Choosing the Correct Bedding Product:
How Do You Know When It Is Time To Buy A New Bed?
The Sleep Council and many bedding companies recommend changing your bed every 6-7 years. By this time, the bed shall have deteriorated to 70% of its original quality and support. However due to excessive use or misuse, your bed may need to be replaced after 5 years if you feel any morning back stiffness or notice any broken springs protruding through the mattress.What Sizes Are Available?
This simple table will show you the standard sizes that are available:
| Imperial | Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | Length | Width | Length | |
| Small Single | 2'6" | 6'3" | 75cm | 190cm |
| Standard Single | 3'0" | 6'3" | 90cm | 190cm |
| Three Quarter | 4'0" | 6'3" | 120cm | 190cm |
| Standard Double | 4'6" | 6'3" | 135cm | 190cm |
| King Size | 5'0" | 6'6" | 150cm | 200cm |
| Super King | 6'0" | 6'6" | 180cm | 200cm |
The most popular size is the Standard Double, but if you do need that little bit extra elbow room or leg room, then consider buying a King Size.
Storage Divans:
These include 1, 2, 3, or 4 drawers. Alternatively you may like an end drawer or a continental drawer - typical drawer combinations are as follows for a 135cm and 150cm divan set:
Most divan beds today are available with storage options, storage within beds can be very important, especially when there is a limited space in the bedroom, most ranges provide 6 different methods of storage in their double and king size beds :
Which Is Better, Firm Or Soft?
It is important to buy a bed that gives you the correct level of support. Everyone probably appreciates that a soft bed is not ideal, however you also need to be aware that if a bed is too firm it is potentially just as bad for your posture.
The following test may prove useful :
Lie down on your back and slide your hand, palm down, between the small of your back and the mattress…
- If there is a noticeable gap, then the bed is too firm.
- If not, then the bed is too soft.
- If you can just about slide your hand underneath, then the bed is probably about right.
As everybody is different, there is a wide range of beds each offering varying degrees of firmness and comfort. Finding the one that is right for you is not an easy task, here are a few guidelines to help you to make the right choice :
The essential heart of a good bed is the mattress, in general there are four different types :
- Visco Elastic Memory Foam
- Pocket Sprung
- Continuos Coil
- Open Coil (Bonnel Spring Type)
Visco Elastic Memory Foam:
Unlike standard foams that compress, Memory Foam reforms in shape under pressure and doesn't want to spring back to its original shape straight away this is because its cells spread the air pressure from one to another which is why it is so good at reducing pressure points.
In addition to this the foam is heat sensitive and in colder temperatures the memory foam is harder than in warmer temperatures when it becomes softer. This temperature sensitive effect thus adapts to your body shape when lying on the foam. Different types of memory foam can have different reactions to the heat with some staying firmer untill higher temperatures have been reached. What should you be looking for? We would recommend at least 2" of memory foam. This amount of memory foam will give you a good cushioning and will allow the memory foam to conform to the contours of your body and support the necessary pressure points.
Pocket Sprung:
If you are fed up with feeling aches and pains on a morning due to sore pressure points, a Pocket Spring mattress could be for you. Pocket springs are individually created and then placed in their own fabric pockets, which allows the springs to move independently of each other The result? Support for you and your partner where it's most needed, regardless of differences in weight.
Pocket springs can also be combined with other mattress fillings for a better effect. Pocket Spring and Memory Foam mattresses are becoming increasingly common now, as both pocket springs and memory foam have their own unique qualities for supporting your body. Pocket Springs can also be combined with other mattress systems such as Foam andLatex.
Pocket Spring beds also come in a range of tensions which cater to different requirements. Firmness on a pocket spring system is usually dependent upon the how many springs are in the mattress. Generally, a spring count of anywhere in between 800 and 1800 is classed as a single spring unit, where as 2000 up to 3500 is generally classed as a twin spring unit which has one layer of springs on top of another in order to reach the desired spring count.
Continuos Coil: