Bed buying advice.

Choosing a mattress or complete bed is hard enough without the added stresses of the many variations on offer.

Answer a few points to yourself to suit your needs and it should make your choice a lot easier.

Decide your priorities and concerns in advance. For example, is it: price, storage, access to bedroom, turning the mattress, getting in and out of bed, overall size or shape, a health issue, etc

The overall height of a mattress will greatly affect your ability to get in and out of bed easily if you suffer with a back problem or are pregnant etc

If possible, try a selection of beds for comparison before you buy. Set aside enough time to do the job properly so you can appreciate the differences.

Buy for correct support and comfort for your weight and build, not just firmness.
Many people confuse firmness with support. A firm bed has its advantages for certain back issues but your main aim with any bed should be to have one that supports you properly.

There are many different ways to gauge this, we can help you choose the correct level of support over the phone too.

Different density levels in memory foam will create a completely different feel as will Spring Gauge sizing in a conventionally sprung mattress. Your body weight will also have a great effect on feel, a 10st individual won't get anywhere near the same feel on a medium mattress as a 20st individual.

Try it together, if the bed's for two. You both need to feel comfortable.
If you intend on sharing the bed with someone then it's an issue that needs to be discussed, the new bed needs to suit both of you.

Don't forget a bed is a mattress and a base working together don't consider them in isolation.
Most metal, wooden and leather bed frames of today come with a shaped set of slats that sit underneath your mattress, they act as a spring and provide a slightly softer more comfortable feel where required. A divan style box base is solid and a mattress will feel firmer on one of these than on a sprung frame.

Some wooden frames have a solid flat unsprung set of slats and these will also create a truer representation of the mattress' firmness levels.

Think big larger beds are more comfortable. Being disturbed by a sleeping partner is one of the most common complaints. With a larger bed you are less likely to disturb one another.
Unless you like sleeping on top of each other then a 3ft single bed doesn't work for more than one person!

4ft beds are known as Small Double's and suit one person every night and 2 people on occasion

4ft6 Double bed gives you both ample space

5ft King Size mattress will provide you with loads of room

6ft Super King size... Well, You'll be needing a phone to have a conversation with each other in bed!

Check dimensions. Bed sizes are not standardised and even if they have the same name (eg King size) they may not be the same size especially if the mattress and base are not from the same manufacturer.
Some retailers source beds cheaply abroad and their dimensions can be continental, we only sell standard UK sizes though we can get others made to order.

You get what you pay for both in product and service so spend as much as you can afford.
You spend on average 8 hours a night in bed, that's a 1/3rd of a day or 10 days a month!

You spend all day in a pair of shoes, if your shoes are no longer supportive and comfortable then you bin them and buy another pair, you should approach a bed with the same attitude. Backache is worse than achey feet.

Remember, you're going to spend over 20,000 hours on your bed during its (seven year average) lifespan so it's worth taking a little time and effort in the beginning to make sure you make the right choice.