Ideally, everyone would spend 8 hours each day in bed sleeping. Though not all of us have the time to follow this rule, we do spend a lot of time in bed and the bed we spend it in has a lot to do with how comfortable we are during the night and day. This is a big purchase and the decision should be made a little more scientifically than stretching out, fully clothed, on a store sample. We have some suggestions about buying a bed.
Decide on the Right Size
If you have a small bedroom, you might not have room for a king size bed, even if it’s really what you want. So you can see how the size of your room is one factor to consider. Another thing to think about is whether you’ll be slepping alone, in which any size bed will work; or will you be sharing the bed, in which case, you could choose a full size, queen or king sizes, or even an extra long bed.
Set Your Budget
As with most things, the price of a bed set does not necessarily tell you how good a product it is or how comfortable you will be sleeping on the bed. Beds are priced from several hundreds of dollars to thousands. Don’t skimp, but set your budget and stick to it.
Know How the Bed is Made
While an innerspring mattress with box spring foundation is the traditional construction of bed sets, there are now many new materials available. Memory foam mattress and air mattresses are two of the new popular styles. To find the best for you, ask friends, lie on some in the stores, spend a night in a good hotel, and try as many as you can. Check out options on the internet so you’ll be a knowlegeable shopper.
Decide on the Depth of the Mattress
In an effort to add more comfort and a softer sleep surface, manufacturers now typically add more foam and padding to the mattress top. These are called pillow-top mattresses. On top of that, some people add a feather bed mattress topper. Before you shop for sheets, measure your mattress from to to bottom so you get the right depth of sheets, mattress pads, and a comforter. A very deep full bed might require a queen spread or comforter.
Firmness to Suit You
A good friend of mine would sleep on a board if she could. Others like to cuddle into a thick feather bed. Either firmness of bed is fine, as long as you get good, even support. If you sleep with someone who disagrees on firmness, consider pushing two twin beds together to create a king size bed or shop for a mattress with adjustable firmness. One side can be firm and the other softer.
A Good Bed Frame is Critical
A solid steel metal bed frame provides a long-lasting firm foundation for the bed set. Be sure that the casters on corners and middle of the bed frame are large and heavyweight. A good bed frame should last through several beds. Some are adjustable and others are made to fit a particular size of box spring.
When you are looking for particular mattress sizes, don’t forget the vertical measurements! Mattress thickness can vary dramatically from as little as six inches to 22 inches. If you decide to use a box spring or foundation, that will increase it still further. If you are buying a mattress for an existing bed frame, don’t forget to measure the distance from where the bottom of the place where the mattress will rest up to the bottom of the headboard. Otherwise your headboard will either be a nuisance or invisible.
There are no standard mattress depths. Some mattresses are 9-10 inches deep, but many pillow top mattresses measure 15-16 inches in depth, or more. Box springs and other bed components can make the mattress even higher.