Glossary

• Deep Quilting

  Quilting is the stitching technique used to join or attach the mattress' surface layers of fibres to the surface material (the ticking). There are various different techniques which can be used to join these layers, but Quilting is common. Traditionally, Quilting offers a softer surface feel than Tufting as the layers are not held together so tightly. Also see Diamond Stitching or Micro Quilting for variations on Quilting.

• Drawer Options

  The term 'Divan' comes from the Greek word 'Divani', meaning a couch-like piece of furniture. Divans have many, many variations as they are essentially a surface on which to place the mattress with space for storage underneath.

  A traditional Four Drawer Divan features two equal sized drawers on either side of the base. A Four Drawer base is not typically an option for Small Single, or Single sized beds due to the lack of space in the base. There are many options for the Divan Base, they include:

  • No Drawer.
  • 2 Drawer.
  • 4 Drawer.
  • 4 Drawer Continental (2 normal sized drawers and two smaller drawers, usually designed to accommodate bedside furniture).
  • End Drawer (which can also be combined with 2 side drawers).

  Divan bases can also include the above options but also with the extra option of a Sprung Base, or a Platform Top/Solid Base.

• Fibre Most mattresses will have layers of fillings under the surface to increase comfort and separate the spring units from the surface. The most common fillings used in mattresses are cotton, wool and polyester among others. Mattresses require fillings to create a soft surface tension on which to sleep. The fillings normally compliment the internal spring unit by adding comfort to the support offered (by the spring unit) The tension of the surface fillings can be tuned by the density in which they are packed as well as by the method in which they are bound together. Tufting results in a slightly firmer feel than quilting.
• 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.

• Quilted / Micro Quilted

  Quilting is the stitching technique used to join or attach the mattress' surface layers of fibres to the surface material (the ticking). There are various different techniques which can be used to join these layers, but Quilting is common. Traditionally, Quilting offers a softer surface feel than Tufting as the layers are not held together so tightly. Also see Diamond Stitching or Micro Quilting for variations on Quilting.

• Rotate

  Some mattresses require rotating, meaning turning over completely. This can also be combined with rotating the mattress.

• Turn / No Turn

  Some mattresses require turning over, to aid even settlement. Others do not require turning, but will still require rotating.