Glossary

• Bedstead

  A Bedstead is the traditional style bed which has been around since the 1800's. Bedsteads can be made from a variety of materials including wood, iron and steel. The classic design will normally feature a headboard/headend as well as a footboard/footend and these two will be joined by three straight beams which the slats can be placed/fixed on.
  
  The slats can be either solid, straight slats or they can be sprung slats, which are gently curved and designed to flex as weight is applied. There are some mattresses we provide, which should not be placed on slats that are more than 7cm apart from each other.

• Guest Bed

  A Guest Bed is the ideal solution to space restrictions. A standard size Small Single or Single bed can harbour a space bed underneath. Often this spare bed will be the same size (or a little smaller) than the host bed. In most cases this spare bed can be removed completely and used as a separate bed altogether. In some cases it remains joined to the host bed when set up.
  
  The spare bed will normally sit neatly out of sight, when needed it can be pulled out and 'stood up'. A Guest Bed can be the ideal solution to space problems and they are becoming more and more popular. The prices for these beds vary greatly, and this reflects the standard and comfort levels offered by the bed. As well as a Guest bed, there are also Sofa Beds on the market, and these can be just as useful and space saving.

• Sprung Slats

  Slats are the most common type of mattress support system used on bedsteads, and sprung slats a natural development of this design. A base with sprung slats features curved wooden slats, usually made of beech, which sit within the frame. The natural bounce of these gently curved slats means they will adjust to your profile where you exert the most pressure.

  A bed larger than a single size will often have two rows of slats, each row is joined at either end. The join may be a screw, but is usually a plastic socket which the slat is slotted into (to allow flex and movement).

  Sprung slatted bases tend to soften the feel of a mattress, so a traditional (non-sprung) slatted base will be the preferred option for those who like a firmer feel. The slats are curved upwards and flex as weight is applied.