Buying a new mattress can be a significant investment, and with so many different types and brands to choose from, it can also feel overwhelming.
When a recent house move signalled a time for change, I felt it was time to invest in new beds and comfy new mattresses for all of us. With the days of bunk beds and box rooms now behind us, I headed out to Dreams, Dunelm and Bensons for Beds so I could quietly pick out a new mattress on my own.
On a mission to try before I buy, I specifically wanted to look at midrange mattresses with a medium-firm comfort level. Without the distractions of my teenage children or opinionated partner, I was able to indulge myself in my deepest sleep desires.
Just the right size for two or perfect for single sleepers to spread out and on, a standard double bed measures 4 feet 6 inches wide (135cm) and 6 feet 3 inches long (190). Not just built for couples, a double bed is also an excellent choice for adult sleepers or tall teens who crave extra room to stretch.
When it comes to finding the perfect mattress, however, there is no standard formula that fits all. Some sleepers prefer a firm base to sleep on while others like to sink into a super soft slumber.
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'With a wealth of impressive sounding options to choose from, the modern-day sleeper can enjoy everything from intelligent temperature regulation to memory foam developed by NASA.
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With over 170 stores throughout the UK, Bensons for Beds offers a huge choice of beds, mattresses, headboards, bedroom furniture and bedding.
With lots of promotions and incentives available on selected items some of the best in-store deals included 20% off selected top-rated mattresses, a 50% off sale and money off selected bundles.
Beautiful bedframes adorned with decadently deep mattresses lined the store and I was eager to see what I could find for my budget.
I started with a brand name I had heard of many times before, the good old Sealy Posturepedic. Designed to provide orthopaedic support when you need it most, these mattresses are well-made but often pricey. At Benson's the Sealy Orwell Posturpedic Mattress is currently £2099 for the double size, and it looks and feels sumptuous. A little more than I want to pay, this was still rather lovely.
Another rather handsome-looking sleeping arrangement came in the form of the iGel Advance 3000i Plush Top Mattress that currently has 20% off, making the double size a reasonable £1359.99. Carefully crafted with intelligent temperature regulation, this mattress promises to help you sleep "not too hot and not too cold."
Finally, Bensons for Beds also stocks the impressive Staples and Co Revitalise Eco Latex Pocket 3800 Mattress which is currently on sale for £1349.99 for the double-size version. Made with eco-friendly foam and latex, it comes with 3800 pockets spring for increased comfort, a Tencel™ anti-allergy fabric for enhanced breathability and an ecoAir foam layer that is 30 times more breathable than memory foam.
With two floors to explore, my local Dreams store had an overwhelming amount of mattresses to choose from.
Argos shoppers rush to buy Hy-Pro Football Table that's slashed to half priceSelling some of the UK's most popular upscale mattress brands including Sealy, Tempur, Flaxby, Sleepeezee and Silentnight, there are lots of bed choices for a bigger budget. Eager to keep within our price range, I headed towards the mid-range mattresses and found some good deals available.
My favourite by far was the TheraPur ActiGel® Glacier 1600 Mattress which felt super comfortable while still being supportive. Boasting an Acticool knitted cover that is designed to disperse heat away from the body, I thought this felt like an impressive mattress for the £1199 ticket price.
Other comfy choices included the Sealy PostureLux Wilton mattress with its PostureTech Core Support Plus™ springs for £1199, and the Silentnight SleepHarmony Recovery 2000 Mattress that currently has £300 off at just £899.
Hopping over the road, I thought I'd pop into my favourite homewares store, Dunelm. Not sure whether or not they sold mattresses in-store, it turns out that the selection is limited.
With just a few rolled mattresses available in the store, there was no chance of having a cheeky lie down to get a feel for them, but the customer service assistant did advise me that there were hundreds to choose from on the Dunelm website.
A quick search revealed that they sell a range of brands including Tempur, Panda, Dorma and Silenight. Some of the best deals I found include the Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress with its temperature-regulating, orthopaedic design. Available for £1289, it has five-star reviews and a zip-off top bamboo cover for easy cleaning.
Another one that caught my eye was the Dorma Luxury Mattress with 20% off, taking the price of the double-size mattress down to £959.20.
Without being able to test the Dunelm mattress for myself though, I think I would be concerned about spending over £1000 on something that I not being able to try.
In conclusion, I definitely think that my favourite mattress is the iGel Advance 3000i mattress from Bensons for Beds. Super comfy, very deep and within budget, I think I'll be investing in at least one of these.
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