7 Essentials You Must Know Before Buying a New Bed

Buying a new bed may seem like a fairly straightforward task, but get the purchase wrong and it could be an expensive mistake. At best you could find yourself replacing a lower quality bed sooner than you think. Even worse, a poor buy could lead to uncomfortable and sleepless nights.

Read our 7 bed-shopping tips, before you invest to guarantee a perfect purchase for the ultimate night’s rest.

Spend as much as you possibly can

There’s no price to be put on the value of a decent night’s sleep. Given that we spend almost a third of our lifetimes in bed, don’t make the mistake of skimping on budget when it comes to buying a new one. A cheap bed will almost certainly be a false economy. If your budget is tighter than you’d like, try shopping in the sales.

Shop for best value, not the cheapest price. Remember, the more you can invest, the longer your bed will last. There are perfectly acceptable lower priced beds, especially during sales.

Measure up for the biggest bed possible

Bed size matters when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, especially if you share a bed with your partner.  Measure up your bedroom space and shop for the biggest bed size you can fit in.

Standard double beds are just 4ft 6in wide, which doesn’t leave much room for two average-sized adults. In fact, a standard double gives each person just 2ft 3in of space, which is less than a baby’s cot!

According to The Sleep Council, partner disturbance is one of the most common complaints for poor sleep. If your bed isn’t big enough, it could be contributing to the problem. If your partner is tossing and turning all night and you are in close proximity, the nudges are bound to wake you up. Upsizing your bed could bring you the benefit of better sleep.

Buy the bed and mattress together

If possible buy your new bed and mattress together. Generally, bed bases and mattresses are designed to work together. However, if you are shopping purely to replace a worn-out mattress, at least try mattresses on a similar bed base to the one you have at home.

The commonly held view that it is important to replace your mattress every 7-8 years isn’t a marketing ploy. It’s the advice given by many health experts. An old, worn-out mattress isn’t very supportive and could contribute to poor sleep, and back and neck pain.

In addition, mattresses are home to bacteria and are a breeding grounds for dust mites and germs. Foam mattresses house the most bacteria. The best types of mattresses are those made using natural fillings, such as those made by Hypnos or Vispring. Find out more about buying a new mattress here.

If you are switching to a different type of mattress that works best on a different base than the one you have at home, it is a good idea to replace your bed base to a more suitable one at the same time.

Only add extras if you can afford them

When buying a new bed, it’s easy to get carried away with the extras, such as a fancy headboard or storage drawers. While the look of your bed may seem like the most important aspect of bed buying, comfort should definitely come first.

If you can spend an extra few hundred pounds on your bed base and mattress by downgrading the headboard and storage options, it’s worth doing. Comfort definitely outweighs aesthetics.

Take bed shopping seriously

Properly preparing yourself for bed shopping shouldn’t be underestimated in its importance. Go shopping in a hurry or when you are feeling tired and you are more likely to choose the wrong type of bed and mattress.

Set aside enough time to shop properly. If your bed is for two, ensure your partner goes with you. Wear comfortable clothes and take your time. Rash purchases aren’t usually good ones. See the Which guide to bed shopping here for tips on getting the best bed for you.

Try, try and try again

There really is no other way to find the perfect mattress for you other than to try. You wouldn’t buy a new clothes or shoes without trying them on. You would want to make sure they fit first. The same goes for ensuring the bed you buy is the most comfortable fit for you.

As comfort is very subjective, it is important that you take your partner along with you. This is especially important if you are wildly different in size and weight, or if you sleep in different positions (back sleepers tend to require firmer beds than those who sleep on their sides).

Compare retailers’ services

One last cost-saving piece of advice is to check the retailer’s services. What are the delivery charges and how quickly can they deliver? Do they offer free disposal of your old bed? Charges for delivery and old bed or mattress disposal can add considerably to the cost. If you can find the same or similar bed with another supplier the savings on delivery and disposal could enable you to upgrade to a bigger or better model.

For more information on buying a new bed, see The Sleep council’s bed buying guide here.

Good luck, happy shopping and happy zzzs.