Our guide to Bedsteads


Bedsteads or bed frames are about style, design and giving your bedroom character.

Bed frames are made from a wide variety different materials, including wood, such as pine, beech or oak, metal and alloys. Upholstered bedsteads have increased in popularity recently, and offered in a wide range of fabrics, like leather, suede and flat weaves.

Bedstead bases usually incorporate a slatted system for the mattress to rest upon.

Base types

The base type makes a huge difference to the overall feel of the bed.
Bed bases at a glance:

Base Type Feature Benefit
Sprung Slatted Base Curved wooden slats, which sit within the frame. The natural bounce in the slats adjusts to your profile where the most pressure is exerted giving a greater degree of comfort.
Slatted Base Most common mattress support system used on bedsteads. Usually fixed wooden slats. Offers a firmer base. Which would therefore provide an overall firmer feeling bed



Sprung Slatted Base

Sprung Slatted Base
Slats are the most common type of mattress support system used on bedsteads. A base with sprung slats features curved wooden slats, usually made of beech, which sit within the frame. The natural bounce in the slats means that they will adjust to your profile where you exert the most pressure. A larger bed will have a double spring unit, one on each side, supported by a central rail, which eliminates roll together and ensures you will not be disturbed when your partner gets out of bed.

Solid Slatted Base

Slatted Base
This is the most common mattress support system used with bed frames. It features wooden slats, usually made of pine, which are fixed within the frame. This system has the benefit of allowing air to move below the mattress and therefore lets it breathe. A larger bed will also have a support bar down the middle of the bed. This gives extra stability to the bedstead and your mattress.

Mattress types

It's important to select the right mattress for your new bedstead. All of our bedsteads offer a selection of different packages with suggested mattresses

Good advice is to spend as much as you can afford. When you spend more, you'll gain deeper filling, which will provide more comfort and prolonged mattress life.

Most mattresses contain some type of spring system deep inside, generally speaking the more springs a mattress contains the greater support it will offer. Whilst sprung mattresses are by far more common, there are now other types such as, slab or solid latex, or memory foam (visco elastic) mattresses which offer an excellent alternative.


Mattress Type Mattress Feature Mattress Benefit
Mattress Type Feature Benefit
Pocket Springs Conforms and adjusts to your body contours.
Every spring works totally independently from the next 		Offering excellent spinal support.
Eliminating roll together for totally undisturbed sleep
Coiled or Continuous Springs Robust, well engineered springing system. Evenly distributing body weight for a supportive nights rest. Ensuring the mattress retains its shape throughout its life
Natural Latex Conforms and moulds to your body contours.
Hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial. 		For superior comfort, neck and back support.
Beneficial for people who suffer from respiratory problems.
Memory Foam Responds to individual shape and pressure.
Relieves pressure build-up. 		For optimum back and body support.
Helps prevent aches and pains.

Coiled or Interior Sprung Mattresses

The robust coiled or continuous spring systems are specifically designed to evenly distribute body weight over the surface of the mattress. Although each manufacturer varies the technology, they all feature row upon row of springs linked together with a spiral wire, which ensures the mattress retains its shape throughout its life.

Pocket Sprung Mattresses

Generally considered to more luxurious, these smaller lighter springs are individually wrapped in fabric pockets and work independently from one another. Imagine thousands of tiny pistons constantly adjusting and conforming to your body contours, ensuring complete support and comfort from head to toe.

Natural Latex Mattresses

Developed by Dunlopillo over 75 years ago, latex offers users with a list of unique benefits. Latex is hypo-allergenic and its anti-microbial properties inhibit bacteria, fungi and house dust mites - so can be particularly beneficial for people who suffer from respiratory problems. Latex also conforms perfectly to your body's contours for superb comfort, neck and back support.

Memory Foam (Visco Elastic) Mattresses

First used by NASA during the shuttle space programme, technologically advanced memory foam responds to body heat and weight to support you perfectly, relieving pressure points and helping relieve symptoms of backache, painful joints and circulatory problems.