How to Choose the Perfect Bed

Sleeping Beauty

You spend a third of your life in bed. So much more than just a place to catch some zzzz’s, your bed should be a sanctuary to escape from the stress of life… a quiet oasis to relax with a book, snuggle and sleep late on weekends. As a big-ticket item, there’s a lot to consider when choosing a bed and mattress. You want to get the look, feel and comfort factor juuuuuuust right with the perfect bed that will cradle you throughout the years and fit your style and budget.

“Most people only update their bed once a decade, so you want to ensure it’s going to last and remain timeless to adapt to your changing decor.”

— Amy Tuckett, Early Settler product manager

How to Choose the Perfect Bed with the Hampton Canopy Bed

Style

“Start by deciding on the look you want — whether country or coastal, natural timber or upholstered,” says Early Settler product manager, Amy Tuckett. “Most people only update their bed once a decade, so you want to ensure it’s going to last and remain timeless to adapt to your changing decor. Our focus is on beautifully-made, high-quality beds.”

Decide if you want your bed to be the primary feature of your bedroom or to blend in with your existing style. Sleek timber frames, for instance, have a minimalist Scandi aesthetic and are very popular. Powder-coated steel frames offer the old-world country charm of wrought iron and are very durable.

“Ultimately, your bed needs to work for you,” says Amy. “It should match your existing interior but also be of the highest quality your budget will allow. We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality across a selection of styles to suit every budget.”

“We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality across a selection of styles to suit every budget… Our focus is on beautifully-made, high-quality beds.”

— Amy Tuckett, Early Settler product manager

How to Choose the Perfect Bed with the Ashbourne Queen Bed

Size

Carefully assess both the dimensions and layout of the room before choosing your bed, particularly if you’re thinking about a canopy bed, upsizing to a king or accommodating growing children. Ensure you will have room for bedside tables and other furniture in the room, as well as a comfortable 1-metre clearance around the bed so you can get in and out with ease (particularly for those middle-of-the-night bathroom visits).

“Ideally, your bed should extend 10–15 centimetres further than the outstretched length of the tallest person who’ll be sleeping in the bed,” says Amy. “And it should be wide enough to comfortably allow you to stretch out at night — whether you’re a single, couple or rapidly growing teenager.”

Single: Length 188 x Width 92cm
King single: Length 203 x Width 107cm
Double: Length 188 x Width 138cm
Queen: Length 203 x Width 153cm
King (Australian): Length 203 x Width 183cm

“Ideally, your bed should extend 10–15 centimetres further than the outstretched length of the tallest person who’ll be sleeping in the bed.”

— Amy Tuckett, Early Settler product manager

Slats also play a part in the comfort of your bed. The wider the slats, the less supportive they will be overall and could even damage the mattress over time. The best slats are closely spaced, slightly curved and have a little bit of natural bounce.

How to Choose the Perfect Bed with the Lille Day Bed

Lifestyle

Consider how you use your bed. Is it primarily for sleeping or do you like to read or watch television in the evening when you wind down?

“Padded and upholstered beds are ideal for those who like to sit up in bed with an iPad or book before sleeping,” says Amy. “Alternatively, a bedhead is a stylish addition to the bedroom that can be placed behind your bed frame to add a fresh new look to the room.”

A bedhead can be attached to your existing bed frame (learn how to attach a bedhead) and offers an easy way to change the look of the room or add a bit of luxury without updating the entire bed frame.

“Headboards come in a variety of shapes, sizes and fabrics that you can match to your taste. We are seeing beautiful velvets in a variety of colours and shapes. Most popular right now is the circle shape headboard. Timber and rattan are also on-trend as more people seek out the natural look.”

“We are seeing beautiful velvets in a variety of colours and shapes. Most popular right now is the circle shape headboard.”

— Amy Tuckett, Early Settler product manager

How to Choose the Perfect Bed with the Serenity Bedhead

Mattress

Comfort is king when it comes to selecting a mattress, but support is also essential. As such, it’s worth doing a little research and investing in quality. Early Settler’s Classic mattress, for instance, is made up of several layers, including pocket springs, foam padding and quilting, while the Deluxe takes it a little further with multiple layers of foam and quilting over the pocket spring base.

Classic

Deluxe

“Our customers are looking for the best quality and aren’t willing to accept anything less,” says Amy. “All of our mattresses come with a 10-year warranty on the foam and springs.”