The other day a friend called me up looking for a new bed. Next day delivery was the most important factor here so I had to check what was available. This means a trip out to our warehouse to unwrap and test a bunch of demo beds. I found a new latex mattress I’d never seen before, so I had to try it out. Needless to say, if I didn’t have to go back to work, I think I’d still be lying there.

You see I’m not a fan of memory foam because it tends to make you feel like you’re sinking. Some people like it. I don’t. I’m a bouncy bed kind of guy. And latex is my new best friend. Here’s what you can expect from a latex mattress:

Latex is relatively new to the bedding industry. It is made either from Natural or Synthetic latex and unlike memory foam, a latex core won’t lose it’s bounce.

If you can get hold of a mattress made with natural latex, you’re getting a product made from natural rubber, tapped from a tree (tapping rubber is a fascinating process).  If you can’t find any natural latex mattresses, synthetic latex is made from a mix of different chemical compounds. It’ll do, but it doesn’t sound half as impressive as the natural, organic 100% original stuff. That said, synthetic latex is a man made product that feels virtually identical to natural latex.

Making latex can be done in 2 ways.

There’s traditional Dunlop method, which involves whipping liquefied latex with air to make it into a foam. Then, it is poured into a mould where it is heated until it is vulcanized. Finally it is rolled into sheets and cut to the correct thickness for the mattress/shoe/industrial product it’s being used in.

The second method, called the Talalay method, involves pouring the liquid latex into a mould, placing a vacuum on the mould which sucks out the air bubbles and pockets to create a more consistant structure and then setting the mould by freezing the latex. Complicated, but infinitely more popular than the Dunlop method in mattress construction.

To vary the firmness of a latex mattress layer, different sized holes are cut into the latex called “pincore holes”. The size and frequency of these holes determines the density of the latex and therefore the firmness of the rubber layer. In more expensive mattresses, a combination of densities is used to provide additional spring for some parts of the body and extra support for the main pressure points.

Most latex mattresses are combined with a primary filling of either foam, foam and memory foam, open coil springs or pocket springs.

Memory foam mattresses have become increasingly popular in the bedding industry in the past 5 years. But a memry foam mattress isn’t right for everyone. It seems to be one of those ‘love it or hate it’ products. Whether you’re a seasoned memory foam mattress user or you’re setting out to buy your first mattress, we have 5 quick pointers to help you make the right decision.

Is memory foam right for you?

This is probably the most important question to ask. Don’t let a bed salesperson con you into buying a memory foam mattress simply because she likes it. As I mentioned, memory foam is an acquired taste, and you really need to test a mattress and be aware of a few features before buying it.

• Firstly, memory foam tends to suck you into the mattress. This happens because the foam’s construction allows it to deform under pressure but not spring back to it’s original shape immediately.
• Secondly, it is heat sensitive. The warmer your body or your room, the more pliable memory foam becomes, meaning you’ll sink further in.
• Thirdly, memory foam retains heat. This is great if you’re one of those people who always feel cold during the night, but not so great if your current mattress causes you to kick off the covers.

Memory foam is measured by thickness and density

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the thickness of a memory foam layer. Usually, 3cm is a good starting thickness, and the thicker the layer becomes, the more expensive it tends to get.

Density is a measure of the quality of the foam. The more dense it is (5lb/sq.ft is a good starting point) the higher the quality.

Fillings

Memory foam mattresses are not completely made of memory foam. This is confined to the top layer with either one, or a combination of the following as a main mattress unit:

• Open coil springs
• Pocket springs
• Foam

Quality and Price

Just because a memory foam mattress is expensive doesn’t mean it is of a higher quality. There are hundreds of manufacturers producing second-rate foam mattresses nowadays, so be sure to shop around and compare prices.

Lifespan

Finally, think of the lifespan of a memory foam mattress. If you buy a good one, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t last you 5-7 years, but a poor quality memory foam will quickly degrade to the point where it has no bounce back at all, leaving you sleeping on an uncomfortable lump.

Good luck with your purchase!

