Archive for the ‘Buying Advice’ Category

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Bed Storage

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

With today’s lifestyle, space is becoming more of a limitation. Storing things under the bed can sometimes get very messy, but there are now a range of options that let you store things in the base of the bed itself. There’s also the option of having drawers in the void space underneath your bed to have everything neatly packed away.

Beds with storage are the answer, whether you want a bedstead or divan bed, there are many different options that can cater to your needs. Such options include under bed drawers, 2 or 4 drawers built into the base, sliding storage, end drawers and ottoman storage.

Some bedsteads now come with the option of having optional storage drawers. They are essentially drawers that neatly fit in the gap underneath your bedstead, helping to keep things off the floor such as clothes and toys. Bed manufacturers usually create the storage drawers from the same wood as your bedstead so they will match, fitting into any style of bedroom.

Divan beds with storage drawers are the most conventional type of bed base with storage. Divan bases come with the option of 2 drawers and end drawers on small single and single beds, and small double beds and upwards usually have either 2 drawer storage , 4 drawer storage, 4 drawer continental storage which accommodates for bedside tables and end drawer storage. Sliding door storage is also available on all size divan beds, as is ottoman storage.

The ultimate in space saving is the ottoman bed storage system. The ottoman bed allows you to use the full divan base for storage, and it does this by lifting up the entire top of the bed where the mattress is rested, allowing you to use the whole of the divan base for storage. Lifting the the top of the bed sounds like hard work as the mattress is very heavy, however an easy lift system is installed on most models which allows you to lift the whole top of the bed up with just a finger.

We have many of our beds with storage in stock now with fast 3 - 5 working days delivery time and our unbeatable price means that you will be getting the best deal possible. So for all of your storage and bedding needs, visit bedstar.co.uk

Posted in Beds, Buying Advice | 3 Comments »

Moisture Management Fabrics

Monday, June 9th, 2008

Moisture management fabrics are a revolution in the bedding industry. Most people suffer from waking up in the night due to being too hot and find that you are covered in sweat. Moisture management technology is designed to absorb your excess moisture and heat, leaving you cool and dry throughout the night.

There are many moisture management technologies out on the market at the moment, all of which keep you cool in different ways. One of them is the Coolmax® fabric. Coolmax® technology has a micro moisture management system, that improves the airflow around your body while you sleep, reducing rapid increases in heat and keeping you cool throughout the night.

The Coolmax® fabric comes as standard on the Breasley Flexcell 700. The Flexcell 700 has 7cm of memory foam on a high density foam base, and is totally hypoallergenic, perfect for asthma sufferers. We keep the Breasley Flexcell in stock in all sizes with free next day delivery to anywhere in mainland UK.

Outlast® is another moisture management fabric. Outlast® fabric regulates your body temperature whilst you sleep, meaning that when you’re too hot heat is absorbed, and when you’re too cold, heat is released. This helps to keep you at a comfortable temperature all night.

Outlast® fabric comes as standard on the Bedstar Outlast® mattress. It is a 20cm deep mattress and it features a sumptuous 5cm layer of memory foam and a high density support foam base. This mattress is also in stock in all sizes for free next day delivery.

Both the Breasley Flexcell 700 and the Bedstar Outlast® are delivered to you rolled up, so your mattress will reach you in a 100% hygienic condition.

Don’t put up with having an uncomfortable nights sleep, visit our stock section and pick up a fantastic mattress today.

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Posted in Buying Advice, Mattress | No Comments »

A Guide To Headboards

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

The headboard is simply put the piece of furniture at the head of the bed. It’s basic function is to stop pillows and other things falling down the back of the bed, and also to stop you from hitting your head on the brick wall behind. However, headboards now are seen as more than just a necessity.

