Forever Furniture: A Buyer's Guide to 'The Bed'
Wake up with a smile in a bed that provides heavenly comfort all night long. Here's our guide to buying a bed once and well
The best piece of advice when it comes to buying a bed is to test it first. Then ask about the frame, the mattress and the materials that have gone into the bed’s construction. A bargain price usually indicates a lesser quality, which may be fine for now, but if you are in the market for a ‘forever’ bed, you’ll need to be assured of its quality credentials. To help you make that decision, this buying guide lists the most essential points to consider, and will hopefully steer you in the right direction – to deep comfort and lasting rest each night, for many years to come.
Measure the bedroom
Take detailed measurements of your bedroom before you leave home. The bed pictured here accommodates two, but there are numerous sizes on the market, including single, long single, king single, double, queen, king and super king. Think carefully before you buy a bed. Will it fit in the room? Will the size you have chosen be easy to manoeuvre through the doorways or carry up stairs? (This is extra important if the stairs have a turn.)
TIP: Go for the largest bed or mattress ensemble that will fit in your bedroom, while allowing space to move around it. The bigger the size the more comfortable your sleep.
Take detailed measurements of your bedroom before you leave home. The bed pictured here accommodates two, but there are numerous sizes on the market, including single, long single, king single, double, queen, king and super king. Think carefully before you buy a bed. Will it fit in the room? Will the size you have chosen be easy to manoeuvre through the doorways or carry up stairs? (This is extra important if the stairs have a turn.)
TIP: Go for the largest bed or mattress ensemble that will fit in your bedroom, while allowing space to move around it. The bigger the size the more comfortable your sleep.
Take a ‘rest test’ in store
Remove your shoes and lie on the mattress for several minutes in your usual sleeping position to check for comfort. If you often sit on the edge of the bed, be sure to try that, too. Ask the salesperson to write down the specifics of the mattress, the warranty details and the price so you can cross check equivalent models at different stores and online, then make your decision at home.
TIP: Make sure you go shopping for a bed or mattress when you are well rested. If you are tired, any bed that you ‘test drive’ will feel good.
Remove your shoes and lie on the mattress for several minutes in your usual sleeping position to check for comfort. If you often sit on the edge of the bed, be sure to try that, too. Ask the salesperson to write down the specifics of the mattress, the warranty details and the price so you can cross check equivalent models at different stores and online, then make your decision at home.
TIP: Make sure you go shopping for a bed or mattress when you are well rested. If you are tired, any bed that you ‘test drive’ will feel good.
Place your pillows
As for the number of pillows and cushions you dress the bed with, this is up to personal choice. Be guided by what feels comfortable. There is certainly a tendency to overdress a bed in an effort to copy styling shots in glossy magazines, but it may not be practical at home.
TIP: With pillows arranged and plumped, ask a partner or family member to lie on the bed with you for a few minutes to make sure it’s still roomy and comfortable enough to share. Relegate any extraneous pillows or cushions to storage – and only use as set dressing.
Make your bed like a stylist
As for the number of pillows and cushions you dress the bed with, this is up to personal choice. Be guided by what feels comfortable. There is certainly a tendency to overdress a bed in an effort to copy styling shots in glossy magazines, but it may not be practical at home.
TIP: With pillows arranged and plumped, ask a partner or family member to lie on the bed with you for a few minutes to make sure it’s still roomy and comfortable enough to share. Relegate any extraneous pillows or cushions to storage – and only use as set dressing.
Make your bed like a stylist
Consider the style of bedhead
If you have opted for an ensemble bed, you will be on the lookout for a bedhead. You can choose to have one professionally made in a fabric that complements other soft furnishings in the room, such as curtains, or select a ready-made option. A tufted bedhead, as seen here, is an elegant choice.
TIP: If in doubt about what colourway to choose for your bedhead, it’s advisable to stick with a neutral colour. A bold colour may be too strong or clash if you decide to repaint or re-wallpaper at a later date.
If you have opted for an ensemble bed, you will be on the lookout for a bedhead. You can choose to have one professionally made in a fabric that complements other soft furnishings in the room, such as curtains, or select a ready-made option. A tufted bedhead, as seen here, is an elegant choice.
TIP: If in doubt about what colourway to choose for your bedhead, it’s advisable to stick with a neutral colour. A bold colour may be too strong or clash if you decide to repaint or re-wallpaper at a later date.
Decide on pillows and padding
A padded bedhead delivers extra comfort, especially if you are someone who likes to read sitting up in bed. The quality of padding is usually indicated by price but also by the type of fabric the bedhead is upholstered in.
TIP: A durable but soft textile, such as velvet or cotton linen will feel cool and comfortable.
Make your bedhead work harder
A padded bedhead delivers extra comfort, especially if you are someone who likes to read sitting up in bed. The quality of padding is usually indicated by price but also by the type of fabric the bedhead is upholstered in.
TIP: A durable but soft textile, such as velvet or cotton linen will feel cool and comfortable.
