The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Mattress for Your Bed

When it comes to achieving a good night's sleep, your choice of mattress plays a vital, pivotal role. A mattress isn't just a piece of furniture; it's an investment in your well-being and overall health.

With a rather large range of options available in the market, selecting the right mattress can feel like we are navigating our way through a tricky maze. 

Fear not, for we've compiled a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision and ensure your nightly slumber is nothing short of blissful. 

Understanding Your Needs

Before embarking on your mattress-buying journey, it's essential to assess your specific requirements. Consider factors such as your preferred sleeping position, any existing health conditions, body weight, and personal preferences. Are you a side sleeper who requires extra cushioning for pressure relief? Or perhaps you suffer from back pain and need adequate support to align your spine? Understanding your needs will narrow down the options and steer you towards the most suitable mattress type.

Types of Mattresses

Innerspring Mattresses: These traditional mattresses feature coil springs encased in layers of padding. They offer excellent support and breathability, making them a preferred choice for hot sleepers. However, they may not provide sufficient motion isolation, and over time, the coils can wear out, leading to discomfort.

Memory Foam Mattresses: Memory foam mattresses contour to your body shape, relieving pressure points and promoting spinal alignment. They excel in motion isolation and are ideal for couples sharing a bed. Keep in mind that memory foam retains heat, which could be problematic for those prone to overheating during sleep, or during especially warm weather

Latex Mattresses: Made from natural or synthetic latex foam, these mattresses are renowned for their durability and responsiveness. Latex offers a balance of support and comfort, with added benefits such as hypoallergenic properties and resistance to dust mites and mold.

Hybrid Mattresses: Combining the best of both worlds, hybrid mattresses feature a combination of innerspring coils and foam layers. This hybrid construction aims to provide optimal support, pressure relief, and breathability. Hybrid mattresses cater to a wide range of sleep preferences and are suitable for various body types.

Adjustable Air Mattresses: These innovative mattresses allow you to customise the firmness level by adjusting the air pressure in chambers within the mattress. Ideal for couples with different firmness preferences or individuals seeking precise control over their sleep surface, adjustable air mattresses offer unparalleled versatility.

Factors to Consider

Firmness: Contrary to popular belief, firmer isn't always better. The ideal firmness level varies depending on your body type, sleeping position, and personal preference. While some may find firmer mattresses more supportive, others prefer a softer feel for added cushioning.

Durability: A mattress is a long-term investment, so durability is key. Look for high-quality materials and reputable brands that are famed for their longevity. Consider factors such as foam density, coil gauge, and warranty coverage to gauge the mattress's durability.

Motion Isolation: If you share your bed with a partner or pet/s, motion isolation becomes crucial to prevent disturbances during sleep. Memory foam and latex mattresses excel in this aspect, minimising motion transfer and ensuring uninterrupted rest.

Temperature Regulation: Overheating can disrupt sleep and affect overall comfort. Opt for mattresses with breathable materials or advanced cooling technologies to regulate temperature and promote airflow.

Trial Period and Warranty: A reputable mattress retailer should offer a generous trial period, allowing you to test the mattress in the comfort of your home. Additionally, verify the warranty coverage, including terms and conditions, to safeguard your investment against manufacturing defects.

Choosing the correct mattress is a very personal decision requiring careful, sensible consideration of a variety of different factors. By identifying and understanding your unique needs, exploring different mattress types, and evaluating key features, you can make an informed choice that enhances your sleep quality and overall well-being. 

Remember, investing in a quality mattress isn't just about a good night's sleep. It's an investment in your health and vitality. So, rest easy knowing that your perfect mattress awaits, ready to provide the comfort and support you deserve.

The impetuous for writing this blogpost? Our mattress went "ping!" and we realised that we needed to do some research on to the optimal new mattress. For our needs, we opted for a hybrid mattress.

Bedroom World Offers Up to 60% Off Diverse Range of Premium Beds

Bedroom World is known in the home improvements world for its commitment to supplying an eclectic range of beds at competitive prices. This month, the beds specialists are offering customers up to 60% off their already low prices at a time when people across the nation continue to feel the squeeze.

