“A new bed is a significant investment and as such, one that should last for years, so appropriate research into what is right for you, your partner and your home is important.”
Your bedroom is your sanctuary; a place to focus on rest, relaxation and to nurture your general wellbeing. Holly Danbury, Hypnos Showroom Manager, is responsible for the customer experience at Princes Risborough and Castle Donnington and has advised many customers on how to find their dream bed. Here are her top tips for finding the bed right for you.
1. Don’t rush:
A new bed is a significant investment and as such, one that should last for years, so appropriate research into what is right for you, your partner and your home is important. Take time to think about what you need in terms of both comfort and style, and allow plenty of time for going out and testing different beds.
2. Seek out your support:
Before searching for a new bed, find out whether your current mattress is too hard or too soft as this will help when you start testing new mattresses. To do this, slide your hand under the small of your back – if your hand fits easily between your back and the mattress, it may be too firm. If your hand cannot fit under your back at all, it may be too soft.
3. Ten-minute test:
When testing out a new mattress remember it needs to be comfortable for an entire night, not just a few minutes. Simulate sleeping by removing your coat and shoes, grabbing a pillow, then lying down in your normal sleeping position for at least 10 minutes. This should be just enough time for your body to comfortably relax and get a real feel for the bed.
4. Test a range:
It’s worth testing hard and soft mattresses of varying levels as what you think you want might be different to what you actually need.
5. Different bodies need different support:
If you share a bed then always take your partner with you and test the beds together – what suits one person won’t necessarily suit the other. If you struggle to find support that suits you both, explore the option of a bed with a firmer tension on one side to the other to suit your individual needs.
6. Size matters:
According to the Sleep Council people don’t buy large enough beds, with 75% purchasing double beds that are still the standard 137cm x 190cm wide. Ideally your bed should be about 15cm longer than the taller user and provide at least 76cm of horizontal sleeping space per partner.
7. Select your style:
Space and style are also important areas to consider. Do you need extra storage space within your home to keep clutter hidden away? Will you be moving home or expanding your family in the near future? These are all questions to ask when looking at the overall size and style of bed you purchase. Look at divans with hidden storage or a bed size that will be the centre of attention in the bedroom but not fill it.
8. Buy the divan base and mattress together:
Where possible you should ideally purchase the divan base and mattress together. The two are designed to provide support and work together as a team to deliver a comfortable night’s sleep.
If you’re just looking to purchase a mattress, check what type of divan base you tested it on, as different divan bases can affect how hard or soft the mattress feels. If you’re reusing an old divan base, bear in mind how worn it is as this could result in premature wear to the new mattress, which in turn would invalidate any guarantee.
You may also find that your new mattress doesn’t fit on the existing divan base as snugly which can lead to movement and damage, meaning you get a very uncomfortable snooze.
9. Go natural:
When it comes to beds there is a lot of truth in the saying “you get what you pay for”. If a mattress seems inexpensive, check its fillings. The quality of the fillings in a mattress is crucial to your comfort, not just for the support they provide, but their breathable properties that help regulate your body temperature so you get a better night’s sleep. A mattress that uses a high proportion of natural materials is hygienic and long-lasting, providing you with a comfortable and cosy night’s sleep.
Cheaper mattresses tend to use synthetic and lighter fillings, meaning that they may wear more quickly so replacements could cost you more in the long run.
10. Be practical:
When purchasing a bed, always consider its size in relation to the size of your home. If there’s not much room to manoeuvre a double bed, then look at alternative options that connect to make a double bed. Bending a mattress can damage its structure, so this needs to be avoided where possible.
Zip and link beds mean a double can be taken up the stairs in two single-sized parts and connected to form a double in the room. This is also a good option for a spare room as it also provides a flexible option.
Hypnos offers a full range of sleep solutions and is always on hand to offer advice to help you choose the perfect bed, and create your perfect bedroom environment.
Shop the Hypnos mattresses here.
