Common mattress buying considerations
As your new mattress should last you almost a decade, making the wrong choice can be a mistake that haunts you for an extremely long time, so bear these common considerations in mind as you make your decision.
Soft or firm?
The comfort level of a new mattress is a totally personal choice. Soft, luxurious beds offer no less support than firmer orthopaedic models, so don't be put off this type of feel. Think back to a really great night's sleep, perhaps in a hotel; what type of feel did that bed have? At The Bed Warehouse we all try out the mattresses on display and collate an average firmness rating out of 10 for each. As a guide, for an average size person less than 6 would feel soft, 6-8 medium firmness, and 8 upwards a firmer feel.
My partner's a pain…
Whether you recognise it or not, if you share your bed, your quality of sleep may well be disrupted by your partner. Perhaps your partner moves around a lot in their sleep, perhaps they have to get up earlier than you and wake you up in the process, perhaps there's a large disparity between your body types. Whatever the issue, a good mattress will be able to resolve the problem.
The key is in the type of mattress construction chosen. In a substandard mattress, movement on one side of the bed will be felt on the other, whereas a good mattress will absorb movement, ensuring that the sleep of both you and your partner can continue undisturbed. Most people in this position will immediately think of memory foam mattresses (which will do the job superbly), but pocket sprung mattresses are also more than able to provide the necessary support whilst ensuring the comfort of both partners. In pocket spring mattresses each spring is individually encased, meaning it's not directly connected to any surrounding springs, so movement on one side of the bed will not transfer to the other.
My partner's hot and I'm not…
The temperature that you and your partner prefer whilst sleeping is a hugely important factor that is often overlooked when selecting the most suitable bed or mattress. Whilst no-one wants to be too cold in bed, this can usually be fixed through extra bedding. On the other hand, there is almost nothing you can do to cool yourself down if you are too hot in bed. Many mattresses now use memory foam for its excellent pressure-relieving properties. However it's worth noting that a proportion of people find this heat-retaining material keeps them too warm for a comfortable night's sleep.
If you feel that you or your partner may be sensitive to the extra warmth of memory foam, look out for temperature-regulating fabrics that are becoming increasingly popular. Alternatively consider natural latex fillings which relieve pressure points without retaining heat, or hybrid mattresses which combine springs and memory foam and are much cooler than full foam varieties.
My back is killing me. Do I need an orthopaedic bed?
If you are suffering from an aching back, arthritic joints, painful hips or any other muscular or skeletal issues, your current mattress may well be accentuating the problem. The key is to choose a bed which is able to provide you with sufficient support without creating pressure points. Pocket spring, memory foam and latex mattresses offer excellent pressure-relieving properties and high levels of support. Orthopaedic foam and orthopaedic sprung mattresses are generally firmer and suit a lot of people's preference for a hard bed; remember though… harder isn't always better!
It's so high…
Modern beds and mattresses are often much higher than older models, so be sure to consider the height of your new bed. Whether you prefer a higher bed to ease getting out in the morning or a lower one to make getting in simpler, don't make life unnecessarily difficult for yourself by choosing the wrong type of bed.
Do I need to turn this mattress?
Whilst traditionally constructed mattresses need to be turned over and rotated regularly, especially when new, more modern mattresses, especially those containing memory foam, do not need to be turned but should be rotated.
How often should I replace my mattress?
To help ensure the general public are enjoying the best quality of sleep possible, The Sleep Council recommends that you change your mattress every seven years. Unless you treat your mattress properly, however, it may need changing earlier.
Is there a warranty period?
Given that you will inevitably want your new bed or mattress to last as long as possible, it makes sense to take into account the warranty manufacturers are willing to provide. Although warranties can vary from 12 months to 12 years, one thing that unites almost all manufacturers is that they will often reduce the warranty period if you buy a mattress without its corresponding base. Similarly, warranty claims will often be refused if the mattress is soiled, stained or dirty, so always use a good quality mattress protector.
Choosing the right bed
Though your mattress is obviously the most important thing to get right when you are looking to improve your quality of sleep, it's not the only thing you need to worry about. When people come to us looking to swap their mattress for a new one, I always make sure to ask them whether or not they are sure the base of their bed is in good condition too. If the base of your bed is faulty or misshapen, problems will soon affect the efficiency of your new mattress. If your base was slightly uneven, for example, you might find that this puts a great deal of stress on one side of your mattress but not the other. Left unresolved this will severely shorten the lifespan of your new purchase and stop your sleep quality from improving.
Divan beds
Advantages
Storage space. No matter how big or small your bedroom, everyone can do with more storage space, and a divan style bed will provide this in abundance. The simplest solution is to have up to four drawers set into the bed. However, should you need more space, perhaps to store extra bedding, a lift-up ottoman style divan bed offers the perfect solution. On these beds the whole base lifts up, revealing a huge storage area, perfect for bulky and seldom-used items such as suitcases and winter blankets, or as I'm told more often, shoes and handbags. What's more, this storage space is completely invisible when closed!
