Choosing your bed

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Sleeping on an uncomfortable bed could cost you up to an hour's good sleep a night, according to Professor Chris Idzikowski of the London Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service.

John Lewis beds are hand-made by some of Britain’s most established and experienced bed-makers, with a reputation for meeting the highest quality standards. Use this guide to help you get a restful night’s sleep.

Points to consider
How to choose your bed
Different types of bed
Choosing a mattress
John Lewis Partner quotes
Oak Provencal Bedstead
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Points to consider
  • A bed is an important investment...especially when you consider that every £100 you spend on a bed represents just 2.7p a night over 10 years.
  • The best bed for you isn't necessarily the most expensive bed...though it's worth spending as much as you can afford to get a really good mattress.
  • The average lifespan of a bed...or at least the mattress, is about 8-10 years. After regular use a bed may have deteriorated by as much as 75% from its original condition.
  • An old bed isn't hygienic...we sweat as much as half to a full pint of fluid a night, and house dust mites accumulate in beds too.

    Consider also the space you need at night. While you may plump for a standard double bed, a W150 x L200cm kingsize bed gives couples more room to relax and stretch out during sleep.
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    How to choose your bed
    Try! We always recommend that you visit one of our shops to try out a bed before ordering online or by phone. (Unfortunately we're unable to refund or exchange on mattresses that have been unwrapped or used for hygiene reasons.)

    Take it easy Take some time out and lie down. You spend a third of your life in bed, so it's vital that you make the right choice.

    Comfortably numb? A good way to check if the bed you are lying on is too soft, too hard, or just right is to lie on your back, placing your hand in the small of your back and then trying to move it about. If it moves too easily, the bed may be too hard for you; if it's a struggle to move your hand, then the bed is too soft. If you can move your hand with just a little resistance, the bed may be just right for you.

    Roll with it Try the bed in all of the sleeping positions you tend to use, not only on your back, and try a selection of beds for comparison.

    It takes two If you share a bed, take your partner with you. Remember, it's important a new bed suits both of you.    		 A women relaxing on soft bedding
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    Different types of bed
    Bedsteads are more decorative and will provide a definite classic or contemporary look to your bedroom. A 'bowed slat' (or 'sprung slat') bedstead will give more cushioned support than 'solid slat'.

    Divans act as bases for mattresses and either have springs which allow the mattress to adapt to the body's contours, or a solid top which provides firmer support. A divan is useful if you're tight on space as most are available with drawers to provide additional storage.

    A headboard is of course an optional extra - most of our divans are sold without so you have a more flexible choice. Choose from our extensive selection of headboards, some of which are part of a co-ordinating collection of bedroom furniture.

    Guest/folding and storage beds provide flexible solutions for overnight guests. With a small bedroom, it makes sense to use your bed as a secondary storage option.

    Storage beds feature built-in drawers that free up valuable space in other parts of the bedroom. Another space-saving feature is divan storage - revealed by opening the top of the bed with an easy-to-operate mechanism.
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    Choosing a mattress
    It's worth spending as much as you can afford to get a really good mattress.

    Click here to see our buying guide for mattresses

    		 Mattress
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    John Lewis Partner quotes
    "Of course you’ll plan to make sure your room will accommodate the piece of furniture you’re buying – but don’t forget to measure the doorway to ensure you can get it in. There’s no such thing as a standard door!"
    Jane, Furniture Partner, John Lewis Glasgow
    "One of the most common complaints customers have about their bedroom is that it's too small. That’s where the guest or storage bed really comes into its own, as a space saver and way of keeping clutter at bay."
    Yaana, Furniture Partner, John Lewis High Wycombe
       
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