It’s a question on many of our lips; we spend around a third of our lives in bed, meaning that lying on a poor quality or worn mattress can cause us no end of problems. But how can we know what sort of mattress is right for our needs? Should we buy from a budget beds shop or high-end department store? And how much should we spend in order to gain this ‘right mattress’? Types of mattress There are three primary types of mattress: continuous coil, pocket sprung and memory foam. Continuous coil or cage sprung is the cheapest and for good reason. The low-cost equals low-quality and a short life span. This kind of mattress is fine for a guest bedroom in which it will only be subject to occasional use. If you’re choosing a mattress for everyday use; you need to spend more. Pocket sprung mattresses have lots of individual coils sewn into individual pockets. The cost of these mattresses can vary substantially, but generally, the more coils the more the mattress will cost. Pocket sprung mattresses are ideal for those who share their bed and fidget a lot during the night, since they significantly reduce how much movement can be felt. It’s also advisable for fidgety couples to invest in a king or even a super king size bed. A standard double bed provides only 2 foot and three inches of sleeping space each, which is barely enough for a pair of fully grown adults. Memory foam tends to be the most expensive type of mattress, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. Memory foam is often recommended for those with back problems. Those without back problems will probably sleep better on pocket springs. If you do wish to purchase a memory foam mattress, ensure to choose one that incorporates both springs and memory foam. In addition, avoid mattresses with foam thicker than 2 ½” or thinner than 2”. Too thin and the mattress won’t mould to your body properly (precisely the reason for buying memory foam). Too thick and it will wrap around you, not only making you very hot but also rendering you unable to move with ease. So how much should you spend? The honest truth is; as much as you can comfortably afford. Of course, there’s a limit. While a £5000 mattress will (hopefully) be better quality than a £1000 mattress – is it going to be five times better quality? In fact, Harrods have a mattress for sale at a mere £52,000. Are you actually going to get 52 times better value for money with this bed? Buying from an online mattress discounters or budget beds store is likely to yield the most for your money. If buying a king size mattress, look to spend between £400 and £1000. If you can afford to spend a little more then do – but do your research first to ensure you’re getting value for the extra pounds you’re spending. If you’re buying beds of other sizes, then reduce the cost accordingly. For a double you should ideally spend a minimum of £300, and £200 for a single. This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of The Original Factory Shop; a mattress discounters who supply budget beds and other cut-price goods. Read more »

Duvets come with a variety of different fillings, from duck and down to silk and synthetic fibres. No matter what material is used as a filler, taking good care of your duvet not only makes it last longer but can also help to ensure you get a peaceful night’s sleep. Make sure you know how to look after one of the items you use in everyday life. How to Care For Feather Duvets Feather filled duvets can last for years if they are taken care of. Feather filled duvets tend to be more expensive than their synthetic counterparts so it makes sense to spend a little time taking good care of them . First and foremost, use a cover to protect your duvet. Breakfast in bed is a treat to be enjoyed but spilling tea or coffee on your feather duvet could prove to be a real pain and using a duvet cover simply adds an extra layer of protection. If you do have a spillage, gently dab up the excess before removing the duvet cover. You should then use an absorbent cloth to soak up any more liquid and then hang the duvet up to dry thoroughly. For larger spillages, shake the filling of your duvet to one end and gently wash the affected area in a weak solution of washing powder, or liquid, and warm water. Rinse thoroughly, pay dry as much as possible and then hang up to dry thoroughly. If you keep your duvet inside a cover then it tends to stay fresh and clean for months. You can wash your feather duvet but, unlike synthetic duvets, you cannot simply wash on any cycle or tumble it through a dryer. To wash your feather duvet with the utmost care, you can use your washing machine but make sure you select a cold wash (30 degrees or less) with a slow spin cycle. You may find your duvet does not fit in a standard washing machine, in which case, take a trip to the launderettes where you can use a commercial machine. Avoid dry cleaning as this process can break down and damage the natural fibers. If you are washing your duvet at home, it is also important to make sure you use only a small quantity of washing powder. Avoid use of any bleaching products or fabric softeners. Drying Your Feather Duvet Once your feather duvet is nice and clean, hang it up to dry in an airy spot. Avoid hanging in direct sunlight and try to hang as evenly as possible to ensure the whole duvet dries properly. It usually takes around 24 hours for a feather duvet to dry completely. Once your duvet is completely dry it is ready for use once again. In between washes, duvets can be kept fresh and fluffy simply by shaking them out every morning when you make the bed. You can also hang your feather duvet on a line outdoors to freshen it up each month, or as frequently as you like. Jennifer is a part of the digital blogging team at shoutingindigital.com who work with a growing number of retail brands. For more information about me, or to keep up to date with the latest in retail news, check out my posts at shoutingindigital.com or visit my Twitter account, @shoutingID. Read more »

