How to Choose a Mattress, need help choosing a mattress then read this. Now With Free UK Shipping

Welcome to Bedszone's Bed & Mattress Guide

Buying a new bed is one of the most important decisions you will make, so it's worth investing your money wisely. It's also worth bearing in mind that a good quality double bed will only cost you around 10p per night each, over the average period of its lifetime.

Experts recommend buying a new bed every 8 - 10 years, given that we spend approximately a third of our lives sleeping. Our needs and preferences change over time, too - changes in lifestyle or physical conditions also affect our bed requirements.

So, we have devised this simple guide with the help of the Sleep Council to provide all the information you need. Select a topic to learn more.


Do you need a new bed?
If your bed is more than ten years old, it probably isn't giving you the comfort you need for a good, healthy night's sleep. Your mattress life-span for offering optimum support and comfort will vary depending on its quality, frequency of use, the wear and tear it undergoes (as a heavier person will wear out a bed more quickly than a lighter one, and a couple more quickly than a lone person), and how well it's looked after.

In case you're tempted to use a second hand bed, consider that old beds also play host to 1000s of dust mites, which can aggravate eczema and asthma. Also the mattress will have formed itself into the ideal sleeping position of the previous owner, not yours, meaning that you will never enjoy the best possible support and comfort.

Is your bed up to scratch?



Choosing a mattress
The feel of each bed is predominantly determined by the mattress. Most mattresses contain a spring interior system inside consisting of either a coiled or pocket sprung unit. In simple terms the fillings provide the comfort while the springs give support and generally speaking the more springs and filling the better.

It is possible to place a new mattress upon your existing base, however you should ensure your base is either platform top (firm base) or slatted and the surface is completely flat. If you are unsure of the type of base you have please see our 'bases explained' section.

You should never place a new mattress upon an old sprung base. Although it may look in good condition, the internal springs will have worn in the same predominant sleeping areas as the previous old mattress. Which means the new mattress will sink and follow the contours of the worn areas. This will not only permanently damage the new mattress, but also give you an uncomfortable sleeping unit and may invalidate the guarantee.


Mattress Type Feature Benefit

Pocket Springs Conforms and adjusts to your body contours.
Every spring works totally independently from the next Offering excellent spinal support.
Eliminating roll together for totally undisturbed sleep
Coiled or Continuous Springs Robust, well engineered springing system. Evenly distributing body weight for a supportive nights rest. Ensuring the mattress retains its shape throughout its life
Natural Latex Conforms and moulds to your body contours.
Hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial. For superior comfort, neck and back support.
Beneficial for people who suffer from respiratory problems.
Memory Foam Responds to individual shape and pressure.
Relieves pressure build-up. For optimum back and body support.
Helps prevent aches and pains.


Sprung Mattress
Most mattresses contain some type of spring system deep inside, generally speaking the more springs a mattress contains the greater support it will offer. Although manufacturers offer differing variations, there are basically two different types of spring systems used in mattresses today:




Coiled Springs
The robust coiled or continuous spring systems are specifically designed to evenly distribute body weight over the surface of the mattress. Although each manufacturer varies the technology, they all feature row upon row of springs linked together with a spiral wire, which ensures the mattress retains its shape throughout its life.

Pocket Springs
Generally considered to more luxurious, these smaller lighter springs are individually wrapped in fabric pockets and work independently from one another. Imagine thousands of tiny pistons constantly adjusting and conforming to your body contours, ensuring complete support and comfort from head to toe.

Other types of mattresses
Whilst sprung mattresses are by far the most common, there are other types available which offer an excellent alternative:




Natural Latex
Developed by Dunlopillo over 75 years ago, latex offers users with a list of unique benefits. Latex is hypo-allergenic and its anti-microbial properties inhibit bacteria, fungi and house dust mites - so can be particularly beneficial for people who suffer from respiratory problems. Latex also conforms perfectly to your body's contours for superb comfort, neck and back support.

Memory Foam (Visco Elastic)
First used by NASA during the shuttle space programme, technologically advanced memory foam responds to body heat and weight to support you perfectly, relieving pressure points and helping relieve symptoms of backache, painful joints and circulatory problems.






Fillings and finish
The mattress filling or upholstery is as important as the spring system itself because the filling determines the overall comfort. There are many different kinds of filling used in mattresses such as coir, sisal, lambs wool, cotton, memory foam or latex. A combination of some or all of the differing fillings radically alters the feel of the mattress.

