When you buy a new double bed you might also want to buy some additional items to go with it. A new duvet might be a nice idea, but even if you have a nice one already you can get a fresh new cover and matching pillowcases to put on it.
Introduction To Double Beds
Do you take your bed for granted? You shouldn’t, because you spend a lot of your life lying in it!
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We all know how good it feels to get a great night’s sleep. And equally, we also know how bad we feel the next day if we haven’t slept well. That’s why it is so important to take your time when you are shopping for a brand new bed. It is essential that you figure out what type and size of bed you really want, so you can look forward to snuggling down under the covers every night.
Take a look at our introductory guide to beds in all their glory, so you can make the right decision for you.
What size?
Most adults will buy a double bed by default, but there are other sizes that are worth considering. What you eventually choose will depend a lot on how much room you want to have in your bed at night – regardless of whether you share it with someone else or not. It may also depend on the size of your bedroom. Not all rooms can accommodate a super king size, for example.
Double
This is the most common size bed for two people to sleep in. It commonly measures four feet six inches wide, which unless you are skinny doesn’t give each partner a lot of room to stretch out in!
King size
This gives you an extra six inches to stretch out in, being five feet wide in total. That may not sound like much but you would be surprised at the difference it can make overall.
Super king size
Now this is real luxury! It does mean getting a larger duvet and bigger duvet sets of course, but it is worth it. A super king size comes in at a whopping six feet wide – giving you an extra eighteen inches over the normal double bed size.
Should you buy a divan?
What exactly is a divan? Basically it is a bed frame that is covered in material. It is a boxy shape with a mattress sitting on top of it. You can usually get a headboard separately that is then bolted to one end of the divan itself.
Some divans have drawers underneath them to provide additional storage space for bedding and blankets. Others benefit from having an extra bed underneath, that can be pulled out and used when you have a guest staying for the night.
Should you buy a bedstead?
Bedsteads are very popular and they come in a range of styles and designs. As such they are a lot more versatile than divans, and can be bought to complement or add to a particular theme or design in the bedroom.
They differ from divans in that they can be made of many more materials. Some might be made from wood and be of a very simple design. Others are much more elaborate, with the most eye catching designs of all made from leather or perhaps wrought iron.
The other main difference is that the head of the bed is attached to it. It comes in many different styles and may be solid – if it is leather covered for example – or designed with wrought iron shapes. These types of beds aren’t as comfortable to lean up against with your pillows, so do bear that in mind if you are considering buying this type of bed.
Sometimes the foot of the bed will be significantly higher than the level of the bedding when the bed is fully made. Others will be less showy and will sit at a much lower level, so the duvet can drop over the end.
What about adjustable beds?
Adjustable beds are ideal if you have trouble getting in and out of bed, due to an accident or illness of some kind. If you want to sit up in bed you simply press a button and the appropriate part of the mattress comes up to make it more comfortable for you.
You often find that with a double bed both sides of the bed are made from different mattresses. This means that one partner can lie flat and sleep peacefully while the other sits up and reads.
Respecting your new bed
When you have made your decision to buy a new bed and you are unpacking it in your bedroom, make sure you put it together according to the instructions. Divans are usually very easy – you will usually find that the bottom section is made from two halves which are stuck together. The mattress is then put on top and all you have to do is make the bed up.
Obviously bedsteads require a little more work. In the case of a wrought iron bed you will get the head, the foot, two side bars and the slats to go on them. A wooden bed is put together in much the same way, by bolting the pieces together as instructed.
Make sure you take care of your mattress too, and remember that with a bedstead you should tighten all the screws every now and then to make sure they remain tightly done up. If you don’t you might find the bed starts to creak and squeak – and that is likely to keep you awake at night!
In conclusion
Buying a bed is a very important decision, and one that should be made every ten years at the very least. Every bed has a life of its own, but so long as you look after it and don’t abuse it in any way, you should sleep peacefully in it for many years to come.
And don’t rush into that buying decision either when you want to get a new bed. Think about which size of bed would suit you in the long run; you might be better off investing in a larger size now if you have the budget for it.
There is nothing better than having the bed of your dreams – except for sleeping in it that is!