Buying a new bed: Important preliminary considerations, tips and a checklist

Who is a buying a new bed will, faces a myriad of possibilities. Different combinations of bed frame and mattress always allow different results. It will be easier with the following tips.

Buying a bed: Preliminary Considerations

Just buying a new bed? Because of that, the choice is huge! Therefore, it should first be clarified what is expected at all. Should it be a Solid wood bed be? A futon bed? One of the numerous box spring beds that are advertised everywhere? It is important not only what you like personally, but also what has room in the bedroom. Some large bed frames may certainly be pretty and comfortable, but the room at home is not big enough for that.

Buy a new bed or just change the mattress?

First, the most important question arises: should the bedroom be completely redecorated? Those who move and can redesign a room are significantly freer in the choice than someone who just wants to buy a new bed and keep the rest of the furniture in the bedroom. It may also be necessary to upgrade from a single to a double bed, which in turn depends on the available space in the room.

In the course of this, it is necessary to clarify whether the functionality is in the foreground or whether disturbing factors should be eliminated at the same time. Perhaps the existing bed frame is a problem due to its low height, because health restrictions must already be observed. Box spring beds are then the better choice, they are significantly higher and allow easier lying down and getting up.

In general, the decision to buy a new bed should not be made on a whim. Numerous preliminary considerations lead to the fact that the appropriate bed frame, the ideal mattress and the perfect slatted frame are selected.

Which bed to buy?

The question should be: which bed do I need?

Important are three factors that must be taken into account when someone wants to buy a new bed:

1. Physique
   Very tall people will not be able to sleep comfortably with a standard bed of a maximum of two meters in length. If two people are to lie in the bed, the width of 1.60 m is hardly enough to sleep really relaxed and restful in the long run. For tall people, the rule of thumb applies: take the height, add 20 cm and you get the necessary length for the bed. As a width, every adult person should be entitled to at least a measure of 90 cm. Very heavy people must pay attention to the maximum weight specifications when choosing a mattress and slatted frame, these should not be exhausted to the last.
2. Existing space
   If there is little space in the bedroom, the bed should provide additional storage space. Bed boxes allow you to store bed linen and blankets, luggage and other things that are not needed on a daily basis. However, a bed box is at the expense of the ventilation of the bed, this should be clear beforehand. Therefore, when choosing the materials of the bed, it is important to make sure that they allow good ventilation – natural materials should clearly be given preference here.
   If the bedroom is located in the attic, a conventional bed frame often does not find enough space. Then it may be enough to do without a conventional headboard or to sit on a futon bed.
3. Preferences of the sleeping person
   Some people like a padded headboard, so you can still lean on it comfortably while reading in the evening. Others, on the other hand, would like a rather spartan designed bed and do not want a headboard or footboard. Some people like designer beds with interesting details like spirals instead of normal feet, others love solid wood beds with their rustic charm. Or how about a romantic four-poster bed in the bedroom? Or with box-spring beds that are electrically adjustable? This should also be taken into account when buying a new bed.

Buying a new bed: It’s not the bed alone

Who finding the right bed will hardly decide on a complete set. Usually the bed frame, mattress and slatted frame are put together separately, so that the buyer has the opportunity to choose the individually suitable components. Of course, there are also complete offers in the trade, but these do not correspond to any individual preferences and usually turn out to be a cheap standard variant. If you want to buy a new bed, you should therefore consider the interaction of the various components.

Tips for choosing a mattress and slatted frame

Hard or soft mattress? Choosing a model that relies on different zones? Memoryfoam or cold foam? Dealing with the world of mattresses often brings with it, above all, perplexity. In addition, the question arises whether several hundred euros are really justified.

It is important that the mattress meets the following points:

• soft and adaptable
• Relief of the body
• Support function
• Print forwarding

Whether a mattress can meet these requirements is usually only possible during the test lying. In the meantime, however, the online trade also offers the opportunity to try out a mattress. If she is not okay, she will just be sent back. However, it is also important that the appropriate slatted frame is selected.

The right slatted frame

If you want to buy a bed, you have to deal with the question of the slatted frame. Various materials such as wood or plastic are available to choose from. Important to know: only with the right slatted frame can the mattress fulfill its function and a restful sleep will set in. The slatted frame stabilizes the mattress from below and allows an adjustment of the degree of hardness. If you want, choose an adjustable slatted frame, in which the headboard can be changed in the inclination.

The advantage of an adjustable slatted frame is obvious: it makes it possible to adapt the bed to different needs that may arise due to the seasons, illness or age.

Is a topper needed?

Usually toppers are used on box-spring beds and represent the top layer of the bed. They are very soft, but at the same time only about four to five centimeters thin. A topper can be made of memoryfoam and adapts perfectly to the body of the sleeper, but it can also make the bed or mattress much harder. The topper is available as a mattress made of different materials and can be used with a normal bed in addition to box-spring beds.

The advantage: The bed can be individually changed in terms of lying comfort and degree of hardness. If the topper is no longer needed, it can be stored rolled up in a comparatively small size. To the actual question: except for a box spring bed, a topper is not really necessary, but it certainly has a practical use.

Last tips: the bed must be adapted to your own needs

There is no real A Guide to the Perfect bed but if you want to buy a new bed, you should create a short checklist beforehand, which can be used as a selection aid. Because one thing is clear: the trade promises a lot and seems to offer a lot of wonderful beds. However, only a few individual models and mattress variants are really suitable, which can be selected according to one’s own checklist.

This may include, among other things, the following points and questions:

• Why buy a new bed?
• What defects of the old bed should no longer be present with a new bed?
• What is perceived as comfortable or uncomfortable?
• What is the need (size, materials, possible special dimensions, weight limits, space in the bedroom, etc.)?
• In which position do I sleep best?
• Are special functions of the bed necessary for health reasons?
• Should the bed be particularly easy to care for?
• Do I need accessories such as a bed mat or a mattress protector?
• What characteristics should the bed have in terms of sustainability?
• What can the bed cost?