Buying a bed is not like buying anything else, as it is the one piece of furniture that you’re going to be using for around 8 hours a day.
It has to tick all of the right boxes in order for you to get a good night’s sleep and for it to look great in your bedroom.
This definitive guide to buying a bed is perfect for those who want to upgrade what they have; whether it is for a brand new home or just to refresh the bedroom.
Use your old bed for inspiration
Before you start thinking about all of the things you want in a new bed, take a look at your old one. What did you particularly like or not like about the bed you had before?
Was it too small? Too hard? Did it make your bedroom look better?
Make a list of the pros and cons surrounding the bed you’ll soon be replacing.
This will help you decide what you’re looking for in a new bed, without making the same mistakes and buying something you dislike.
Bigger the better
Size does matter when it comes to your bed, especially if you are sharing it with another person.
If two of you are sleeping in the same bed, then you need something that is large enough for you to both roll around and fidget in.
Constantly bumping into each other during the night is not going to give any of you a decent sleep.
Make sure you don’t go overboard, however, and only pick something that is going to fit your bedroom.
When you go to measure your potential new bed, ensure you measure across the whole thing, not just where the mattress is going to sit.
Pick a frame
When it comes to picking a frame there are two key things to consider:
- What will it look like in the bedroom?
- How durable is it?
Of course the first thing people are going to go for, when picking a frame, is the aesthetics; if it looks good then generally we are going to want to buy it.
However, you need to think about what it will look like in your bedroom and whether it goes with the other decor.
Unless you’re planning on decorating the whole room around you bed? Secondly, you need to think about the durability and sturdiness of the frame.
As a general rule of thumb, you are looking at metal frames for strength and durability, but each bed is different.
Pick a mattress
So, you’ve got your new bed frame picked out, and it is certainly big enough for two. Now you have to decide what mattress you want.
This is one of the hardest parts of choosing a bed, because there are so many different types to pick from.
Do you want hard or soft? Memory foam or coils? Thick or thin?
Don’t be blown away by all the questions you might get asked when mattress shopping and instead just try them all.
You might find that a harder mattress is actually better for your back than the soft one you’ve been craving.
Or perhaps memory foam isn’t as exciting as you had hoped. By testing a good range of mattresses, you should be able to find what suits you in no time at all.
We hope we haven’t made shopping for beds sound too daunting!
There is a lot to think about, but a good bed will last for years and years, so it is important to make an informed decision.
When you lay on your new bed, you’ll be glad you thought about it and didn’t just dive into a purchase.