You can’t underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Experts have spent their lives studying the art of catching 40 winks, and its impact on our general health and happiness. With this being the case, and knowing that you’ll be spending a solid amount of time snoozing, it makes sense that you should want to seek the perfect tools to support some shut eye: a bed and mattress. Before you make your purchase, it’s worth undertaking some careful research; in this bed buying guide you’ll find all the crucial factors to consider.

A calming bedroom setting with a blue patterned headboard, white quilt and wooden side tables.
A patterned ottoman sits at the end of a bed, which is decorated with a patterned quilt.

What are the Signs you Need a New Bed?

You spend a third of your life asleep, but even the very best of beds won’t be up for a lifetime of snoozing. The average lifespan of a bed frame is 10 to 20 years, but this will largely depend on the quality of your chosen design. Tell-tale signs that you’re in need of a refresh include a squeaky frame, sagging in the middle or, worst of all, back ache. If you’re experiencing any (or all) of these, it’s time to start exploring alternative options. 

Where Do I Start When Buying a Bed?

There are a few considerations to make when buying a bed. You’ll need to think about the size of your space, and how large a design you can reasonably fit – whether that’s a double, queen, king or super king. You’ll also want to factor in style; if you’re looking for storage, will you require a design with drawers, for example, or a frame that has space underneath for storing possessions? Do you want your bed to be a statement feature of the space, or one that complements the rest of the furniture in the room? For your consideration, we’ve rounded up the different types of beds below.

 

Bed Frames

This style is a traditional frame that stands on four legs, with the base elevated from the ground. A benefit of this type of design is that it takes up less floor space and offers the option of adding additional storage underneath. It also comes in a wide range of designs, from metal to wood to upholstered. These types of bed can be used with any mattress type, however as the mattress sits on top of the wooden frame it needs to be sturdy and firm, which some people may find less comfortable. These styles can also often be lower than other bed bases.

 

Divan Beds

Most divan beds come with drawers inside the base, making them a great option if you’re looking for extra storage space. The style of your divan bed can also be updated with valances or headboards, helping them feel fresh. All of the divan beds in our collection are handmade in Britain by a family firm in Yorkshire that has been making beds for more than 30 years – so rest assured, they know exactly what needs to go into these bedroom essentials to ensure a good night’s sleep. Each sturdy, wood frame that forms our divan bases is made from Scandinavian spruce, which has a strong, fine grain. All of our models feature castors on the bottom for effortless manoeuvring and, in the case of the larger beds, the base breaks down into two parts for extra ease if (or when) it needs to be moved.

 

Ottoman Beds

Another multi-functional design, ottoman bed bases feature a side or foot-end opening that can be lifted up to reveal a hollow space for storage. These are great for smaller bedrooms where there isn’t enough space to open drawers, however the storage is not as easily accessible and may be better for pieces you won’t need to use regularly.

 

A selection of images showing examples of ottoman and divan beds
A wooden four-poster bed decorated with cushions in autumnal colours.

What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Mattress?

It’s not just the bed frame that will determine whether you receive a good night’s sleep, but the mattress too. When considering how to choose a mattress, the first and most important thing you need to remember is that your spine needs to stay aligned when you lie down. 

 

Which Type of Bed Mattress is Best? 

There’s no simple answer to this question because, as everyone is different, the mattress that will offer the right support for you will be dependent on your preferred sleeping position and your body type. Is a firm or soft mattress better for a good night’s sleep? Should your mattress be foam-filled or sprung? All of these decisions are personal to you, so we’ve rounded up the different types of mattress below to help you refine your choice.

 

 

Memory Foam

Created from multiple layers of foam, with firmer foam at the bottom for durability and softer foam at the top for comfort, memory foam mattresses mould to your body shape, taking the weight off pressure points. They’re perfect for people who like to sleep on their side or for those who experience back pain, because the foam helps alleviate stress on the shoulders and hips. They do, however, tend to trap in heat, so if you struggle to sleep in warmer weather then a cotton design may be best for you.

 

Latex

Latex mattresses offer a similar feel to memory foam mattresses but with a firmer structure. As these mattresses are made from a natural material sourced from rubber trees, they tend to be more expensive than memory foam designs. However, they’re a worthy investment as latex mattresses tend to last the longest. 

 

Innerspring

People who sleep on their back or stomach would benefit from an innerspring mattress, which is sturdier than other designs thanks to its steel coil construction. These styles are also extremely durable. 

 

Pocket Sprung 

Pocket-sprung mattresses are highly responsive, thanks to their unique, individual-coil system; each spring is hand-sewn into its own calico pocket, before being hand-nested into a honeycomb pattern that forms the mattress as a whole. This means each spring moves independently, cradling each point of the body that comes into contact with the mattress and distributing your weight evenly. 

 

All of the divan beds in our collection come with a thick, high-count pocket-sprung mattress, at medium firmness. Our mattresses are made of high-quality, natural fibres, and are chosen for its comfort, resilience and breathability; layers of wool, horsehair and cotton are topped with rebound wool-cotton, as well as a bamboo pad to keep all the fibres in place.

A country house bedroom setting featuring pink floral wallpaper, a floral embroidered throw and a patterned rug.
A calming bedroom setting with white wood-panelled walls, red cushions and rattan lamps.

 

Everything You Need to Know about OKA Beds

We offer two types of divan beds – Standard and Deluxe – and both offer luxuriously high levels of comfort at an excellent price. All mattresses come with handles on the sides for easy mattress rotation. Here are the key differences:

 

Standard Divan Beds

An OKA best seller and customer favourite, our Standard divan beds and mattresses are perfect for guest bedrooms and children’s rooms.

Standard mattresses are 23cm thick and come with a high spring count (approximately: Single x500; Double x1,100; King x1,300; Super King x1,500). The internal materials are covered and sealed in using the finest-quality 100% cotton ticking, sourced from traditional cotton mills; cotton ticking offers a far cooler and healthier sleeping environment, when compared with its synthetic counterparts. For additional breathability, each mattress also comes with single air vents.

Standard bases feature a platform-top base, which is perfect for those who like their bed to be a little bit firmer, and are available with or without drawers. If you opt for drawers, the Super King, King and Double come with four, while the Single has two.

 

Deluxe Divan Beds

Our Deluxe divan beds offer superior comfort and support, thanks to their exceptionally high-spring-count mattresses (approximately: Double x1,800; King x2,000; Super King x2,400).

The 28cm-thick mattresses are covered in a soft white tufted wool damask fabric, for a cooler sleeping environment and luxurious finish. They also feature double air vents for optimum breathability.

The Deluxe bases are what we call ‘true edge’; a layer of pocket springs inset into the base frame, plus reinforced edges to hold these springs, means there is less ‘give’ and so it is much easier to get into and out of bed. This extra layer of springs also helps to evenly distribute any strain and stress on the mattress, resulting in a bed that lasts much longer. All Deluxe bases also come with drawers as standard, meaning additional bedroom storage that doesn’t take up extra floorspace.

 

 

How to Care for Your New Mattress

To keep your OKA mattress in premium condition, rotate the mattress 180° after three to four weeks so the head becomes the foot, then three to four weeks later, flip the mattress so the bottom becomes the top. Repeat this cycle every three to four weeks, to avoid any uneven wearing – or disrupted sleep patterns. It’s recommended that you replace your mattress every eight to ten years.

 

 

Quick Look Comparison Chart

A table showing the comparisions between OKA's Standard and Deluxe divan beds