There's no doubt that beds can be shockingly expensive – even if we do spend a third of our lives in them. We know you should spend as much as you can afford on the mattress, but you also need to consider the base on which it sits. If your expensive mattress isn't properly supported, then nor is your back, so the whole thing is a waste of money.Let's put it another way – you can expect to spend about 25 years of your life in bed, so a £2,000 bed used for 10 years works out at 55p a night. This is a formula that women have been using for years to justify the amount of money they spend on shoes, so you might as well put it to good use at home. The next question is what sort of bed you should buy. There is a lot of easily accessible information on the different types of mattress, none of which has anything to do with the design of your home, so we shall be looking solely at bases here. Divans are the most popular choice of bed in this country, though they do suffer from an image problem.
They are often popular because they usually have large storage boxes hidden in the base, though as one retailer said cuttingly: "There comes a point when you value comfort above style." Which probably tells you what you need to know in the great debate about divans versus slats. The Sleep Council divides them into four main types: Sprung edge consists of a spring inside a frame. This supports the mattress evenly all over and acts like a giant shock absorber which will prolong the life of the mattress. Solid or platform top has a rigid top panel often made from hardboard which will be cheaper and firmer than a sprung edge base. Firm edge has a smaller number of larger springs within a wooden frame. Flexible slatted divans use soft woods in a frame to allow a small amount of springiness. You can adjust the tension of some of the slats to suit personal requirements. Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council says: "The manufacturers would argue that if you have a pocket-sprung mattress, then the divan offers the best support for that and the mattress will last longer."
Tina Mahony, of Go Modern, an online business specialising in bedroom furniture, says simply: "Divans are so restrictive in terms of style. The Italians are the leaders in bedroom furniture and you won't find them making a divan – it's all about style for them and with a divan your only choice is to alter the headboard." Some manufacturers have woken up to this – hence the rash of leather and upholstered headboards now available. Bedsteads are growing in popularity, due mainly to the fact that they come in so many styles, including wood, iron, upholstered leather – you name it. They now make up more than 40 per cent of the market, according to The Sleep Council. Bedsteads support the mattress on wooden slats. The gap between the slats should be no more than 3in, as the greater the gap, the less the support – and the greater the wear and tear that will result on the mattress. The slats can be either rigid or you can buy adjustable ones. The rigid ones will make the bed feel significantly firmer, but work against the mattress, as it has to do all the work of adjusting to a person's movements and weight.
Sprung slats work with the mattress, thus prolonging its life. Jessica Alexander says: "If you don't want a divan, then sprung slats are the next best thing, as you can change the tension in places to suit you. The more slats there are, the firmer the support, although the gaps do provide ventilation." *The term "orthopaedic" just means an extra-firm bed. It is not based on any medical standard. *Narrow your choice to two or three, and spend a minimum of 10 minutes lying in each in your normal sleeping positions. If you are buying a base without a mattress, ask the retailer to move a mattress the same as yours on to the base, so you can tell if it is comfortable. *One way to check if the mattress is too hard or soft is by lying on your back, with your hand in the small of your back, and trying to wiggle your fingers. If it moves too easily the bed may be too hard. If it's difficult to move your hand, it's probably too soft. Orla Kiely Lambay Bed, £1,495 The redoubtable Ms Kiely has moved into furniture;
her collection is only at Heals. The retro-style frame is made from American black walnut and the headboard incorporates floating shelves on either side. Barcelona white lacquer bed, £549 Not only is this half the price of the Italian bed, but it was designed and made in the UK. Perfect for the contemporary bedroom, the range includes a simple cuboid bedside table, as well as a dressing table and wardrobe, though that might all be a bit matchy-matchy for some tastes. Designed by Peter Ross, this simple bed is fully covered in either leather or fabric. All the covers are fully removable for washing and you can buy extra covers if you fancy changing the look between summer and winter. It can also be bought with a storage base underneath – echoing the useful part of the divan. Made in hide, with built-in lighting, this bed just hints at what a bed could be in a huge room – with a budget to match. Chaplins has hundreds of other "statement" beds, at a range of prices.