Headboards come in all of the required sizes to fit standard size beds, 2FT 6″ Small Single (75cm), 3FT Single (90cm), 4FT Small Double (120cm), 4FT 6″ Double (135cm), 5FT Kingsize (150cm) and 6FT Super Kingsize (180cm). They also are now available in a wide range of different materials, such as fabric, wood, metal and leather.

Like most things in the bedroom, your headboard acts as a style statement, so it’s worth doing a bit of research before you buy one. You should think what material you like, whether you want a simple rectangular design or a more lavish padded design. All of the different materials and designs have their own merits. For example, upholstered headboards give you more comfort where wooden headboards can give you sturdiness.

It’s also worth taking into consideration the design of your bedroom. For example, dark colours can make the room feel smaller where as lighter colours give the illusion of space. You can even match your headboard to the bedstead as some manufacturers create matching headboards to go with their bedsteads or divans.

Bedstar keep a wide range of headboards in stock with next day delivery, so you don’t need to wait forever to add that perfect headboard to your bedroom.

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Posted in Beds, Buying Advice, headboard | 1 Comment »

Guide To Latex Mattresses

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Latex is a relatively new product used for mattresses. Made from either Natural or Synthetic latex, a latex core can virtually last forever and won’t lose it’s bounce. Natural latex is made from natural rubber, taken from the rubber tree and synthetic latex is made from a mix of different chemical compounds. Although synthetic latex is a man made product, it feels virtually identical to a natural latex product and the only difference between them is the form of latex in the manufacturing process.

There are typically 2 forms of latex manufacture, the Dunlop method and the Talalay method. The older, traditional Dunlop method 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. 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.

To get different amount of firmness in the core, different sized holes are cut into the latex called “pincore holes”. These holes soften the latex and make it more comfortable. The larger the holes, the softer the latex. Most latex mattresses will have one size of hole running all the way through the mattress, although different manufacturers may cut different size holes in different places to create so called “comfort zones”. For example, a softer feel around the shoulders and feet, but a firmer feel around the hips.

One of our best selling latex mattresses is the Dunlopillo Diamond Classic. It features a 17.5cm Talalay Latex core, a luxury soft-touch top panel featuring moisture management space fabric and a channel quilt design incorporating a 10mm layer of soft Dunlopillo Talalay Latex.

If you want to enjoy latex but can’t afford a complete latex core, then maybe you could look at other mattresses with latex in them. For example, the Silentnight Miracoil Latex Comfort, which has the comfort of the award winning Miracoil spring system and the resilience of latex foam. What ever your budget may be, latex is a material that everybody can enjoy.

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Posted in Buying Advice, latex mattress | 1 Comment »

Benefits of a Folding Bed

Friday, November 30th, 2007

If you’re thinking of having guests over, but don’t have to room to fit a full size bed or a sofa bed, then a Folding bed or a Z bed may be an option for you. The idea of a folding bed is exactly as the name suggests. It can fold away to a small size and can be stored in a wardrobe, a cupboard, under an existing bed or anywhere where you can find space to store it.

The Folding bed uses a central pivot point to allow the bed to fold inwards and outwards, and usually a folding bed will have extendable legs to lift the bed off the ground when you fold it out. Folding beds have become a lot more popular in the past 10 years as space restrictions are effecting a lot more people than before. Due to this popular demand, folding beds can now come with sprung or foam mattresses, making your folding bed that little bit more comfortable for your guest.

One of our beds folding beds is the Limelight Mars bed. It features a 2 inch Sprung mattress, all the advantages mentioned above and for the fantastic price of £75.

Another of our guest beds is the Jay-Be Alloy Popular folding bed. It features a foam mattress rather than a sprung mattress, a stylish alloy frame, a very slim and sleek design and a sprung metal base for added comfort for your guest.

The star collection Mayfair could also be an option. The Mayfair is available in 2 different sizes, Small Single or Small Double. This folding bed also comes with a foam mattress, as well as wheels for easy storage, a beech effect headboard and a sprung metal base.