Given the variety in modern-day futon shapes and sizes, choosing a futon cover that’s right for your futon is not as easy as you might assume. While it is quite easy to choose a futon mattress and frame, you might discover that when it comes to choosing the bed clothing for your futon, you end up stumped. One reason that futon owners often struggle with choosing a futon cover is the sheer range of material options to choose from. Before getting started, it will help to take the following ideas into account, so here are some thing to bear in mind before you head out shopping. The first thing that can help make your decision easier is finding out the precise size measurements of the cover you need. It is one thing to know that you need bedroom clothing, but quite another knowing precisely what you want when you are browsing in the store. The standard sizes are twin, queen and king. Generally a double/full-size mattress measures 54″ x 75″, while a queen mattress is 60″ x 80″, a twin size mattress measures in at 39″ x 75″ and a king sized mattress measuring in at 76″ x 80″. There are other mattress sizes aside from these common ones and if you have special requirements you will need to do some additional internet research or ask the sales staff in the store for help. Another consideration to consider, when purchasing a mattress for your futon is the mattress thickness. If your futon bed folds up, into a chair or couch like so many do, then you may need to look for a mattress that is thinner than the typical mattress in a normal bed. When it comes to futon covers, most are made to fit an 8″ mattress, so if you have a mattress of another thickness such as 6″ or 9″, then you may need a custom cover to accommodate your particular bed. When selecting a futon mattress, you should consider the material type. Two of the most popular materials used in mattresses are memory foam and latex. Natural latex mattresses use the natural materials from rubber trees, however most modern-day mattresses use artificial synthesised latex, which is just as comfortable if not more so and considerably cheaper. Knowing your mattress type, its dimensions including thickness, will help guide you in determining the suitability of the futon covers you are looking at when browsing in the stores or shopping online. Once you have determined your desired measurements, then you’ll only need to worry about fabric options and of course choosing among the many attractive futon cover styles and designs on the market. Ah, life is full of hard choices, and chosing the best looking futon cover is no exception! Read more »

The furniture you choose for your bedroom, and the way you set it up, has more of an effect on how you sleep than you may think. By choosing comfortable furniture and making sure your bedroom is designed to help you sleep, rather than distract you, you will be able to easily improve the quality of your rest. Here are a few ideas on how to improve your bedroom. The most important part of a good bedroom is a high quality mattress. You need a good mattress that will support your body and allow your muscles to relax completely while you are sleeping at night. This means it is a very good investment to buy a more expensive, but very supportive mattress. If you are unable to afford such an investment at this time, another option is to purchase a memory foam mattress topper that will do most of the work that a good mattress does. Another thing you want to make sure of is that your bedroom is designed to help you sleep and nothing more. While we all enjoy having a television or computer in our bedrooms, they are also going to train our brains to anticipate stimulation when we go into our rooms. This can easily lead us to more restless sleep. Try taking these things out of your bedroom, or at least unplugging them, or a week or two. This very well may lead you to better sleep. This is also a reason that some children may have trouble sleeping. Before you spend a lot of money replacing those bunk beds for kids that you got cheaply, consider redesigning their room. Finally, we are designed to get sleepy when it is dark outside, and wake up when it is light outside. If you are trying to sleep while the sun is out, get darker curtains that will keep the sunlight out. This is going to give you a more restful sleep, even if you are not sleeping any longer then you were before. Designing a bedroom that helps you sleep is the first step in making sure you are getting the rest you need. These are some of the main reasons why people have trouble sleeping. Hopefully they gave you some ideas on how to improve your own situation. Read more »

