Draughty windows, dusty furniture, worn old carpet - while all these things are bad news for guest satisfaction, nothing is worse than an uncomfortable bed. Beds are the battleground where great reviews are forged!
What makes an excellent bed for a B&B?
The bed frame has to be rock solid, and the mattress has to provide support and comfort.
Squeaky bed frames and rock-hard mattresses are the biggest killers for B&Bs. To avoid them, we've curated the best guest beds below. Our picks balance cost and quality to keep your improvements on a budget.
B&B bed frames should be divans in small bedrooms and wooden in large rooms, or you can get a zip and link bed for modular sleeping. Divans save space with no protruding frame, while wooden bed frames allow you to create a real sense of quality and class.
Zip and link beds
These two options are ideal for B&Bs:
Giltedge Beds Topaz Zip & Link - medium
The Giltedge Beds Topaz Zip & Link has two open-coil Bonnell spring mattresses. The two bases lock together to create a king or split to make twins. This bed has an optional headboard in various styles. Price: £499 king-size.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Topaz Zip & Link 5FT Kingsize Divan Bed. Zip and link beds are manufactured with mattresses that can be zipped together or unzipped apart to create two separate beds.
Giltedge Beds Cashmere 2000 Zip & Link
The Giltedge Beds Cashmere 2000 Zip & Link is ideal if you're going for luxury. This bed includes two hybrid 2,000-pocket spring mattresses with a thick layer of memory foam. The bed is finished in quilted, velvet, or plush upholstery. Price: £999 king-size.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Cashmere 2000 Zip & Link 5FT Kingsize Divan Bed. Zip and link beds are manufactured with mattresses that can be zipped together or unzipped apart to create two separate beds.
Divan beds
These two options are ideal for B&Bs:
Giltedge Beds Deluxe Orthocare
The Giltedge Beds Deluxe Orthocare has an open coil medium mattress and a free headboard. The open coils provide support, while a cushioned white fibre top layer offers a soft surface to sleep on. Price: £489 king-size.
The Giltedge Beds Tuscany 1000 takes luxury up a notch with a velvet base and a premium 1,000-pocket spring medium-soft mattress with natural fillings. It's a better quality bed than the Orthocare, and the mattress offers a cloud-like sleep. Price: £609 king-size.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Tuscany 1000 Divan Bed
Standard bed frames
These three options are ideal for B&Bs:
Flintshire Conway
The Flintshire Conway is a solid oak bed built to last. It's beautifully crafted with an eclectic style suited to traditional and contemporary B&Bs. The smoked oak finish has a high-end vibe, perfect for making a great impression. Price: £509 king-size.
Pictured: Flintshire Conway 5FT Kingsize Wooden Bed Frame - Oak
Tour Low Bed Frame
The Tour Low Bed Frame is a simple, minimalist bed in grey. It's perfect for small spaces with neat, straight panelling and solid slats.
The bed is made from hardwood with a shaker-style headboard. A great, low-cost option. Also available in white. Price: £294 king-size.
Pictured: Tour Low 5FT Kingsize Wooden Bed Frame - Grey.
Nordic Mill Shake
The Nordic Mill Shake is a Scandinavian bed frame with an antique finish and a simple, elegant style with clean lines. It's a fantastic option for B&Bs because it sits low, creating a sense of relaxation and freeing up wall space. Price: £339 king-size.
Pictured: Nordic Mill Shake Low Bed Frame.
Best Mattresses for B&Bs
Mattresses in B&Bs should always be medium or medium-soft because a bed should be a little too soft rather than firm. Here are our top picks:
Silentnight Geltex 1000 - medium-soft
The Silentnight Geltex 1000 offers a softer feel without sacrificing support. It has Silentnight's reliable Miracoil spring system and 4cm of Geltex, a gel-infused foam top layer that contours to the body while dissipating heat. Price: £649 king-size.
On a tight budget? The Giltedge Beds Harmony is for you. This medium mattress has an open coil structure and a deep-quilted knitted outer cover. It also has vents for improved air circulation and a white fibre comfort layer. Price: £329 king-size.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Harmony Mattress
Giltedge Beds Silk 1000 - medium
The Giltedge Beds Silk 1000 is an affordable hybrid mattress with 1,000 pocket springs and a thick memory foam top layer. This mattress feels twice as expensive as it is and delivers fantastic support. Price: £379 king-size.
If you're going for a premium guest experience, the Birlea Sleepsoul Cloud guarantees sublime sleep. It has 800 pocket springs, 2cm of memory foam, and 1cm of soft foam with a knitted top layer. Comfy and long-lasting with a 10-year guarantee. Price: £599 king-size.
Pictured: Internal components of the Sleepsoul Cloud Mattress.
