The mattress


Forty Winks’ Kara Norris said there were four main types of mattress to choose from: pocketed spring (with individual coils to minimise partner disturbance); the traditional spring mattress, designed for maximum support; memory foam, which was suited to people with pressure-related discomfort; and latex mattresses, a durable natural product that provided a hypoallergenic sleep surface.

The latest development was gel-infused products. “Gel products have been on the market for some time but we are now seeing the evolution of this material into more traditional-style mattresses, ” she said.

To find the most comfortable mattress, Ms Norris recommended lying on it for at least 10 minutes. “Don’t be shy — you can’t judge if the bed has the correct amount of comfort and support by sitting on the edge, ” she said.

Morten Nielsen, from Bedroom Gallery in Canning Vale, said you should opt for a mattress that is the “firmest” you feel comfortable on without creating too many pressure spots.

“You may possibly feel warmer on a ‘pillow top’ style of mattress as there is less airflow. However, there are products used in the higher-end models, including natural and cooling fabrics and gel-infused products, which keep it temperature neutral, ” he said. “The benefits of the comfort and pressure relief usually outweigh the down side of the possible temperature increase.”

 

Retro bed, and Retro bedside tables, from Forty Winks. Picture: fortywinks.com.au

 

 


The pillows

Pillows are as important as mattresses when it comes to comfort.

“Buy your pillow at the same time as you select your mattress, ” Mr Nielsen said. “The degree your body sinks into the mattress denotes how firm your pillow needs to be to support the neck area.”

Pillows come in several shapes and sizes and are made from various products including latex, memory foam or the more traditional feather or polyester fills.

Mr Nielsen said some of the more expensive pillows could cost up to $180 or more but had usually been well documented as being able to last many years, making them a wise investment choice against the alternative, less expensive, polyester fibre fill.

Alternatively, Ms Norris suggested using pillow protectors (and mattress protectors) could prolong your bedding’s life but that pillows should be replaced regularly to make sure you are getting the proper neck support and for good hygiene.

 

Linen House Nancy quilt cover set, from linenhouse.com.au


The linen

Sheets are a personal choice and can also be seasonal. “Whether it’s cool cotton or bamboo for summer or cosy flannelette for winter, the thing to check first is the depth of the fitted sheet, as some mattresses need deeper sheets, ” Mr Nielsen said.

Thread count is the buzzword with linen, with the number correlating to the amount of fibres per square inch. The general rule of thumb is that the higher the thread count, the finer and more luxurious the fabric, Mr Nielsen said.

But finer thread may be used to increase the thread count for linen that is not as good quality as that with a lower thread count but better-quality thread, so the rule is not always true. “The best test is always the ‘feel’ test, ” Mr Nielsen said. 

 

© The West Australian