Are you wondering how to choose a new bed that meets your needs? The sheer number of choices on the market today can be overwhelming. That’s why we have created this bed buying guide to simplify the process and ensure that you get excellent value for your investment.
Read on as we explore how to choose a bed; different types, sizes, and materials of beds; how to choose a comfortable and supportive mattress, how to choose a bed base, and more.
What type of bed is best for me?
There are many different types and styles of beds available, especially when you shop with trusted furniture retailers like Fishpools. We offer a variety of different bed types, including:
- Ottoman beds. An Ottoman bed is a modern bed style that features gas-lift hydraulics, enabling you to lift the base and reveal ample storage space beneath it. These beds provide the most storage space of all classic bed types, as the full space beneath the base can be used to store a range of items.
- Divan beds. Divan beds are the more traditional beds that almost every British homeowner is familiar with. They consist of divan bases and matching mattresses. Unlike older bed styles they boast a robust wooden frame structure upholstered in fabric for a clean and attractive look.
- Bed frames. Bed frames are designed to evenly support a mattress. They generally feature headboards in a variety of styles to help you create a unique and inviting look for your bedroom and may include footboards too.
- Sofa beds. A sofa bed is an ideal choice for a small guest room or living room that may need to accommodate guests at short notice. These sofas can quickly be transformed into comfortable beds when sleeping space is required, and then converted back into sofas to save space or provide seating during the day.
Most modern beds offer bed bases and frames as well, with the exception of sofa beds. These are the most popular types of bed bases available for you to choose from:
- Divan bases. Divan bed bases are upholstered wooden structures custom designed to house a matching mattress. Most divan bases are made from wood, which makes them especially durable and supportive.
- Solid slats. Solid slat bases provide support for mattresses by using connected, rigid wooden planks or bars that span the width of the bed to hold the mattress up. Some solid slat bases have a special coating that protects the bed from a variety of conditions, including heat and humidity. While solid slat bed bases are quite popular, they do not always support your mattress adequately, leading to sagging and distortion over time.
- Sprung slats. Sprung slat bed frames are becoming the most popular type of bed frame among British buyers thanks to their durability and strength. They are typically made of softer, curved slats of wood made from beech wood or pine attached to a centre beam, and offer excellent flexibility for comfortable sleeping, as they respond to your motions throughout the night.
What material should I choose?
The material you opt for when choosing a bed should not only provide comfort but also align with your personal décor and style preferences. Each material on offer can be used to create a different visual look according to your existing interior designs or future plans.
Here are your choices, and how they can be used to design beautiful bedrooms and guest rooms.
- Fabric. Fabric bed bases can easily be matched to your existing linens and décor, and provide a soft, inviting appearance. You can play around with different fabric tones, colours and textures to help you create your perfect look. They can also get reupholstered easily, ensuring that you can keep your bed looking its best for years to come.
- Metal. Metal bed frames can add flattering appeal to minimalist, contemporary and industrial design styles, while providing some of the best durability of any frame type. However, they may not be ideal for younger family members, and their weight can pose challenges should you ever wish to move them.
What size bed should I choose?
No guide to buying a bed would be complete without a section dedicated to sizes. Here at Fishpools, we offer a complete range of bed sizes, including small single, single, small double, double, king, and super king beds.
Small single, single, and small double sizes are ideal for children, teenagers, and guests, or for smaller bedrooms. Double, King and Super King sizes are best suited to couples and sleepers that appreciate having plenty of room in which to stretch out at night, or bedrooms with a more generous amount of space. Browse our range of luxury beds online and find the ideal sizes for every member of your home, and all your potential visitors too.
What colour should I choose?
When choosing a bed, you need to consider which colours will best suit your needs. There are a wide range of colours to choose from, especially if you opt for a fabric bed, which are available in a virtually endless selection of fabrics, textures, patterns, and tones.
The most popular colours for beds include neutral tones like beige, grey, and white, all of which will flatter most design styles and colour palettes. Many people appreciate darker tones, including black, charcoal and navy, as they tend to look brand-new for longer and show up dirt and stains less than their paler counterparts.
If you are choosing a bed frame for a smaller bedroom, however, light neutral colours like beige and white are your best bet. These colours can make small spaces appear larger and airier, and create the illusion of brightness and comfort, even in the humblest of rooms.
Choosing a mattress
Fishpools offers a variety of different mattress types, including pocket sprung, open coil, memory foam, combi hybrid, and gel mattresses. Each mattress type offers different levels of comfort, support, and longevity, so the options you choose will depend on your preferred firmness, level of lumbar support, and other key factors.
How to style your bed
One of the simplest and most effective ways to style your new bed from Fishpools is to enhance its look with premium, soft bedding and linens. We offer a wide range of bedding in an equally expansive selection of colours, styles, patterns, and prints. Choose your bedding according to your tastes and your interior décor by matching your linens to your room or opting for statement colours and prints that make your bed stand out.
Fine details like piping, quilting and hand-stitched patterns will allow you to create a luxurious look that you will be eager to come home to every day.
Once you’ve chosen your bedding, you can complete your bed’s look with our range of premium cushions and throws. Printed, textured and plain cushions can add contrast to your design and take the ambience of your room to a new level, and a plush faux fur, chenille or cotton throw is the ideal accessory to add even more comfort and elegance to your personal space.
Frequently asked questions
How long will I have to wait for my bed?
If you’d like to have your new bed delivered as soon as possible, we offer a dedicated section of beds in stock ready to deliver that can be delivered to your home quickly.
What delivery service do Fishpools offer?
We offer a premium delivery service performed by our skilled and capable team. Prior to delivery, we will request that you clear the route into your chosen room, allowing our team to efficiently deliver your new bed.
Our team will assemble your new furniture, position it in the correct room, and remove all packaging from your home upon exiting. Our delivery service is carried out from Monday to Saturday, subject to your postcode.
What’s the best bed for a small bedroom?
When choosing a bed for a small bedroom, it’s important to focus on both colour and functionality. Beds in light, neutral colours will create the illusion of a larger space. Ottoman beds provide built-in storage to help you save space, and sofa beds provide multi-functionality for comfortable sleeping and seating.
You could also opt for a small single, single, or small double bed for a room with limited space.
How to look after my bed?
Fishpools offers a range of on-site care guides to provide you with the guidance you need to take great care of your new bed. Our Guardsman protection plans also protect your bed against accidental damage for 5 years, granting you peace of mind without requiring any annual renewal costs or excesses.
Our guide to buying a new bed
With an extensive variety of beds to choose from, make the best use of our bed buying guide to help you choose the perfect bed for your bedroom as you browse our range of beds online. If you’re still looking for further guidance, then why not visit our store in Waltham Cross to view our collection of beds in person. View our opening hours to plan your visit.