When you decide to buy loft beds or bunk beds, a major choice you will face is between wood or metal framed beds.  Both materials are suitable for kids bunk beds, they are sturdy and safe. As long as you choose a quality bed manufacturer you will have no safety issues to worry about. The choice between wood or metal frames will come down to personal choice regarding the design and look of the beds you want. Many older bunk beds tend to be made of wood, and they can be great if you wish to make any modifications and enhancements. Wooden bunk beds can be easily repaired, painted, stripped, or stained to create a completely different look – great if you want to make individually styled beds. You can buy cheap kids beds made from wood and with a few modifications, a paint job and a little imagination you can create a stunning fantasy bedroom for your kids. Metal framed bunk beds usually tend to be made of tubular metal and are very strong and secure in construction. How many times have you seen a red or white metal bunk bed in a child’s bedroom? Like all kids beds metal bunk beds must be made to minimum set safety standards but modifying a metal framed bed will prove more difficult. Even just repainting a metal frame is not that easy, the correct choice of paint can be a problem. They are however a modern and often a reasonably priced bed choice that will last for many years if looked after. Whatever type of bunk bed you choose to buy remember to use your common sense. Check that the construction is sturdy and judge if it will stand up to the rigors you kids will subject it too. Remember your children will not just sleep in their new bunk beds, oh no, they will climb and play in them constantly giving them hours of fun. Read more »

Bedding stores are now including specialist pillows on their shelves, aimed at people who need to maintain a particular sleeping position either to alleviate pain or to correct posture. A wedge pillow is one such item you may have seen online or in your local center. Here we ask who can actually use one of these curious cushions? Do you sleep next to a snorer? Or do you snore yourself? Either way there is a good chance that your night’s rest is frequently interrupted. While it may be the butt of many jokes, snoring is really no laughing matter as we all know how important decent rest is to one’s health. When it happens every night it can be quite harmful. What a wedge pillow helps to do is raise the upper body so that there is less chance of the airways and throat becoming blocked, which is the main cause of snoring. It provides an incline that supports the back and shoulders in a semi-upright position. Sleep apnea is a more serious condition where the sleeper actually stops breathing. This obviously requires professional medical attention, but providing the doctor agrees, some of the problems associated with the condition can be mitigated by using a wedge pillow. The third group of people that might use one are those suffering from GERD or acid reflux. These people experience a burning sensation from stomach acids rising up to just below the throat, so helping gravity reduce the problem by raising the upper body sometimes affords relief. People with back or neck complaints can also use these cushions, under the guidance of a chiropractor. Or perhaps you just want to prop yourself up in bed to read before sleep. Again these pillows will help. These wedge pillows are easily maintained as you can buy cases to slip over them and protect the actual cushion. So you only need to wash the case as you would with a normal pillow case. Read more »

Comforters are considered as investments. So it is important that you choose one that will best fit your preferences. As these come in a wide variety of styles as well as prices, you have to sit down and take the time to determine exactly what you are looking for in a comforter. Choosing the right comforter will require some preparation and thought. Keep in mind that what works best for one person may not be the best for another. The first thing to consider in selecting a comforter is it’s size. Ensure that this will actually fit your bed. After all, not all mattresses are created in the same size. Also take into account the threads per inch. This will give you a good idea of the comforter’s quality or its lack thereof. Generally, a thread count above 250 offers a comfortable and soft feel and the fabric will last for a long time. It is a good idea to look for a comforter that has patterns on both sides. This is one way of easily changing the look of your room. By simply flipping over the comforter, your bedroom will have a fresh, new look. Lastly, buy only those styles that will have the necessary stitching in place on the quilt. This way, the insulation material will not move about very freely or shift. One way of making your comforters last longer is to use a duvet cover. Duvets protect your comforters from elements like dirt. In purchasing a duvet be mindful of its size, fabric, movement as well as its weight. You can select a size that perfectly matches your bed or go up a size so you can cover your comforter entirely and cover both sides of the bed. Duvet covers are available in silk, velvet, cotton, flannel and in colorful, fun prints. If you move a lot during the night, opt for a lightweight duvet like those filled with feathers. Duvets are graded according to a tog rating. This number indicates the level of warmth they will provide which means that the higher the tog, the warmer the duvet. Duvet may be filled with either natural or synthetic fillings. Goose and duck feathers may be used for natural fillings or a combination of the two. However, if you are allergic to feathers, there are also synthetic filled duvets for sale. These duvets will work just the same, providing you with warmth and comfort. Read more »