Bedroom World is a one stop shop for homeowners looking for new beds, bed frames and accessories. Customers are offered a diverse range of beds in all shapes and sizes, from single beds to king size beds for both children and adults.

Homeowners looking for the ultimate in comfort may find the Dorset Deluxe Luxury Bedstead to meet their requirements. Boasting luxury elegance, the Dorset bed oozes a contemporary style which is sure to inject personality into the home. Currently with 44% off its original price, the bed can be bought for just £99.99.

For those looking for a bed like no other, the Stanton Bonded Leather TV Bed incorporates style, comfort and practicality. Homeowners are invited to relax and entertain the Stanton TV Bed from Bedroom World. Right now, customers can save £2020 and pay just £1199.99 for this leather TV bed complete with 32” HD 3D television.

Bedroom World continues to offer customers money saving promotions with its current mattress sale. Homeowners purchasing a bed from Bedroom World can save an additional 15% off selected mattresses.

Browse the full range of beds and accessories at Bedroom World by visiting BedroomWorld.co.uk.

Turn Your Bedroom Into A Boudoir With the new Hepburn bedstead from Dreams

Spring time calls for new projects - so what better way to start, than transforming your bedroom into a sumptuous boudoir with the Hepburn bedstead?

The Hepburn bedstead is incredibly chic in design, richly upholstered in beautiful amethyst velvet with a deeply set buttoned headboard and rolling scroll ends.

To ensure you enjoy a great night's sleep as well as making a stylish statement in your home, Dreams offers the Hepburn bedstead with a choice of solid slats, which provide a firm base to your mattress, or sprung slats for a softer feel.

To complete the transformation of normal bedroom into luxurious boudoir, just add beautiful bed linen and cushions!

The Hepburn bedstead is available in king and super king sizes from £599.

FACTFILE:
Dreams is the UK's biggest bed specialist, with over 275 Bed superstores nationwide
Over 25 years experience offering everything for a great night's sleep
Dreams extensive ranges combine the very latest in sleep technology with exclusive styles and designs to offer Britain's largest choice of beds
Dreams has its own bed factory right here in the UK and is now one of the country's largest manufacturers of beds and mattresses.

March is National Bed Month

70% of Brits don’t believe they are getting enough sleep
52% think a bad mattress could be to blame
37% take less than 5 minutes to choose a new mattress
34% of women blame their partners hogging of the duvet for disturbed sleep

March is National Bed Month, a month-long celebration dedicated to the importance of a good night’s rest - so with approaching days getting longer (the clocks go forward by one hour on March 26th) the importance of quality sleep in your life is a hot health topic.

A recent study of 3,000 adults in the UK by home furnishings experts IKEA shows nearly three quarters (72%) take under ten minutes to choose the mattress they are likely to sleep on for the next eight years. In fact a third of those questioned make this crucial decision in less than five minutes. According to the research, that’s the same amount of time people take choosing their lunch each day.

The main reason behind these hasty purchases appears be the great British reserve, which research shows is alive and well as nearly a third (31%) of those surveyed admitted to feeling shy and embarrassed when testing a mattress. A further 26% admitted that they would be too embarrassed to even lie down on a mattress in-store before purchasing it.

Bedroom experts IKEA recommend testing a mattress properly by lying down on it, moving into different positions and simulating sleep for a minimum of 10 minutes. Yet bedroom shy Brits regularly avoid these practices. IKEA found that only 15% of couples would lie down on a mattress to test it together, with an even shyer percentage (9%) believing the best method to test a mattress before buying it was to push down with their hands or to sit on the edge for a few moments.

Sleep expert Jim Horne believes our British reserve could be keeping us up at night. He says, "I’ve always been puzzled why people spend so little time choosing a bed when they are going to spend maybe a third of their daily lives in such close contact with it. During sleep the body relaxes, so it’s important that when choosing a mattress one takes time to physically and mentally loosen up and test it properly."

Pippa Swain, IKEA UK and Ireland bedrooms manager, adds, “Our research shows that the great British reserve is alive and well, with embarrassment and shyness preventing customers from finding the right mattress for their sleeping behaviour. But when you’re going to live with your mattress for such a long time, it’s important to take the time to choose one that you’re comfortable with.”