Make your bedhead work harder
Choose hard-wearing fabrics
Box beds that are fully upholstered should be covered with tougher fabric than what your would choose for the bedhead alone. A plain or basket weave is suitable but if you choose a polyester blend or other synthetic microfibre, then chances are the fabric will handle a few scuffs and be less likely to colour-fade.
TIP: Again choose a bed covered in a quality textile. Some blends of synthetic and cotton will pill after a year or so.
Box beds that are fully upholstered should be covered with tougher fabric than what your would choose for the bedhead alone. A plain or basket weave is suitable but if you choose a polyester blend or other synthetic microfibre, then chances are the fabric will handle a few scuffs and be less likely to colour-fade.
TIP: Again choose a bed covered in a quality textile. Some blends of synthetic and cotton will pill after a year or so.
Check out the bed’s construction
The quality of the bed frame will determine how well the mattress is supported and ultimately how good your night’s sleep will be. Whether the frame is metal or timber it should be securely screwed together and the bed slats that straddle the frame to support the mattress should be of a strong but light timber – they are often made from pine.
TIP: Never buy a bed frame that has narrow legs, as they may start to bend or splinter over time, even collapse! The bed pictured here has short tube legs made from metal, and these are ideal for elevating the bed just high enough off the floor so as to be comfortable enough to sit on.
The quality of the bed frame will determine how well the mattress is supported and ultimately how good your night’s sleep will be. Whether the frame is metal or timber it should be securely screwed together and the bed slats that straddle the frame to support the mattress should be of a strong but light timber – they are often made from pine.
TIP: Never buy a bed frame that has narrow legs, as they may start to bend or splinter over time, even collapse! The bed pictured here has short tube legs made from metal, and these are ideal for elevating the bed just high enough off the floor so as to be comfortable enough to sit on.
Understand your mattress make-up
You won’t be able to see inside your mattress, but nevertheless you should ask your salesperson lots of questions about what it is made from and how it is sprung. There are now mattresses made from latex and memory foam, but innerspring styles are still the most popular. The pocket spring type is generally considered to be more luxurious than the coiled spring mattress, and it is also better at conforming to your body contours.
TIP: If you overheat at night, avoid mattresses made from some poorer quality latex or memory foam. They may be reasonably comfortable and are often beneficial for back problems but can cause some people to sweat.
You won’t be able to see inside your mattress, but nevertheless you should ask your salesperson lots of questions about what it is made from and how it is sprung. There are now mattresses made from latex and memory foam, but innerspring styles are still the most popular. The pocket spring type is generally considered to be more luxurious than the coiled spring mattress, and it is also better at conforming to your body contours.
TIP: If you overheat at night, avoid mattresses made from some poorer quality latex or memory foam. They may be reasonably comfortable and are often beneficial for back problems but can cause some people to sweat.
Something different
There are many styles of bed to choose from, which is not the scope of this article, but one design that is gaining popularity in contemporary homes is the platform bed. It’s worth a mention here, because it’s an example of how the rules above don’t always apply to all beds, especially if a little quirky. The platform bed, like the one pictured here, is little more than a mattress fitted into or on top of a timber dais (although it looks a lot smarter than a futon on the floor). The essential consideration is the quality of the mattress. Quite common in Asia, it is probably better suited to younger people due to the unusually low profile of the platform. However, when it is raised high enough (to perch on the edge without squatting), it can be a reasonably comfortable choice for most age groups, excluding the elderly, of course.
TIP: A mattress topper will add extra comfort and ensure a heavenly night’s sleep.
TELL US
Have you found ‘The One’? What makes your bed ‘Forever’?Share your bed buying stories and images in the Comments section.
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Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to ‘The Sofa’
There are many styles of bed to choose from, which is not the scope of this article, but one design that is gaining popularity in contemporary homes is the platform bed. It’s worth a mention here, because it’s an example of how the rules above don’t always apply to all beds, especially if a little quirky. The platform bed, like the one pictured here, is little more than a mattress fitted into or on top of a timber dais (although it looks a lot smarter than a futon on the floor). The essential consideration is the quality of the mattress. Quite common in Asia, it is probably better suited to younger people due to the unusually low profile of the platform. However, when it is raised high enough (to perch on the edge without squatting), it can be a reasonably comfortable choice for most age groups, excluding the elderly, of course.
TIP: A mattress topper will add extra comfort and ensure a heavenly night’s sleep.
TELL US
Have you found ‘The One’? What makes your bed ‘Forever’?Share your bed buying stories and images in the Comments section.
MORE
Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to ‘The Dining Table’
What’s Your Bedroom Decorating Style?
14 Steps to Take Your Bedroom to the Next Level
Forever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to ‘The Sofa’
Before you start shopping for a new bed, get an idea of prices and styles by letting your fingers do the walking and browsing bed styles that appeal online. Broadly speaking, there are two types of bed to chose from: a framed bed that will need a separate mattress purchase, or a complete ensemble (sprung base and mattress), which is often on castors. You may be surprised at the cost of a good bed so don’t set out with unreal expectations – the cheaper the bed the poorer the quality, especially in regards to construction.
TIP: Buy the best bed you can afford. This is especially true of mattresses, for which quality and price are common bedfellows (if you will forgive the pun)!