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Frequently Asked Questions
Just bought a new bed? Why not also read our guide, Ten Simple steps for looking after your new bed?
- Do I need an orthopaedic bed if I have a bad back?
- How often should I change my bed?
- If I have drawers in the base of my divan, will it affect the strength or height of the bed?
- What are the benefits of a sprung base?
- Can I put a new mattress on my old divan base?
- How often and why must I turn my mattress?
- Can I have two different comfort levels in my bed as I'm very small compared to my large partner?
- Do I need a special mattress to go on a slatted base?
- What determines the price of a bed?
- Should I buy a hard bed to ease my aches and pains?
- I want to buy a pocket spring mattress but the ones I have seen seem lumpy.
- Will a bedstead provide a quality night's sleep?
- When should I buy a new bed?
- There are so many bed sizes – how big should I go?
- Does it make a difference what type of divan I have?
- Does the base need to be replaced with the mattress?
- What is the expected life of a bed?
- Is it true that the bigger the bed the better?
Do I need an orthopaedic bed if I have a bad back?
There is no such thing as an orthopaedic bed. Beds are designed in soft, medium or firm. Soft beds for light people, firm beds for heavy people. There is no single right bed to ease a back problem and additionally, each different back problem may require a different solution. Look for a supportive rather than a hard bed. Do not assume that firmer beds are the best option. Often a medium firm bed with proper cushioning is better.
How often should I change my bed?
It is recommended that you replace your bed every eight to ten years.
If I have drawers in the base of my divan, will it affect the strength or height of the bed?
No. Divans are structurally designed to take the loads equal to that of a non-divan bed.
What are the benefits of a sprung base?
It works in conjunction with the mattress, acting like an underlay, which increases the life of the mattress but also gives the bed a greater feeling of luxury. While increasing the overall life of the bed.
Can I put a new mattress on my old divan base?
The answer is generally no. Manufacturers will not uphold their guarantee. If you have an old sprung base the answer is definitely no, but on a firm top base the answer can be yes if the base is sound and secure and suitable to take the weight of the new mattress.
How often and why must I turn my mattress?
Turn your mattress one month and rotate the next. This enables the fillings to recover and refresh, thus prolonging the comfort and life of the mattress. (Except on specially designed non-turn mattresses)
Can I have two different comfort levels in my bed as I'm very small compared to my large partner?
Yes, we offer a choice of comforts on a 150cm (5'0 Kingsize) bed and above.
Do I need a special mattress to go on a slatted base?
No, all our mattresses are suitable for slatted bases including pocket sprung which we would highly recommend.
What determines the price of a bed?
Pocket spring beds cost more because there are many more springs, which operate independently and contour to the shape of your body. Also those mattresses using natural filings such as silk, wool, latex, cashmere and cotton. Which maintain the comfort of the bed over a longer period of time.
Should I buy a hard bed to ease my aches and pains?
What you need is a new bed which offers the right support for your spine (not necessarily hard at all!)
I want to buy a pocket spring mattress but the ones I have seen seem lumpy.
Luxury, pocket spring beds don't have flat surfaces – they mould themselves to body shape and the indentation remains even if you turn the bed regularly (which is very important with this type of bed)
Will a bedstead provide a quality night's sleep?
People buy bedsteads for their looks but they are often paired with very basic mattresses. Fortunately the choice is growing enormously and nowadays you don't have to sacrifice comfort for looks. You can get pocket spring mattresses made for use with slats and you can even get a fully sprung edge bed base for bedsteads.
When should I buy a new bed?
Don't wait until your bed is uncomfortable or damaged before replacing it by which time sleep quality could be quite severely affected - use other triggers. Even a good quality bed will only last around 10 years.
There are so many bed sizes – how big should I go?
People don't buy large enough beds. 75% of all double beds are still the standard 4ft 6in/135cm wide double – yet this is plainly not room enough
for two adults to sleep comfortably together without disturbing each other. Even upgrading to the next size, a 5ft/150cm king size, whilst it takes up very little extra bedroom space, makes a considerable difference!
Does it make a difference what type of divan I have?
The performance & feel of your mattress is very dependent on the quality of support given to it by your divan. We offer a choice of divan, all of which will provide both you & your mattress with first class long lasting support.
- Platform bases provide a firmer foundation, the top of the divan is solid, so your mattress will determine the degree of support you desire.
- Firm edge bases, in which the spring system is contained within a timber frame, gives the base a medium firm feel.
- Sprung edge bases featuring a complete spring unit on top of the base. By doubling the number of springs on which you sleep gives a softer foundation, offers supreme comfort and extends the life of your mattress.
- Slatted bases found in the bedstead offer additional support to the mattress but also enable the mattress to breathe, as air is free to circulate.
Does the base need to be replaced with the mattress?
The National Bed Federation recommends changing your bed, the mattress and divan, every 10 years. After this length of time, the springs in the base will have softened due to their constant use. Placing a new mattress onto an old base will dramatically increase the wear on the new mattress, and may affect its guarantee.
What is the expected life of a bed?
The Sleep Council advise not to wait until your bed becomes uncomfortable or damaged before replacing it as by this time sleep quality may already have been affected. A good quality bed will last for around 10 years, it is important that your bed is judged on how comfortable and supportive it still is rather than on its age.
Is it true that the bigger the bed the better?
Yes! The Sleep Council recommends you buy the biggest bed that will fit into your bedroom. Disturbance from a partner is one of the most common of sleeping complaints and is largely eliminated in bigger beds. The larger the bed, the more room there is to move about (research shows that we toss and turn as many as 60 to 70 times a night) and you are less likely to disturb each other's sleep.
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