How your mattress will affect your sleep let us at zatarra beds help you sleep smarter

Many people make the link that lack of sleep affects how they feel the next day but many fail to recognise that their sleep could be improved by a new mattress. A bed with the correct support, comfort and space will ensure you wake less, move about less, are less disturbed by your partner and are less likely to wake up feeling tired or aching.

Quite often a mattress has worn out long before you realise. That’s why we recommend replacing your mattress every seven years. After seven years a mattress has been subjected to over 20,000 hours of wear and tear, we lose half a pint of fluid each night and shed a pound of dead skin cells a year – yuck!

How can I tell that a bed will be comfortable for me?

Spend more time making the right choice of bed – trying them out properly in store; assessing from previous experience the level of firmness/softness you like. It’s your decision – not the salesman’s!

Should I buy a hard bed to ease my aches and pains?

What you need is a new bed which offers the right support for your spine (not necessarily hard at all!) Remember that the term orthopaedic and other derivations of the word only mean that the bed is a firmer specification from that manufacturer. There are no universal standards of firmness in common usage in the UK. BUT if you have a back or skeletal problem you should consult your GP or Specialist before buying.

How can I get the most from my mattress?

Most mattresses need regularly turning to ensure even wear and tear and today’s mattresses can be heavy, so be careful! However, there are now plenty of non-turn options, which only need swivelling around from time to time, while others need to be turned only.

Will a more expensive bed be better to sleep on?

Not necessarily as comfort is a matter of individual preference; a very firm expensive bed may be uncomfortable if you prefer a softer mattress, but a better-quality bed will be more expensive than a poor quality one because the thicker, more luxurious mattress fillings and covers are more costly.

What is the most important part of the bed to focus on – is it the frame, the mattress or the bedding?

All of it – they need to work together. When buying a new bed, it can be false economy to change only the mattress and keep the original base, especially if you are buying a divan set. The old base could reduce the useful life of the new mattress as well as the comfort and support it can offer. It can also invalidate manufacturers’ warranties or guarantees.

Do you always need a base – could you just have a mattress on the floor?

A mattress on the floor is not something we would recommend. A mattress is designed to work with a base and needs ventilation.

What should we be looking out for in a mattress?

Look for a mattress that offers correct support and comfort levels. It is important you make time to try out a variety of mattresses to find the one that is most comfortable for you, and your partner. Size matters so opt for the biggest size you can – and spend as much as you can afford. For added reassurance that the mattress you’re buying is safe, clean and honest look for the NBF Approved ‘big tick’ label.

There are so many bed sizes – how big should I go?

People don’t buy large enough beds. 75% of all double beds are still the standard 4ft 6in/135cm wide double – yet this is plainly not room enough for two adults to sleep comfortably together without disturbing each other. Even upgrading to the next size, a 5ft/150cm king size, whilst it takes up very little extra bedroom space, makes a considerable difference!