In the future, we can expect folding beds to get more luxurious with memory foam and pocket spring systems replacing the current mattress fillings, meaning that before long, a folding guest bed will be just as comfortable as a normal bed.

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Posted in Buying Advice, Jay-Be, folding bed | 1 Comment »

Advantages of a Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Monday, November 26th, 2007

If your mattress isn’t giving you the best nights sleep and you want something to give you that extra bit of support and comfort you want on a night, then maybe you should think about a mattress topper. A mattress topper or mattress pad lies on top of your existing mattress, adding a softer layer. You may need this if you have bought a firm orthopedic mattress and just need an extra soft layer on top to relieve aching joints on a morning, or maybe you have an expensive mattress which you don’t want to get rid of and just want to get a bit more life out of it.

The good thing about memory foam mattress toppers is that they are inexpensive, lightweight and can also improve your quality of health. Here are just some of the problems a memory foam mattress topper could help with:

Back & neck pain - A memory foam mattress topper mould’s to the shape of the body, allowing the spine to be straight. This brings huge benefits to back pain or neck pain sufferers due to now having correct spinal alignment

Arthritis - Having less stress on the joints can help with arthritic pains

Headaches/Migraines - Support of the back will encourage the neck muscles to relax and help prevent tension headaches

Circulatory Problems - Due to the properties of the mattress, the weight of the body allows the memory foam to mould around you, preventing such problems as swollen calves & feet, chaffing and bed sores.

Stress - Due to a more comfortable sleeping position, a memory foam mattress topper could help with “tossing & turning” in the night. Not only this but correct alignment of the spine aids in restoration of the nervous system.

Pelvic and Hip Pain - Because of the mattress topper moulding to the body, there is a reduced risk of pressure, therefore reducing the risk of swollen hip joints or an aching pelvic area.

Perfectly healthy people can enjoy a memory foam mattress topper as well, as the mattress will help prevent against any of the problems above, and will give you a better nights sleep because of it.

Although Memory foam is possibly the best mattress topper material due to it’s durability, price and comfort level, it isn’t the only material used in mattress toppers. For example, there are natural latex mattress toppers. Although more expensive than it’s memory foam counterpart, latex mattress toppers tend to have a longer life and are also hypo allergenic which may be perfect for asthma sufferers.

Another possible option is a Wool/Alpaca mattress topper, Alpaca is a very soft wool from the coat of a Llama. On it’s own, Alpaca wool wont be able to support the human body due to how soft it is, so it is usually mixed in with wool for durability. A Wool/Alpaca mattress topper is also hypoallergenic, and because it’s wool, it will absorb your body’s moisture whilst you sleep.

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Posted in Buying Advice, Mattress, toppers | No Comments »

Bunk Bed Buying Guide

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Buying a bunk bed for your children can be rather daunting task as there’s such a wide range available. This buyers guide will help you decide which bunk bed will make you and your children happy.

The most important thing to think about when buying a bunk bed is your space restrictions. The first thing to do is to measure the room you want to put it in, especially the ceiling as buying the wrong height bunk bed could end up with your child waking up and bumping their head every morning.

A normal bunk bed will take up as much room as a single bedstead, however, make sure that you leave room for a ladder for the top bunk. Other variations of bunk beds such as study bunks will require more room, so before you purchase, check the measurements of the bunk. If there are no measurements given, give the seller a call. Never take a risk.

Then you need to think about what sort of bunk you would like. There are now many different variations of bunk beds in many different designs. One of the most popular designs of bunk bed is the study bunk, which just have 1 bunk bed and a wide array of furniture that can go in the space below, such as desks, chairs, futons and chests of drawers. Alternatively, there’s the 3 sleeper, which has a single bunk on the top and a double bed on the bottom.

Some bunk beds now have all of the bedroom furniture rolled into one, with computer desks, dressers, drawers and a wide array of other furniture attached to the bunk bed itself. Ask your child for their opinion on what sort of bed they would prefer, it could prove vital in your decision.

