Essential Guide To Buying A Bed

Whether you're looking for a new bed or mattress, a duvet or pillows, our essential bed buyer's guide will help you have the best night's sleep ever.

Buying A Bedstead

If your bed's more than 10 years old, you wake up with aches and pains, are not sleeping well, or your mattress shows signs of wear and tear, it's time to buy a new one.

Do Your Research

There are literally thousands of beds, frames and mattresses to choose from. And since there's no such thing as the perfect one for anyone, it pays to do your research first.

Get The Biggest You Can

When shopping for a bed frame, getting the biggest you can will mean more space to move around, less disturbance by your partner, and a better night's sleep.

It's a mystery how we became wedded to the classic double bed. At 4ft 6in (135cm) wide it hardly gives two adults room to get a good night's sleep. Provided your room can take it, a king size, just a tad wider at 5ft (150cm) or a super king bed at a luxurious 6ft (180cm), is a better option. A bed should ideally be 4 to 6in (10 to 15cm) longer than the tallest person sleeping in it, so king and super king sizes at 6ft 6in (200cm) long have the edge on standard doubles at just 6ft 3in (190cm). These are mattress sizes; a bedstead will be bigger, so measure your room to make sure the furniture will fit and you have space to move around.

Will It Suit My Room?

In a big room an expansive four-poster bed or glamorous bateau lit will be star of the show. For contemporary looks, opt for a penthouse-style sleek platform bed with an oversized headboard that's more a console, incorporating bedside tables and lighting.

What To Buy For A Small Room?

A small room is more of a challenge. A divan doesn't take up as much space as a bedstead and you can glam it up with an impressive headboard. A huge plus is its storage drawers tucked into the base - make sure there's room either side to open them, without bumping into bedside cabinets.

Other options are a bed with a base that lifts up to reveal storage or a headboard with pull-out shelves. If you hanker for a fancy bedstead in a smaller room, go for a metal bed, or one with a slatted wooden headboard - either will look more airy and spacious than solid wood.

Why A Bedstead?

A bedstead is the best way to make a big impression style-wise, and they're available in every design you can think up, from classic brass to polished wood, sumptuous upholstered styles, and contemporary metal. They usually have slatted bases, though you may find flexible or rigid wire mesh supports, or even a sprung base. For easy access, bedsteads are supplied in sections that bolt together. Antique and continental beds are often different sizes to ours, though you can get mattresses made to fit. The downside to bedsteads is the lack of storage, though separate drawers on castors are an option.