Your House of Reeves guide to making an informed choice.

Bed sizes

When choosing a bed, you’ll need to choose a size. Bed mattress sizes are always standard:

• Single beds are 3ft wide (90cm) x 6ft 3in (190cm) long.
• Small double mattresses are 4ft (120cm) wide x 6ft 3in (190cm) long.
• Double mattresses are 4ft 6in (135cm) wide x 6ft 3in (190cm) long.
• King-size mattresses are 5ft (150cm) wide x 6ft 6in (200cm) long
• Super-king mattresses are 6ft (180cm) wide x 6ft 6in (200cm) long.

Our Divan beds conform to these sizes, as the mattresses fit directly onto the base. Bedstead dimensions however exceed these, because they are frames in or on which the standard-sized mattresses fit. They can be a little wider, or just a little longer because of an end-frame or a built in headboard.

Bed storage

Divan beds often have storage space in the base:

• Side or end slide doors
• Two or four drawers.
• Continental half-drawers, openable without the need to move bedside units.
• A fully upward hinged mattress base.

Mattress construction

Bed mattress technical terminology is as follows:

• Open spring
• Posture spring
• Pocket spring
• Foam
• Memory foam

Open springs are used in many beds and are the default construction method. The more springs, the more support. The thicker the wire, the stiffer the spring. Sometimes springs are referred to as bonnell springs, which is the most common design of open spring.

As beds get more luxurious, posture springs or pocketed springs are used. Posture springs use a single piece of wire to form the mattress whilst pocket springs are smaller diameter springs, enclosed in fabric pockets, which provide more support and allow more springs to be used and therefore more accurate support for the weight placed in each area. Some people prefer pocket springs and others still prefer open springs!

Then there is foam and memory foam. Aside from the filings used in bed construction, some beds have foam enclosed to add a upper layer of soft sumptuous comfort. Memory foam is more luxurious still, providing an upper layer which forms to the body’s profile and whilst it recovers, it does so slowly, providing a unique feel. Memory foam is instantly recognisable, even when just sitting on beds in our showroom.

Memory foam mattresses are available with open springs or pocket springs, or as pure memory foam.

Mattress firmness

Beds come in different grades of firmness. Some people prefer extremely firm beds and others like more medium mattresses, available in the various spring types above. We stock a wide range to cater for individual requirements, including orthopaedic mattresses.

Other terminology

'Tufted' mattresses have a piece of quilting which runs from one side of the mattress to the other. This exerts a degree of pre-load on the springs, giving a mattress cover a distinct taught feel as well as ensuring the mattress fillings stay in compartments, so they cannot move around. This avoids the mattress becoming 'lumpy' and uneven in time.

'Stitch bond' and 'Damask' refers to the type of fabric used to enclose the mattress. Some mattress fabrics are specially designed to promote even temperatures throughout the night and are mentioned in our descriptions.

Without over-complicating further mattress technical differences, this guide should help you narrow down your purchase. All of our beds and mattresses have a summary in the item description headings to enable you to identify your preferred specifications. Please call or visit our showroom for more information where our staff will be pleased to assist you.