Bed Advice – top tips for buying a bed

• Decide your priorities and concerns in advance. For example, is it: price, storage, access to bedroom, turning the mattress, getting in and out of bed, overall size or shape, a health issue, etc
• If possible, try a selection of beds for comparison before you buy. Set aside enough time to do the job properly so you can appreciate the differences.
• Buy for correct support and comfort for your weight and build – not just firmness.
• Wear comfortable clothing, remove any outdoor gear and lie on the bed for quite a long time – at least 10 minutes. Lie down in your normal sleeping position and make some turns, too.
• Try it together, if the bed’s for two. You both need to feel comfortable.
• Don’t forget a bed is a mattress and a base working together – don’t consider them in isolation.
• Think big – larger beds are more comfortable. Being disturbed by a sleeping partner is one of the most common complaints. With a larger bed you are less likely to disturb one another.
• Check dimensions. Bed sizes are not standardised and even if they have the same name (eg King size) they may not be the same size – especially if the mattress and base are not from the same manufacturer.
• You get what you pay for – both in product and service – so spend as much as you can afford.

Remember, you’re going to spend over 20,000 hours on your bed during its (seven year) lifespan so it’s worth taking a little time and effort in the beginning to make sure you make the right choice.