Top 10 Tips for Buying a Bed

A bed is one of the most important home purchases you’ll make. Not only does it play a crucial role in helping you get a good night’s sleep, but it can also affect your back health too.

Back pain can make people’s lives a misery, but having the right bed for your back can make a significant difference.

So, before you hit the shops, here are our top 10 tips on buying a new bed.

1. Not everyone finds the same bed comfortable.  Just because your friends or family rave about a certain bed, it’s not necessarily going to be the right one for you. So go and investigate the options for yourself.

2. When you’re looking for the perfect bed, be prepared to go and explore a variety of different beds, such as pocket spring beds, divans, bedsteads with slats or even water beds.

3. It’s often assumed that firm beds are automatically better for you, but this isn’t always true. The perfect bed should be supportive for your back, but also comfortable for you. You won’t get a good night’s sleep if you’re uncomfortable on a bed that’s too firm.

4. Bigger beds can be good, as you’ve got more space to move around and be comfortable, especially when there are two of you sharing it. But do be aware of the exact sizes before you part with your cash, as it’s no good if it won’t fit in your room! A standard double bed is 4ft 6” x 6ft 3”, a king size bed measures 5ft x 6ft 6” and a super king measures 6ft x 6ft 6”.

5. Be aware that not all mattresses are the same. Some of the options include pocket sprung (which has individual pockets of springs, is comfortable and supports your body well), open sprung (where the springs are hinged together and bodyweight can be spread evenly) and foam mattresses (which mould themselves to your back, provide comfort and relieve pressure).

6. Always check which type of mattress goes best with the bed you’re buying, as some are more suitable for certain bed styles and frames than others. Also, check the mattress size is the right fit for the bed base!

7. It’s normal to feel self-conscious whilst trying out a bed in a shop, and many people just lie down quickly, and then get up again. But in order to get the best idea of whether the bed and mattress are right for you, you really need to lie on each bed, in your normal sleeping position, for at least five minutes.

8. Your bed buying budget is of course important, but it’s better to look for the best value bed than the cheapest. A well constructed bed will generally last much longer, offer better comfort and support.

9. Sales take place at regular intervals throughout the year and you can often get good quality end of line or discontinued beds at great prices, so look out for real bargains!

10. Don’t forget to consider how you’ll get your new bed in place. Although some beds come apart easily, it’s still a big piece of furniture to manoeuvre into your home, especially if going upstairs. So find out what extra services the retailer offers, such as free delivery, free installation and whether they’ll take your old bed away too.