Glossary

• 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.

• Open Coil

  An Open Coil spring unit is made from a continuous piece of wire. This wire can be made from various different gauges of wire, ending in differing firmnesses. The idea behind an Open Coil spring unit, or Continuous Springs as they are sometimes known, is that the spring unit can be made quickly, efficiently and therefore for little cost. Open Coil spring units tend to be the reserve of the entry level models on the market. However, some manufacturers have perfected the technique and the end result is extremely successful.
  
  A single piece of wire will be placed in a machine, bent into coils. Each coil will be joined at the top, the bottom or both and the result is a spring unit made of one wire. The reason this works well, is that the springs can support one another and share any weight or pressure across the surface. Other methods of spring units include Twin Sprung or Pocket Sprung.

• Pocket Sprung

  Pocket Sprung units are an adaption of the traditional open coil/continuous spring unit. By placing each spring in its own individual 'pocket' (a fabric sock-like pouch), the spring is not joined to any other part of the mattress. The pocket that supports the spring is then joined to its neighbouring pockets and this effect creates a unique feel.
  
  By creating a spring unit in this way, it allows the springs to move independently, rather than sharing the pressure with surrounding springs. This effect allows for much more accurate contour following and a more comfortable feel overall.
  
  If you were to push your hand into a traditionally sprung mattress, the area around your hand would dip/sink too. With Pocket Springs, this sunken area is much more remote and therefore more accurately follows the contours of the pressure source. There are differences in the techniques used to create Pocket Springs, but more or less they remain the same.

• Tufted

  Tufting is a traditional and highly successful way of finishing a mattress surface. The end result makes the mattress appear to have dimples, or buttons dipping into the surface. This technique is designed to hold the surface materials together and to fix them to the core of the mattress to prevent the layers moving over time. A modern method is Spiral Tufting, which involves fixing the surface to the fillings and spring unit.
  
  The actual tuft is usually made from a cotton felt material and is fastened by a cotton or wool chord to the spring unit, in most cases. A tufted mattress will normally have a firmer surface than a non-tufted/quilted surface. The reason for this is that the Tufting process actually holds the surface material and underlying fibre layers tightly together. This will create a tighter, firmer feel than a quilted mattress.