HOUSE & GARDEN
Are You Sleeping On The Right Bed? National Bed Month - March 2016
The right bed is extremely important to our health and wellbeing because our sleeping environment will affect the quality of our sleep – which in turn has a big effect on how well we feel, both physically and psychologically.
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bed with the correct support, comfort and space will ensure you wake less, move about less, are less disturbed by your partner and are less likely to wake up feeling tired or aching. So, what is the right bed? It’s not easy to make specific recommendations. There’s such a huge choice on the market place and the key deciding factor – is it comfortable – is such a subjective measure. “All we can do is give people an overview of the different types of bed available and tips on how to go about the process of choosing the right bed for them,” explains Sleep Council spokesperson Jessica Alexander. The Sleep Council was set up to provide 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. According to The Sleep Council, Goldilocks had the right idea: the right bed’s neither too soft nor too hard – but it suits everyone’s very individual needs. First and foremost it must give you correct support and comfort – but individuals might also have to consider factors such as back pain, allergies, breathing problems, available budget, whether a type of mattress makes you too hot, storage or space requirements: not to mention style preferences. 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 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, 144 MARCH2016
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. There are many types – and prices of beds – from which to choose, each offering their own features and benefits. Mattresses come with various types of internal spring unit – open coil, pocket sprung or continuous springing – in ordinary foam, visco-elastic or latex foam, filled with cotton or other fibres (futons!). 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, which runs throughout March, is a good time to consider the state of your bed and your sleep and comfort quality. Visit www.sleepcouncil.com to take the Bed MOT, New Bed Profile, reach bed-buying and sleep tips, and watch videos that help people sleep better or select the right bed for them. The Sleep Council is a generic organisation which seeks to promote the importance of a good night’s sleep to health and wellbeing and the advantages associated with a comfortable bed, regularly replaced. In addition to advice on how to get a good night’s sleep, the Sleep Council provides tips on choosing the right bed. The Sleep Council is funded by the bed industry.