Versailles upholstered, from £2,750 Doesn't everyone want to hide under the bedclothes when the real world gets tough? This bed responds to that desire by using silver leaf and crackled gold glaze to impart a sense of drama. The company, And So To Bed, also includes the Bonaparte, Churchill, Juliet and Josephine in this particular line. Warren Evans use only FSC-certified wood, and everything is made by hand. If you want a plain, well-made wooden bedframe, this is the place to come, but this upholstered bed is also a simple design that comes with the option of matching underbed storage.A mattress can cost up to £3,000, but you don't need to pay this much to buy the best. We explain how to find the best mattress for you. Your browser does not support the video tagWant to buy the best mattress for you? Deciding which type of mattress you want is only part of the story. If you want a mattress that you'll be happy with for years to come, you also need to make a few other good decisions.
Keep reading, as we'll help you to make those key decisions to ensure you get the best mattress for a good night's sleep. From the best way to try out a mattress in a shop to make sure it's going to be right for you, to what you need to look for in a mattress guarantee to make sure you don't get caught out. We've put mattresses of all types through our tough tests - go to our mattress reviews to find the one that's best for you.Buy a mattress from a trusted brand46% of Which? members bought their mattress because it's made by a brand they trust. If you're not sure what the best mattress brands are, we can help. Check out our guide to the best and worst mattress brands. This reveals what people think of the brand of mattress they own, including how comfortable it is, and includes major brands such as Silentnight, Sleepeezee and Sealy.How much do you need to spend on a new mattress?A new mattress can cost anywhere between a couple of hundred pounds and several thousand. Factors like brand, size and the type of materials used can all have a significant impact on cost.
We've found you don't need to spend a fortune to get a mattress that supports your spine and lasts for years.But our mattress tests have found that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a mattress that will support your spine and last for years to come. Sort our mattress reviews by price to find our cheapest Best Buys.Which type of mattress should you get?The type of mattress you choose all comes down to your personal preference and budget. members choose pocket-sprung mattresses. But unlike memory foam mattresses, they don't mould to your shape. You'll also see continuous coil and open coil mattresses, which are usually cheaper than the other types of mattress, and latex mattresses.For more information about mattress types, see our guide to choosing the best type of mattress.Try the mattress before you buyBuying a mattress online may be cheaper and more convenient but, if you can, it’s best to try a mattress before you buy. Even if you feel awkward doing this in a shop, don't let this put you off - you're going to be sleeping on the mattress for years, so it's important you make the right choice.
When we asked Which? members about their experience of buying a mattress, over a third of them told us they feel intimidated trying out a mattress in the shop. A good mattress shop - see our guide revealing the best mattress shops - shouldn't mind you doing this.When you go shopping for a new mattress, wear comfortable clothing and remove your outdoor gear. Lie on a mattress for at least 10 minutes, in positions that you normally sleep in.Sit on the edge of the mattress – it should be firm, not saggy. Don’t shop for beds when you’re tired, as all the mattresses will feel great.If you’re buying a memory foam mattress, relax in one position, then move into another. Was it easy or did you struggle to move? If the latter, you might find the memory mattress will restrict your movement too much, especially in cold weather when the memory foam will be harder.Don't let sales assistants influence you – they can’t decide whether the mattress is comfortable. If the bed is for two, shop together.
Make sure your mattress fits your bed baseManufacturers encourage you to buy a mattress and bed base together, and this is a good idea if you’ve had your old base for many years.If you buy the mattress and base separately, or are going to keep your old base, measure carefully to make sure they’re a good fit. Dimensions can vary so don’t rely on a new double mattress being exactly the same size as your old one.Is your mattress going on a slatted base? Then make sure that the slats are no more than 6cm wide or more than 4cm apart. This ensures sufficient ventilation, whilst preventing the mattress sagging through between the slats.Check the guarantee/warranty on your mattressMake sure you know what your rights are if there's a problem with your mattress. Each of our mattress brand reviews has information on the different guarantees that come with each mattress, so you won't get caught out.Most guarantees for mattresses will not cover gradual wear and tear, which leads to loss of support.