Strength and rigidity. If one of your principal concerns is that your bed should be sturdy, a divan bed won't let you down. Thanks to their construction, these beds will not wobble or creak and should support even the heaviest of mattresses for many years.
Customisable. Another major advantage of a divan style bed is that it is possible to fit a headboard to them fairly easily. Should you decide to redecorate several years down the line, being able to change your headboard may well remove the need for you to buy a whole new bed, which could save you a considerable amount of money.
Manoeuvrable. As divan beds generally have castors fitted, it is easy to roll the bed around the bedroom should you need to vacuum underneath, for example.
Comfort. Divan bases usually provide a solid board-like surface for your mattress to sit on. However, divan bases can be constructed with a layer of springs; these are known as 'sprung bases' and make the overall feel of the bed softer.
Disadvantages
Appearance. Although taste is obviously personal and largely subjective, many people do tend to prefer bed frames to divan beds when it comes to appearance. This is largely due to their bulky construction, which, though great for both storage and rigidity, undoubtedly makes divan beds less elegant and sleek than most frame designs.
Height. Divan bases are built to accommodate storage drawers and over the years divans have become higher and higher as manufacturers seek to offer deeper drawers. To some people this is an advantage, however to some it makes the bed look disproportionately large in their bedroom and can make getting into bed difficult.
Access. Whilst bed frames are usually supplied unassembled, divan beds, although split into two halves, are still fairly bulky items. As a result, delivery around some staircases can prove fairly tricky.
Browse our divan beds.
Bed frames
Advantages
Aesthetic appeal. Although divan beds are certainly not unattractive, bed frames come in a far wider range of colours and styles and are generally much easier to match to your room's overall aesthetic. The most common materials are:
- Pine. This softwood is available in hundreds of designs and can be finished in many stains or colours. For extra strength look out for slow-grown Scandinavian timber.
- Oak. As oak is a hardwood, these bed frames are generally very sturdy and long-lasting with a very clean finish.
- Metal. From traditional to ultra-modern there are literally hundreds of designs on the market in every colour imaginable.
- Leather. Leather beds are hugely popular for both their attractive looks and comfy upholstered feel. They are generally available in various grades of leather (including faux leather) and a multitude of colours.
- Upholstered. Back in vogue, upholstered bed frames combine stunning good looks with warm, deep finishes to complement any bedroom style.
Can accommodate storage. Although bed frames will almost always have a beam and additional support legs under the centre of the bed, the space underneath is far from unusable. Not only are coordinating storage drawers available to make the most of the space beneath the frame, some bed frames also have lift-up ottoman storage bases allowing easy access to the storage space beneath the bed.
Disadvantages
Extra care is needed with laminate floors. When placed on laminate flooring, beds can move during the night. If you do have laminate flooring in your bedroom, I would highly recommend taking extra care when choosing a bed frame, as some can move out of their correct alignment on wooden floors. Not only is this bad for the bed and the mattress, it can also end up with you falling straight through the bed!
Maintenance. Although bed frames have a tried and tested construction and can support even the heaviest of mattresses, the vast majority need to be regularly retightened.
Browse our bed frames.
Ottoman beds
Advantages
Storage space. Ottoman beds offer a large amount of storage, and this is certainly one of the main reasons people choose an ottoman bed over any other type of bed.
Easy storage access. One reason people tend to avoid an ottoman bed is that they're worried about not being able to open them up. This is far from the case. Our ottoman beds are extremely easy to open, giving you easy access to the ample storage space below.
Disadvantages
Can be difficult to move. Once you've got an ottoman bed full of storage, it can be difficult to move around the room. If you do want to move your bed around, you may wish to empty all of the storage first, which can be time-consuming.
Appearance. As with a divan bed, an ottoman bed can be bulkier than a bed frame, and people tend to prefer frames when it comes to appearance. This is however subjective, and if you love the way an ottoman bed looks, you get the benefits of additional storage and a bed you love the look of.
Browse our ottoman beds.
What kind of bed is best for my children?
Whilst it's easy for us to identify when we are not getting enough sleep in our own lives, it is important to be aware that your child's bed, too, may well be affecting the quality and quantity of their sleep. When your child or young adult is growing it's imperative that they are supported in the correct posture at night. An unsupportive bed or mattress in your child's formative years can lead to a lifetime of poor posture and related physical problems.
Not only will an old mattress or substandard bed leave your child irritable and lethargic, it will also have a distinctly negative effect on their performance in school, something no parent wants to see. Enabling them to get a decent amount of quality rest every night will leave them happier and improve their concentration levels. What's more they'll be much less likely to wake up during the night or early in the morning due to an inability to sleep.
Although bed frames and divan beds are equally as popular for children as they are for adults, it's worth considering a couple of alternatives to really get the most from your child's bedroom:
- Cabin beds are perfect for storing your child's books, DVDs and games and will make it much easier for them to keep their room tidy, a problem with which they'll usually need all the help they can get.
- High sleepers are very popular with kids and a great way to maximise space. Whilst the space underneath can be used as a play area for young children, as they grow older it can be used to accommodate a desk.
