H OUSE & GARDEN national BED MONTH 2018
Are You Sleeping On The Right Bed? National Bed Month - March 2018
“You should spend as much as you can afford on a new bed – it’s probably one of the most important investments you’ll make”
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arch signals the annual awareness event, National Bed Month – the month dedicated to improving a good night’s kip with a comfortable, supportive bed. As a good night’s sleep can’t always be guaranteed, it is up to you to regularly assess your sleep quality and comfort levels. It may, or may not, seem obvious but the best place to start when working towards a better night’s sleep is your bed. So, what is the right bed? It’s not easy to make specific recommendations, as there’s such a huge choice on the market. The Sleep Council provides an independent source of advice on bed buying – as well as to raise awareness of the importance of getting a good night’s sleep to health and wellbeing. First and foremost your bed must give you correct support and comfort, and if you suffer from back pain, allergies or breathing problems it is crucial more attention is given to choosing the bed that is right for you. Size is important. The most common British double bed size of 4ft 6in x 6ft 3in (135cm x 190cm) really isn’t big enough for two to sleep well
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without disturbing each other: studies have shown that more space – even a slight move up to a 5ft x 6ft 6in (150cm x 200cm) King size bed – can make a lot of difference to night-time comfort. Always consider both the mattress and its support, whether divan base or bedstead. They work together to create the overall feel and performance of a bed, with different combinations producing differing results. If you are not buying a base and mattress from the same supplier, make sure the mattress is suitable for use with the type of support you are considering: if you don’t, lack of durability could be a problem, with no comeback to the supplier. You should spend as much as you can afford on a new bed – it’s probably one of the most important investments you’ll make, not just for your home but also for your own wellbeing! Remember, every £100 you spend represents just 2.7p a night over 10 years. Once you’ve got your new bed, do remember that it won’t stay wonderful forever – beds get a lot of wear and tear! Over time, your comfort and support needs change, too. Do the Bed MOT test once a year, National Bed Month is a good time to consider the state of your bed and your sleep and comfort quality. Visit www.sleepcouncil.com for more advice. The Sleep Council is funded by the bed industry.