Is it time to start thinking about replacing your princess bed? Here you will be provided with several different ideas on how to redecorate the bedroom to better suit your desires. As we all start to outgrow our childhood we want to move on to bigger and better things. Here are some tips on how to do that for your daughter. Find a New Way to Decorate the Room When you first start thinking about replacing the bed in your child’s room you will want to also decide how you want to redecorate as a whole. By changing the interior look of the bedroom first this will allow you to then decide what style of bed that you wish to have. Remove All Other Princess Bed Themes from the Room When you have decided on how to redecorate the room you will then need to remove the entire princess bed themes from the room. This will allow you to begin to change the feel of the room from that of a small child to that of a younger adult or teenager. This may mean that you will have to repaint, buy new curtains, bed sheets, pillow cases, comforters, etc. As the changes begin to take place it in natural to have feelings of lose for your toddler child. Replace Your Princess Bed with a New Frame The last and final step in replacing your princess bed is now being able to replace the bed with a new bed and shabby chic bedding. Be sure that the new bed and the bedding match your new style of the room!  This will really bring the room together and allow your child to now feel like a young adult. When you begin to make changes from your daughter’s toddler themed princess bed to that of a newer and more modern style, be sure to have fun with it. The more fun that you have in redecorating her bedroom together the more supported she will feel and the closer your relationship with her you may have. Read more »

Purchasing toddler sheet sets is a wise investment for parents to make. Midnight accidents are inevitable with any toddler going through the difficult stage of potty training, so having a quick change of sheets on hand is a great idea. Sheets with a higher thread count are more durable, and will not wear out easily from the imminent washings they need to endure. The most common sheet materials are polyester and cotton. Blends of these and other materials are also popular, and often offer a less expensive alternative with similar performance. Sheets are offered in several weaves which will help with durability and absorbency. Location and season will dictate which material and type of weave is appropriate for your bedding. Cotton is a light, cool, long lasting natural material that breathes easily and will keep your little one comfortable. For those hot and humid summer nights, cotton is the ideal fabric, as it is also very absorbent. Cotton can be found in several varieties, including organic. Polyester is a synthetic fabric that can be made wrinkle resistant, but is not as absorbent or breathable as cotton. It is also less expensive, which makes it appealing for the parent looking to pinch pennies.  Bamboo is also a good choice, as it is antibacterial and hypo-allergenic for a toddler’s sensitive skin. The weave of fabric is another feature to look for. Twill, sateen, and percale are common weaves. Sateen sheets are smooth and sleek. They offer many of the same characteristics as satin, but with enhanced durability. Twill is a more hardy weave, but still a relatively light material. Percale is a tight weave, which is smooth and very resistant to regular wear and tear. Proper laundering will prolong the life of your sheets, saving money in the long run. Be sure to carefully read directions for washing. Sheets can be subject to varying methods of washing based on their color, fabric type, and weave. Toddler sheet sets are offered in a wide variety of colors and designs. Once you have decided on the type of sheet you would like, enlist your child’s help in making the final choice of color and/or design. Allowing your child to choose this may help encourage him/her to stay in their big kid bed. Read more »

Nothing changes a room more than adding a new paint color to the walls. When designing a feminine bedroom the color on the walls is the most important part of the room. The paint color is the difference between an ordinary room and a truly feminine one. Before you dash to the store and sift through hundreds of paint swatches, consider these feminine paint colors for your new bedroom. “Dusky rose” pink is a truly feminine color. This color is the universal color for love. Pink also represents caring, nurturing, and self worth. The color pink makes you feel relaxed, calm, and accepted. Light greens are excellent colors for your feminine room. They represent balance, growth, and order. Colors like “garden green” or “mountain mint” are in the green family. These types of colors protect you from anxiety, fear, and chaos. Green is known as the natural color, a safe color, which can be used in nearly any color theme. Blue is considered a heavenly color; the color of the sky and water. This color helps to promote healing and sleep. “Windwood Spring” and “Mineral Water” blues are the perfect colors for a relaxing feminine bedroom. The color blue is soothing and promotes good communication. Yellow is known as the cheerful or friendly color in the rainbow. Colors like, “Morning Sunlight” and “Cornsilk” are gentle yellow tones. This color promotes intelligence and creativity which is important to most women. It also helps with decision making, improves memory, and mental clarity. Certain shades of purple, such as “Lavender Sparkle” or “Velvet Slipper” are feminine and elegant. The color purple is spiritual and symbolizes royalty and luxury. This color promotes inspiration, creativity, and imagination. Light shades of purple promote balance, calm anxiety, and ease depression. Selecting the right color for your feminine bedroom is more than just selecting paint. Selecting colors that enrich your feelings and your overall mood is the key to a truly relaxing feminine bedroom. Now add privacy to your living space with curtain room dividers and spice up your kitchen with decorative a kitchen sink mixer tap. Read more »