And finally, choose the design. Bunk beds come in metal, wood or metal and wood combinations and with a huge range of different colours and styles to fit into your child’s room decor. Whether your looking for something bold and bright, or looking for something a bit more subtle such as stained wood, be sure to have a good look at the pictures of the product and try to envision it in your child’s room before making your purchase.

For more information, see our guide to bunk bed safety measures so you can choose the product that’s right for you.

If you follow all of these points and still can’t decide, ring our sales team on 0870 232 5550, who would be more than happy to talk more in depth about your needs and recommend the perfect bunk bed for you.

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Posted in Bed, Bunk Beds, Buying Advice | 1 Comment »

Uncomfortable Beds

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

If you’re having problems with an uncomfortable bed, it may be time to take the plunge and invest in a new bed or mattress! Luckily, bedstar is here to help with our series of bed buying guides designed to make sure you get the best sleep possible.

You spend over half of your life in bed, so it’s worth spending a bit of time to make sure that you choose the right product when buying beds online. Everyone’s needs are different, so it’s worth exploring our extensive range of beds and mattresses to find the right product to suit your needs.

The London Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service believe that an uncomfortable bed may cost people up to an hour’s good sleep a night, so what should you be looking for when you buy a new bed online.

Bed Buying Points

The best bed for your needs isn’t necessarily the most expensive one. However, it is worth spending as much as you can afford on a good mattress.

With a bit of care and love, a mattress will last for roughly 8-10 years. Regular use may see your bed deteriorate by as much as 75% from its original condition during this timeframe.

Your bed is an important investment, so consider this fact. For every £100 you spend on a bed, it represents just 2.7p a night over 10 years. Not bad value when you look at it that way.

Older beds can be less hygienic, as people sweat out as much as a full pint of fluid a night. Your mattress will also be full of house dust mites too.

A further point to consider is space, especially if you share your bed with a partner. While a double bed may be fine, you could buy a king size bed to give yourself more room to stretch during the night.

Next steps?

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and buy a bed online, make bedstar your first port of call. We stock a superb selection of divan beds, great value cheap beds, superb leather beds and a range of bedroom furniture to compliment. So visit the UK’s Largest Online Beds Superstore today.

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Posted in Buy beds, Buying Advice, buy beds online | No Comments »

A Size Guide to Divan Beds and Bedsteads

Monday, October 29th, 2007

A divan bed is made up of a base and a mattress, and the base can be customised in many different ways. The main use for the divan base is to use it as a storage facility, and there are many different ways of doing this. For example, the standard way is to have drawers in the base, where you can have 2 drawers, 4 drawers, 2 drawers and 2 continental drawers to allow for bedside tables. However, if you don’t require storage, some divan beds have the option of a shallow base, which lowers the bed if height is a problem.

A lot of divan beds now come as self assembly, so that if you believe that you may have trouble getting a whole bed into the room of choice due to narrow corridors for example, you can take the bed in pieces and assemble it in the room. A lot of divans also come on castors, so that once you do get it into the room of choice, getting it into position shouldn’t be a problem

The depth of the mattress with vary depending on how much filling there is in the mattress.

Divan beds come in 6 different standard size categories

Small Single (2FT 6″).
75cm x 190cm.

A typical size for people looking for a single bed but may have smaller room requirements

Single (3FT).
90cm x 190cm.

This is the standard single divan bed children and adults.

Small Double (4FT).
120cm x 190cm.

A typical size for people looking for a double bed but may have smaller room requirements.

Double (4FT 6).
135cm x 190cm.

The most popular size for a divan bed common for 2 adults sharing

Kingsize (5FT).
150 x 200cm.

This size is again popular for 2 people sharing, but is wider and longer, allowing for more room.

Super Kingsize (6FT)
180cm x 200cm.

This is the biggest standard bed size. This bed is best for 2 people who want the maximum amount of room.

