Beds Buying Guide

John Lewis Oakfield bedroom furniture

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, and browse our beds here.

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.)

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.

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.

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.


Different types of bed

John Lewis Memory Non Sprung Drawer Divan BaseDivans
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.

John Lewis Kerala Bedstead, Kingsize 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'.

John Lewis Denver Headboard, KingsizeA 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.

John Lewis Sullivan Oak Storage BedStorage 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.

John Lewis Newton Guest BedGuest/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.


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 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.

Choosing a mattress

It's worth spending as much as you can afford to get a really good mattress.

See our buying guide to mattresses

Watch the video showing how the best mattresses are made
Back to shopping

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