There is a common misunderstanding that firm mattresses are better for your back. However, a mattress is like a piece of clothing; it should fit your own personal shape, size and weight. A mattress should fit to the contours of your body, but each mattress responds differently, depending on your weight.
As a rule of thumb the heavier you are, the firmer your mattress should be. The mattress needs to be firmer to balance out your body weight. The lighter a person, the softer and more yielding a mattress should be.
To get the correct support, your body weight needs to engage the springs. Then you get the support in the correct areas of your neck, shoulders, lower back, bottom and hips.
A light person on a firm mattress is not heavy enough to engage the springs: because the springs are not being engaged, they offer no support. A heavier person on a soft mattress engages the springs too much, so the springs stop working and give no support.
As a guide to finding the correct level of support a mattress is giving you, lie on your back, then slide the flat of your hand under the arch of your back. If there is a large space then the mattress is not giving you enough support and is too firm. If you can’t get your hand under your back then you are over engaging the springs and the mattress is too soft. Your hand should slide in easily while your back touches the mattress.
The more springs in a mattress the more defined the support. Think of it as springs per square inch of your body.
Lying on 5,000 springs is more comfortable than lying on 1,000. The comfort is more refined to every part of your body.
Mattress fillings make a big difference to the way a mattress feels and behaves. The more fillings a mattress contains, the more sumptuous the feel of the mattress. The type of fillings are important. We only use natural materials because they create a better sleeping environment and they are also much better for the environment.
Natural materials keep air circulating in the mattress, and they take moisture and perspiration away from your body.
The wool we use is naturally elastic; it keeps its structure so your mattress keeps its comfort. Many man made fibres do not have this natural resilience to pressure.
The most comfortable mattress means nothing if your bed is too small.
You may have the most loving relationship, but having enough space to sleep is one of the most important factors. Also if you are starting a family, no matter how strong your resolve or firm your intentions - you often find more bodies in the bed come morning than were there when the night began.
So when buying your mattress, we highly recommend you consider getting the biggest mattress you can comfortably fit into your bedroom.
Our advice is to buy the most comfortable mattress you can afford, and the bed frame or divan you like.
Our mattresses will last longer than 10 years. That’s a minimum of 3,650 nights sleep, or if you spend £1500 on a mattress, less than £0.50 per night. We think a goods night’s sleep is worth every penny.
When you are younger (20’s) you can sleep on a park bench (literally)…but as you get older (late 30’s / 40’s) sleep becomes more elusive, and you then have to buy a better mattress with deeper fillings.
It’s important to take your time, spend at least 15 minutes on the mattress you decide on. Don’t wear tight clothing, take your coat off - even your shoes. Wear something comfortable, you don’t need to be in your pyjamas.
Have a cup of tea or coffee and relax… never rush your decision.
Can’t decide between two or three equally suitable products? Think about the retailer’s service – e.g. quick delivery, guarantee or warranty offered, free disposal of your old bed, or even just the chemistry between yourself and the salesman.
Traditional pocket sprung mattresses offer better support than open coil mattresses. They’re good if you’re a different weight to your partner because they offer stability from edge to edge. Pocket sprung mattresses will also feel more luxurious to lie on.
Learn more about different mattress types here
After delivery the mattress should be aired for 4 hours to freshen and remove any aroma from storage. The mattress should be aired on a weekly basis by turning back the bedlinen for a few hours. A mattress protector or an under blanket below the sheet is recommended to keep your mattress clean, dust-free and mite-free.
Historically mattresses needed turning a number of times a year, but most of our range has been designed with new spring technology and fillings and are single sided, putting all the fillings on the sleeping side of the mattress. This not only improves the mattress comfort, but also removes the hugely arduous, lung busting, quarterly mattress flip.