European sizes

There are also a lot of none industry standard European sizes.

European Single - The dimensions of this are 90cm x 200cm, making it slightly longer than the industry standard single.

European Small Double - The dimensions of this are 120cm x 200cm, again making it slightly longer than the industry standard size.

European Double - The dimensions of this are 140cm x 200cm, making it wider and longer than the industry standard double. This size could be for people who want a slightly bigger bed, but don’t have the room to fit a Kingsize or Super Kingsize bed.

European Kingsize - The dimensions of this are 160cm x 200cm, making it wider than the industry standard size. This bed size could be best suited for people who want a slightly wider bed, yet don’t have the room for a Super Kingsize.

Bedsteads

Bedsteads are another alternative to divan beds. With a bedstead, you buy the mattress separately rather than it coming as a set like a divan. This could be the best option if you would rather mix and match to get your perfect bed.

Bedsteads are different to divans in the way that bedsteads don’t come in standard sizes, they only fit a standard size mattress. Therefore the size of the bedstead depends on the design and the materials used to build it. For example, a bedstead built from wood would most likely be thicker than a bedstead built from metal.

Bedsteads come in the following sizes:

Single
Will fit a standard single mattress 90cm x 190cm (3FT)

Small double
Will fit a 120cm x 190cm (4FT) Small Double mattress

Double
Will fit a 135 x 190cm (4FT 6″) Double mattress

Kingsize
Will fit a 150cm x 200cm Kingsize mattress

Super Kingsize
Will fit a 180cm x 200cm Super Kingsize mattress

In today’s ever increasing demanding market, the bed industry is doing everything possible to cater for all requirements. If the standard sizes however don’t meet your requirements, some manufacturers offer a custom built service to your exact specification.

Why not view the range of divan beds and bedsteads at bedstar.

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Posted in Buying Advice, divan beds | 2 Comments »

Advantages of Buying A Divan Bed

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Divan beds offer many advantages over other mattress and base combinations, Divans allow for more comfort, size options and ultimately when space is at a premium - storage options.

Divan beds have a wide range of storage choices. For example the traditional drawer option, where you can have 2 drawers, 4 drawers, 2 normal size drawers and 2 continental drawers to allow for a bedside tables to be positioned next to the bed and still allow access to the drawers, sliding drawers or end drawers allow easy access to storage if the width of the room is an issue, and the Ottoman divan base, which allows you to easily lift up the top of the divan either by springs or by a gas lift mechanism. This allows for the whole of the divan base to be used as storage.

Storage is a key factor in any bedroom as you may not have a room which is big enough for a wardrobe, or you need that little bit of extra storage to keep your spare pillows and blankets in for example.

Divan beds come in all different sizes, whether it be Small Single, Single, Small Double, Double, Kingsize or Super Kingsize. Some bed manufacturers also offer continental sizes, which are slightly larger or smaller than the usual standard sizes. This allows you to get the perfect size bed for whatever your needs. Whether you just need a standard single bed for you or your child or something with a little more room for you or you and your partner, divan beds will have a size that will cater to your requirements, dependent on the size of your bedroom.

Divans also offer different base options. Most bases come on castors for easy maneuverability, however, if you don’t require castors, some divan bases come on legs allowing for extra storage space under the base itself. The top of the divan base also has various options. For example, the standard top is a platform top, which is just a solid top base on which the mattress sits. However, you can also purchase a sprung edge top, which is a layer of springs in the top of the divan to give you a higher level of comfort.

At Bedstar, we know how stressful buying the perfect bed can be, as with bedsteads you have to buy the bedstead and then buy the mattress to go with it, but with divan beds, most come as sets with a mattress included and with options for different storage, and also most divan beds come with matching fabric to give you a sense of style as well as practicality.

A wide range of divan beds are available on our website, and you can read more about Ottoman divan bases too.

Posted in Buying Advice, Mattress, divan beds | 4 Comments »

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