Insiders guide to Mattresses
A mattress is a very important purchase, so spend as much as you can possibly afford to buy the best. The average person spends roughly a third of their life sleeping. If chosen correctly, it will give you hours of potentially comfortable sleep and it will support your back and limbs well for continued health. We would always recommend you try out mattresses. It is the one sure way to buy the perfect choice for you. Forget you are in a bed and mattress showroom and kick off your shoes and have a good lie down. Lie is the position you tend to sleep in. If you can feel 
springs in this position and you feel you want to toss and turn to get comfortable, move on to another style until you find one that suits your sleeping patterns. You haven’t finished the test yet! Roll from the centre to each side, again to feel how the mattress reacts to your body, and checking the support to the outer edges of the mattress. If you sleep with a partner, make sure that both of you test the preferred choice of mattress.
A sprung mattress or foam. Which is right for you?
It is a matter of preference, but it is also about considering your wellbeing. The correct mattress, whether sprung or foam, should cradle you and give support to your lower back; enhancing your posture and keeping your spine in its natural position.
Our Pocket Sprung mattresses are available in no less than seven tensions and created using different fibres and numbers of springs to offer different levels of support and luxury. The higher the spring number (from 1,000 to 4,500), the better the support.
The Open Coil mattress is a more economical version of the ‘sprung’ mattress so provides a good option for a child’s room or guest room. The springs in this style are all linked together, spreading bodyweight across the surface.
The ‘Memory Foam’ mattress is made from visco-elastic foam, a breathable material that is temperature sensitive and moulds to the contours of the body, so causing the least possible stress on muscles and nerves. This style of mattress is also known to prevent back problems, but can take a little time to get used to, so persevere when you first start to use it.
Expert advice on when to…
CHANGE A MATTRESS
The Sleep Council suggest changing a mattress every ten years, but we advise changing a mattress every five to eight years if you want to guarantee good support and a healthy environment. If your current one sags or creaks, and you can feel the springs beneath the surface or you wake up with aching joints, it’s time to buy a new one. Also, if your weight has changed since you purchased the mattress, you may want to consider a new one that is better suited to your new weight and current health.
The insider’s tip to …
CHOOSING A SUITABLE BED SIZE
A mattress should be at least 10cm longer than your height and wide enough to contain your elbows when you lie on your back with your arms resting alongside your body.
The healthy way to …
LOOK AFTER A MATTRESS
A mattress protector adds an extra hygienic, comfortable layer to a mattress and can be washed on a regular basis. For natural comfort, the 100 per cent cotton protector with a cotton rich quilted filling is ideal. There is an anti allergy mattress protector with a polyester filling to protect against dustmites and allergies. And, with children in mind, a waterproof mattress protector is a great choice. Turn your mattress every few months to help the springs or foam resettle naturally, and give it a good brush at the same time.
The savvy way to…
SHARE A BED
If you and your partner need different comfort requirements choose a mattress that allows you to have two different tensions. Alternatively, Memory Foam mattresses have the ability to absorb sleep-disrupting motion, allowing both partners to sleep more soundly and not feel each other’s movements.
How to buy a double bed for …
A SMALL COTTAGE
Look into the double divan bed bases designed to split into two identical pieces that lock together for a secure fit. And, if getting a mattress through small doorways is a problem, the 48-hour pocket mattress arrives rolled up for easy transportation. This comes in four different spring and comfort levels, and as the name suggests, they can be delivered in under 48 hours direct to your door.
The luxury addition for…
THE BEST DRESSED BED
Mattress toppers are a fairly new addition to our shores (the Americans have been enjoying this added layer of luxury for some time). Made in either latex, goose down or ‘Memory Foam’, the topper simply lies on top of your mattress protector and gives a bed a really luxurious feel.
See how our mattresses are made...