- Guest beds. If your children like having their friends round for sleepovers then they'll love the idea of a pull-out guest bed. They are available in all sorts of styles and various qualities and, when not in use, roll easily away under your child's main bed.
Browse our children's beds.
Other things to consider
Supportive pillows
Don't overlook the importance of a good pillow to your night's sleep. A memory foam pillow will adjust itself to fit the shape of your head and shoulders perfectly, so is extremely comfortable and can provide a great deal of support to those with neck and back problems. As with memory foam mattresses, however, these pillows can be quite warm. Latex pillows are also extremely comfortable and offer responsive support without the addition of extra warmth, retain their performance for many years and are hypoallergenic.
When choosing a pillow, always consider your preferred sleeping position. Generally back and front sleepers require a narrower pillow to maintain correct sleeping posture. Side sleepers often require a deeper pillow to maintain a healthy posture.
Mattress protectors
Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, all of us lose a significant amount of moisture and dead skin cells during the night, creating a perfect environment for millions of dust mites. These dust mites in turn are the biggest creators of the most common household allergens. Investing in a quality waterproof mattress protector will ensure your mattress remains allergen free and lasts as long as possible. If you have a problem with your bed in the future and need to exchange your mattress, your manufacturer will often not even consider an exchange if there is evidence of the mattress having been used without a protector.
Will you be able to get your new mattress into your room?
Whilst this seems like an obvious consideration, people frequently purchase mattresses which are too big for their stairways, something that can prove extremely frustrating for both buyer and delivery team. Although some mattresses are more flexible than others (many memory foam ones can be rolled up, for example) the easiest way to be sure your mattress will fit is to measure your stairway and doors and seek the advice of your supplier.
What to look for in an experienced supplier
Evidence of satisfied customers. Firstly, and most importantly, look for evidence of previous, satisfied customers. If you are unable to find positive testimonials from past customers on their website, this is usually a good indication that you should look elsewhere. See ours on our customer testimonials page.
Do they deliver to your area? Be sure to check whether or not the company delivers to your area. Although the best suppliers will deliver to the whole of England and Wales, this is not always the case with smaller suppliers.
Do they charge extra for delivery? Although you may think you have secured a bargain when selecting your bed or mattress online, be sure to check delivery costs before finalising your purchase. As they know customers will probably be unable to transport their new mattresses or bed home themselves, bed companies will often charge unreasonable amounts for delivery. Worse still, this cost may be hidden until you have already made your purchase. For this reason I recommend using a bed supplier who can offer a free delivery service to your area.
Can they dispose of your old bed or mattress? Old beds and mattresses are often cumbersome and unhygienic, and although many local councils periodically collect bulky waste items, no one wants to be stuck with their old bed clogging up space while they wait for collection. After delivering your new bed, a good bed supplier will be able to remove and recycle your old bed for just a small handling charge. See our disposal services.
Do they sell recognised brands? When initially visiting a bed retailer's store or website, check that their stock includes leading brand names. Although you may not wish to purchase one of these brands, the fact that they are available is a sign of credibility and an established business.
Bricks and clicks. When selecting a supplier, look to see whether or not they have physical showrooms as well as a quality website. You may have no intention of ever visiting the showroom, but the fact that it exists tells you two important things: the supplier is a 'real' business with authentic, checkable credentials, and the advice and product descriptions offered will be from experts who have physically touched, felt and tested the quality of the products that they sell. See our three Midlands stores.
Website security. It almost goes without saying, but ensure any online purchase is made via a secure site. A good supplier will advertise its payment processor and display an in-date security certificate.
Conclusion
I hope that you've found this guide both interesting and informative and that you now feel more confident in your ability to select the perfect bed.
In closing, let me remind you of the importance of prioritising your sleep. Without quality sleep, your body will be running on reserve power, leaving you more irritable, more susceptible to illness and generally less effective. As a result, poor quality sleep can not only affect your personal relationships, it can result in a distinct drop in productivity at work, and leave you unable to maximise the pleasure and benefits of social activities and exercise. A new bed really could be just the boost that you've been looking for in your life.
About us
At The Bed Warehouse Direct we're passionate about improving the nation's quality of sleep.
Having watched my parents build the company from scratch 25 years ago, I joined the business myself around five years later after graduating from university, with my sister Zoe following shortly after to complete the family line-up. Together, thanks to competitive prices, quality products and a high customer referral rate, we were able to grow the business into Birmingham's largest independent bed specialist. It was a natural progression to bring the same ethos to our website, and we are also now one of the fastest growing online bed suppliers in the UK.
As we're well aware of the importance of getting a good night's sleep, not only do we pride ourselves on the quality of our stock, we aim to offer the most professional and thorough advice available. Further, unlike many online and offline bed suppliers, we will deliver you a bed for absolutely nothing.
If you have any questions and would like to speak to someone in person, give us a ring free on 0800 049 0800. We're always happy to answer any questions you may have. Meet the team.
