Beds
A bed consists of two separate parts - frame and mattress. You need to think about what you want from both of these before you buy.

Divan sets
All upholstered bed base with either a padded top laver or a spring mattress mounted inside. The latter is the more comfortable, and more expensive option.
Storage divan
This is the same as a divan bed, but with pull-out drawers set into the base.

Futon
This simple cotton filled mattress can fold into a sofa. Futons come in varying thicknesses, but all give a harder sleeping surface than a traditional mattress.

Sofa bed
A sofa with a lift or fold-out bed mechanism that conceals a foam or spring mattress. Budget sofa beds may be sold for `occasional use' which indicates the mattress is not sufficiently supportive enough to be slept on every night.

Bedstead, or slatted bed
A bed with a flat base that stands on four legs. With 1lats, usually pine or metal, that are fixed to the bed frame. Traditional four posters are bedsteads.

Adjustable beds
The top and bottom sections of this bed can be raised electronically by a switch. Often sold as two single beds on one base for greater flexibility.

Bunk beds
Two single bedsteads, stacked vertically to save space. This is ideal in children's rooms.
Water bed
Designed for comfort, the water is contained in a protective plastic pocket. Water's moulding ability makes it suitable for some people with back problems. However, because the water `moves' as you do, it is noisy and can take some getting used to.

Air beds
Like water beds, these are designed for comfort. The air pockets in the mattress are controlled electronically to give very specific comfort levels. These are good ' for couples with greatly differing weights, and particularly good for those with back problems.

Bunk beds
Two single bedsteads, stacked vertically to save space. This is ideal in children's rooms.

Water bed
Designed for comfort, the water is contained in a protective plastic pocket. Water's moulding ability makes it suitable for some people with back problems. However, because the water `moves' as you do, it is noisy and can take some getting used to.

Choosing the right size bed:

For comfort, a bed should be 10 to 15cm (4 to 6 in) longer than the tallest person sleeping in it.
You'll need at least 06cm (18in) of free space on each side of the bed.

• Twin: 95 x 188cm (38 x 75 in)
• Twin long: 95 x 200cm (38 x 80 in)
• Double: 135 x 188cm (54 x 75 in)
• Queen: 150 x 200cm (GO x 80 in)
• King: 190 x 200cm (7G x 80 in)
• California king: 180 x 210cm (72 x 84 in)

Mattresses Tips

• To give a comfortable night's sleep, the mattress must be firm enough to support your spine; it might feel great to sink into a soft mattress, but you will probably wake up with backache.
• Always test a bed before buying it. Lie down alongside your partner for at least ten minutes; if the bed is sufficiently supportive, you shouldn't roll toward each other, nor should you roll if one of you moves off the bed. '
• Inexpensive mattresses often contain only foam, which is not supportive enough for every night, but acceptable for occasional use as guest beds.
• Spring mattresses can be:
  Pocket Sprung:These are the most expensive, and contain individual springs in separate fabric pockets, so that each is free to respond to the weight above.
  Continuous sprung:
  The spring unit in this model is made from a single length of wire.
  Open coil sprung:
  Hourglass-shaped springs linked top and bottom by wire and clipped to a retaining rod.

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