Kristen Bell says her 'robot bed' is 'absolutely the best thing on Earth' – we asked our sleep expert if it's worth the $1,800 price tag

Sleep is essential to everything you do throughout the day, thus, so is your mattress. In response, mattresses have grown increasingly innovative, boosting heating and cooling technologies, robotic bases that move up and down, and mattresses that can be adjusted to be firm or soft. Though the technology has advanced, the question remains, will this actually help me sleep better? And is it worth the cost?

According to Kristen Bell, the answer is yes to both. She explained her opinion on the best mattress in an interview with Self, in which she discussed her bedtime routine.

Bell stated: 'We had always both dreamed of having a Craftmatic adjustable bed, so we got a Sleep Number. It is absolutely the best thing on earth. It’s the most elegant way to live. I’ll be like, “Do you want to watch TV?” And he’ll go, “Yeah. Let me bring you up.”' She paused to make a buzzing sound, according to the reporter. She continued, 'It’s spectacular. So usually, we play around with our robot bed for a while.'

Do sleep experts agree with Bell's assessment of her smart bed? We spoke with our in-house sleep editor, Emilia Hitching, to find out.

Emilia explains: 'When Bell talks about her ‘robot bed’, she’s talking about her Sleep Number smart base, which is separate to the mattress. You can choose between three bed bases: the FlexFit 1, 2, and 3, each of which sets out to solve a specific sleep issue. The Flex Fit 1 features head adjustability, so you can raise the top of your mattress to sit or sleep propped up. The FlexFit 2 offers head and foot adjustability on either side of the bed, so you can set your mattress in a particular position to cushion any aches and pains. The FlexFit 3 offers all that, plus a foot-warming function and under-bed lighting, which might look cool, but it’s not worth an additional $2,000 on top of the price of your mattress.'

If you love the idea of an adjustable bed but can't stomach the price of the Smart Base, there are lots of other options.

Emilia explains: 'The c2 smart bed is one of Sleep Number’s more affordable offerings, retailing at $1,099 for a Queen. Your money goes a long way: you get adjustable firmness in dual zones so that you can set one side of the bed to feel firmer than the other. That’s great news for couples who share a bed but not a sleep style: you might sleep on your side and prefer a plusher mattress, while your partner sleeps on their back and needs a firmer surface.' For the budget-conscious, this seems like a worthwhile investment.

Though Bell dwelled on the novelty aspects of her Sleep Number bed, its smart bedroom tech is just as useful for tracking your sleep. 'If you’re the kind of health-conscious person who likes to see stats about their sleep, then you’ll appreciate Sleep Number’s integrated sleep tracking,' explains Emilia. 'There are sensors in your Sleep Number mattress which monitor the quality of your sleep - when you move around in the night, when you heat up or cool down - and deliver the data to you via the Sleep Number app. Your Sleep Number smart bed can tell you if you’re sleeping badly, but it can’t help you sleep better. To change your sleep habits, you need a smarter system, such as the Eight Sleep Pod 4.'

Ultimately, it's your decision what you want to spend on your mattress, but understanding the options available is the best place to start with making the right choice for your home and family.