The covering fabric or ticking can also alter the way a mattress feels. Cotton or cotton-polyester blended fabrics tend to be tightly woven and taut and will often give a firm feeling surface, whereas a damask at the luxury end of the market will be much more pliable, feel silky and soft to touch thereby creating a more luxurious, sumptuous feeling surface.

The method in which fillings are held together can also change the comfort of the mattress. Tufting for example is a technique used to give the mattress a distinctive dimpled surface and consists of dozens of strong tapes threaded through the mattress and attached to felt tufts. This secures the layers of filling so they cannot move and gives the mattress a firmer feel. Alternatives to tufting include quilted or diamond stitching, where the cover is stitched to the filling to create a raised, patterned effect, commonly referred to as micro quilted or high loft. This technique will generally feel more sumptuous; because both spring unit and upholstery are released allowing them to conform to their natural deeper position.

Fillings in mattresses always settle and compress over the first few months of a mattress's life. This is perfectly normal but can be more pronounced on better quality mattresses with deeper filling, any dipping will even out after a period of time. Turning the mattress will help in the settlement period



Base styles

Divans
The divan is still the most popular style of base in the UK. A divan is usually upholstered in the same matching fabric as the mattress and reaches almost to the floor and would usually offer the choice of some kind of storage option.

Sprung edge divans are the most luxurious, featuring a complete spring unit which acts as a giant shock absorber and helps to prolong the life of the mattress.

Solid or platform top divans combine a wooden frame with a rigid upper panel to create a firm surface that's often found on orthopaedic beds.



Bedsteads and bed frames
Bedsteads are available in a wide range of styles from traditional classics through to modern designs. They are mainly constructed from wood or metal but can incorporate lots of different fabrics including leather. The base is generally made from wooden slats, which are a great way to ventilate your mattress while still offering firm support, and for this reason are particularly suitable for allergy or asthma sufferers. Bedsteads frequently come flat-packed for simple self-assembly, and are extremely easy to manoeuvre into your house. The mattress may or may not be included in the price.


Caring for your bed
All beds sold on our site are made from the finest materials to exacting standards of workmanship. However, like most new products, useful life-span depends on the amount of tender loving care the bed receives throughout its life.

Listed below are a few pointers to ensure that you enjoy many years of comfort from your bed:


Do not bend or roll your new mattress
Bending or rolling your new mattress will permanently damage the spring unit and also will invalidate your guarantee.


Let your new mattress breathe
We suggest after the removal of the packaging, you leave your new bed uncovered for a couple of hours to allow any condensation to escape.

WARNING: Please ensure that all polythene packaging is placed well out of reach of small children.


Turn your mattress regularly
Unless you have bought an easycare mattress, which has been specifically designed not be turned, it is important that you turn your mattress at least once a week for the first couple of months, and then monthly thereafter. This will prolong the life-span of your mattress and minimise impression marks.

When turning your mattress please do not allow it to bang or fall against the side of the divan or base, as this can cause permanent damage to the spring unit.
It is recommended that you seek assistance in the turning procedure.


Getting used to your new bed
Occasionally your first night's sleep on a new bed may seem a little strange. You need to allow time for your body to adjust and nestle into your new bed. The length of time this takes depends on your sensitivity and speed to which your body adjusts to change. It can be within nights or maybe a little longer. But rest assured, once you have adjusted you will experience many good years of comfortable sleep.


Impression marks are perfectly normal
Due to modern day mattress fillings being more sumptuous than ever before, impression marks may be initially pronounced in the predominant sleeping areas.

Impression marks are quite normal and providing that the mattress is properly supported on a suitable base, will be minimised with regular turning.


Protect your mattress
We recommend that you use a mattress cover that will protect your new mattress from stains and spills. This will not only help to keep your new mattress in perfect condition, but will also protect your guarantee. Because the guarantee can be invalidated if your mattress is badly stained or soiled.

A new mattress cover will also absorb your body moisture, which will prolong the life of your new bed or mattress. The fact is that we lose over a pint and a half of body moisture and dead skin every night while sleeping, most of it directly into our beds. Unfortunately most mattresses absorb this moisture, which plays a significant part in the break down and deterioration of internal fillings and springs.


Do not use detergents or chemical cleaners
Using detergents or chemical cleaners on your mattress is likely to damage the fabric and stitching.

How to Choose a Mattress, need help choosing a mattress then read this. Now With Free UK Shipping