When you’re marking your new bed for next day delivery, consider adding some new linen to your order. Studies show that up to 70% of Britons only replace their bed linen once every 8 years, where internationally, the average replacement period is 6 years.

So if you’re going to shop for some new linen, here’s what to look for.

Duvets, and an understanding of Tog.

Tog is a measure of thermal resistance. If you find yourself getting cold in bed, a high Tog duvet (with a 13+ Tog rating) is most likely going to be suitable for you. Conversely, if you feel like you’re constantly overheating in bed, consider a lower Tog rating.

It is generally a good idea to purchase both a summer and a winter duvet, each with different Tog ratings, to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. If your budget can only stretch to one duvet, we would recommend buying a ‘middle of the road’ 10.5 Tog duvet. This will be comfortable enough for use in summer, and with an overlaying blanket, should keep you warm enough in winter.

Duvets and linen

When it comes to duvet sizes, always make sure you check the size of the duvet you are buying against the size of your bed. It seems logical that a double bed and a double duvet should be suited to each other, but there are differences in linen and bed sizes from country to country which can cause problems.

Pillows

If you’ve ever removed your pillow case to wash it and noticed a yellow/brown discolouration of the pillow, don’t be fooled into thinking this has something to do with the fabric. You sweat at night, largely from the head, and this sweat is absorbed by your pillow, making it the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Do your body a favour and replace your pillows at least once every 18-24 months. You may also want to consider a hypo-allergenic pillow if you suffer from allergies or asthma.

As your pillow ages, its fillings will become more compressed, leading to a change in shape and structure of the pillow. Your body will, over time, grow used to these changes in shape, but this is not a good thing. Frequent replacement of your pillows will prevent damage to your neck muscles and should give you a better night’s sleep.

Need a new mattress in a hurry. Bedstar, the UK’s largest online bed retailer, offers next day delivery on 4 of the industry’s most well-loved mattresses. All of these are available for next day delivery throughout mainland UK, and can be purchased in a full range of sizes, including 3FT single, 4FT Small Double, 4FT6 Double, 5 FT Kingsize and 6FT Superking.

1. The Star Premier Sapphire Star Mattress

Manufactured by Star Premier, exclusively for Bedstar, the Sapphire Star is an open coil sprung mattress with a 13 gauge medium tension spring unit surrounded by a 9 gauge firm sprung frame.

The Sapphire Star features: » Continue reading “4 next day delivery mattresses from Bedstar.co.uk”

A common misconception about buying beds, or any other type of tangible goods online, is that you have to wait weeks for delivery of your new item to arrive. For those people who need instant gratification, this may seem like a problem. But it isn’t. Consider what happens when you buy a bed from a high street retailer:

• Beds are not usually held in stock – While most respectable high street bed retailers will carry stock on some of the items in their showroom range, very few retailers have enough space to stock everything they sell. If you order a bed on a showroom floor, the chances are you won’t be leaving the shop with a new bed in tow.
• Beds are big – Even if you did manage to find a retailer who holds stock of the exact bed you want, can you fit it in your car? Unlikely, unless you’ve just purchased a roll-up mattress.

By all accounts, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to walk into a bed store and walk out 10 minutes later with a new bed. So why not try shopping online for a new bed? » Continue reading “Buying a bed? Next day delivery and better prices ARE available online”

When I first moved to England from South Africa, I needed to buy a bed. And it amazed me that I couldn’t just buy one online and have it delivered the next day. I mean, I come from a third-world country 20 times the size of the UK and I can guarantee that I’d be able to get a bed delivered within 24-hours.

So when I started working at Bedstar (York based online bed retailer. Take a look), I made it clear that next day bed deliveries were crucial to the well-being of the nation (I may have overemphasized the importance a little bit). Thankfully, my bosses decided to give 24-hour turnarounds a try and we’re now one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of beds the next day.

Why does next day delivery matter?

Because people have busy schedules. They need something, and they need it ASAP. And because as modern human beings we have a need for instant gratification. We act on impulses to satisfy our wants.

Here comes a sales pitch: don’t wait 3 weeks for a new bed. Visit http://www.bedstar.co.uk today and get a new bed tomorrow