Posted by Emma Carlton - Buying and Merchandising Manager on 14th Mar 2024
National Bed Month: The Importance of a Good Bed for a Good Night’s Sleep
When it comes to choosing the right bed, the benefits go far beyond mere aesthetics. While many of us have our ideals when it comes to what a bed should look like – wooden ottoman bed frames; plush, upholstered divan beds; or even modern metal bed frames – a bed is much more than something to look pretty in your bedroom.
A bed plays an important role in promoting a better night’s sleep. It not only needs to provide support for your mattress so that your mattress can support you, it also needs to promote a sense of calm to promote improved sleep quality. So yes, aesthetics do matter too.
Essentially, your bed is a sanctuary. In this guide, we’ll explore the impact a good bed can have on day to day productivity, our appearance, and our mental health too. Scroll on to learn more.
The negative impacts of being uncomfortable in bed
An uncomfortable bed can cost us up to an hour of sleep each night (1). And so, if you regularly feel uncomfortable in bed, you could be missing out on up to 7 hours of sleep every week. What’s more, if you sleep in an uncomfortable bed for an entire year, you could be losing up to 364 hours of sleep over a 12-month period. That equates to a massive 15+ days of sleep debt acquired in a single year.
Not getting enough sleep tends to result in feeling tired, more irritable, and unable to concentrate. And not getting enough sleep on a regular basis can have a negative impact on both our physical and mental wellbeing.
But even if you’re sticking with those healthy sleep-promoting habits like exercising regularly, staying well-hydrated, and limiting your consumption of alcohol and caffeine, those key benefits of a good night’s sleep can be hard to find if you’re regularly sleeping on bed that is not comfortable and supportive.
Assessing your sleep support system
If you want to keep your sleep environment in an optimal condition that’s conducive to a better night’s sleep, there are several things you can do on a regular basis.
First of all, understanding the importance of regularly assessing your bed and mattress is key. We’d recommend carrying out a visual assessment every few months. Look out for cracks in the bed frame or slats. Monitor tears in the upholstery too – especially if those tears are close to key areas of support. When you rotate or flip your mattress, take the opportunity to lift the mattress off the bed base and look for visible sagging in the frame as well as the mattress. Any of these signs are indicative that a new bed might be worthwhile investment.
If you can feel or see lumps and bumps in the mattress or bedframe, the chances are it’s past it’s best. And a bed and mattress that are past their best won’t be supporting you as well as you need.
If you find that you’re waking up with a sore back and neck, or if you find you’re your sleep quality is better when you’re sleeping elsewhere, it may be a good indication that it’s time to invest in a whole new sleep support system.
You should also consider how long you’ve had your bed and mattress. We recommend replacing your bed and mattress ever 8-10 years to continue to feel the benefits of a supportive sleep system.
How long should a bed last?
There is no short answer to this question. Some latex mattresses have a lifespan of up to 20 years! But most mattresses will need replacing every 8-10 years.
There is also a hygiene aspect to the 8-10 years lifespan of a mattress, whereby sweat and bacteria builds up over time, which unfortunately no amount of cleaning can resolve. It's normal to sweat up to 25ml of moisture per hour!
As a general rule, we’d also recommend replacing your bed and mattress at the same time. Just as the supportive quality of your mattress degenerates with age, so too does the supportive quality of the slats or base of your bed frame.
The benefits of a good bed
There are plenty of benefits to having a good bed and a supportive mattress to sleep on. For a start, a good bed and mattress will promote proper spinal alignment which leads to less aches and pains in the morning.
Choosing the right mattress for your sleep position and your individual sleep needs is also conducive to less sleep disruptions during the night. A truly comfortable mattress paired with a supportive bed frame will help minimise sleep disruptions caused by discomfort.
And the main benefit of a good bed is improved sleep quality. Sleep is integral to so many aspects of our lives. From how we look, to our mindset, and even our physical health, sleep plays a vital role. Getting a good night’s sleep leaves us feeling fresh, well-rested, and ready to tackle the day ahead.
How to get the most out of a new bed and mattress
There are several things you can do to maximise the life expectancy of your bed and mattress. And most of them boil down to applying a bit of common sense. Let’s learn more below.
Regularly checking your bed and mattress will help you to spot those tell-tale warning signs that it could be time to upgrade early on. This is handy for our finances as we can better prepare ourselves for the expense of a new bed and mattress ahead of time.
You should also regularly clean your mattress and bed frame. Keeping your bed and mattress clean is conducive to a healthy sleep environment and helps to promotes better health and hygiene all-round.
Rotate and/or flip your mattress on a regular basis. When your mattress arrives, take a minute or two to read through the care instructions provided by your mattress manufacturer. These will outline how often you should ideally turn and rotate your mattress. Not all mattresses need to be flipped. But every mattress requires regular turning to promote even wear and ensure product longevity.
Get a better night’s sleep with some help from Bensons for Beds
Now that we fully understand the relationship between a good quality bed and a good night’s sleep, you might be keen to replace yours sharpish. That’s where we can help. At Bensons, we offer a huge range of mattresses and bed frames to ensure that you have access to those all-important products needed to optimise your sleep quality.
Our team of experts are always on hand to offer help and advice too. Pop into your local store or get in touch with our customer service team on 0333 222 6800 to speak to a Bensons colleague with hands-on experience. Shop in-store or online and find your ideal sleep solution today! Remember, by changing your bed, you can absolutely change your life.
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