FACTFILE:
IKEA have launched a new free 'happy to bed' mobile app, that sends you to bed at the perfect time and in the perfect mood for sleep. It monitors sleep patterns and offers hints and tips to make all the difference to getting a good night’s kip. The app can be downloaded free at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/happy-to-bed/id488685327?mt=8

Use the IKEA online tool to get some tips and ideas of what type of mattress would suit you at http://www.IKEA.co.uk/mattressguide. IKEA offer a ‘try it at home’ service where you can try your mattress out for 90 days at home, and if it’s not right you can bring it back and change it for another one. IKEA mattresses also come with a free 25 year guarantee.

IKEA was established in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad at the age of 17, in Småland, Sweden.

IKEA is the world’s leading home furnishing retailer with a grand total of 280 IKEA stores in 26 countries/territories that are visited by 626 million people every year. IKEA UK has 18 stores and IKEA Ireland has 1 store. The first IKEA store in the UK was opened in Warrington in 1987.

The IKEA Group has 127,000 co-workers in 40 different countries over four continents. 103,500 in Europe, 15,500 in North America and 8,000 in Asia and Australia. There are 9,000 employees currently working at IKEA UK and Ireland organisation.

IKEA has a range of 9,500 different home furnishing products.

Sales for the IKEA Group for the financial year 2010 increased by 1.7 per cent to a total of 23.1 billion euros. Despite the tough economic climate, IKEA UK & Ireland has reported that total sales for the year to 31 August 2010 rose by 1.1% to £1.2 billion.

Last year, IKEA stores welcomed a total of 712 million visitors across the world and IKEA had 42.3 million visitors in the UK stores

Last year, the annual IKEA catalogue was printed in 197 million copies, 61 editions and in 29 languages. In total, the catalogue was read by 400 million people in 41 countries. Ingvar Kamprad penned all the text himself until 1963.

(EDITOR: Don't forget the Swedish cheeses in the Ikea Food Court!)

Vi-Spring’s Wonderful Wool Bed on Parade at The Lord Mayor’s show

Britain's luxury bed-maker, Vi-Spring, is supporting the Campaign for Wool at the 2011 Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday 12th November. Joining the procession alongside Worshipful Woolmen, Vi-Spring will be parading through London with its new, sumptuously soft, all-wool bed, The Shetland.

The Campaign’s Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, convened the initiative to rejuvenate the image of real wool in January 2010, after seeing that its natural, sustainable origin and highly technical structure can offer interiors and fashion many superior benefits.

Naturally luxurious, wool is uniquely suited to bed making thanks to a combination of softness, warmth and resilience. Vi-Spring is the only bed maker in the world to use Real Shetland Wool. It’s master-craftsmen hand-fill each and every bed with more British fleece wool than any other bed maker. This is part of Vi-Spring’s support for Campaign for Wool and commitment to using one of Britain’s finest resources to increase demand for wool and preserve this precious industry.

The Procession will be lead by the 684th Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman David Wootton.

The Procession starts at London’s Guildhall at 11.00am on November 12th. It travels down to Mansion House then crosses the City via Bank and St Pauls to deliver the new Lord Mayor to the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand at about 12.40. While the Lord Mayor pledges loyalty in the ancient ceremony, the procession re-forms for the return leg, which sets off down the Embankment at 1pm and finishes back at Mansion House around 2.30.

FACTFILE:

Vi-Spring believes that sleeping on the right bed can be a truly life-changing experience. All Vi-Spring mattresses are handmade to order in the company’s workshops in Devon. It’s an uncompromising approach, but because sleep is such a deeply personal part of life, it’s really the only way to ensure that every bed is not only supremely comfortable, but also fits its owner like a glove.

Founded in 1901, Vi-Spring was the first bed maker to produce an interior sprung mattress using a system of individually pocketed springs that changed the way beds were made.

Vi-Spring has never wavered from its original philosophy of using the best craftsmanship and quality materials to produce the finest beds in the world, and this is why Vi-Spring beds have been the only choice for anyone who demands the best for over one hundred years.