent say their partner's late-night TV watching keeps them up at night. Banning phones, tablets and TV in the bedroom can help your body power down.

* Sync up bedtimes: It can be quite a challenge for night owls and early birds to get on the same sleeping schedule. But it's worth making an effort, with 28 percent saying that going to bed at the same time as their partner is essential to a good night's sleep.

BrandPoint content contributed to this report.