Reply from our Silentnight Expert:
It sounds like the time has definitely come to replace your mattress, but you should also consider replacing your base.
The mattress is the heart of your bed and the part of the purchase you should spend most time and money on. The secret of having a good night’s sleep is the mattress and bed base you choose. Always remember that a ‘bed’ is a mattress and a base working together, you should not consider them in isolation and should ideally always try them together. We always recommend you buy them together because the two are designed and manufactured to compliment one another in terms of support. Your mattress may show visible signs of wear and tear but the base will have had equal pressure and strain – it just doesn’t show quite so clearly. Another point to watch is making sure the dimensions of any base and mattress separately sourced are compatible; two kings might not be quite the same size!
Putting a new mattress on a base for which it was not intended or putting a new mattress on an old base can impede comfort and reduce the useful life of the mattress.
When assessing what you would like and what you can afford, go for the best value rather than the lowest price. The better the construction of the bed, the longer it will last and offer you support for a comfortable night’s sleep. If you think that every £100 extra you spend only equates to less than 3p extra per night over the average ten year lifespan of a bed, a bed should offer the best comfort and support for you that you can afford.
Key things to think about when you are buying are support, comfort and size. Most beds are available in firm, medium and soft ratings but these labels can vary from brand to brand. Comfort is very subjective. There are no universal standards of firmness in common usage in the UK. Because of this we don't give our beds a firmness rating like some manufacturers. Your main aim is to achieve good "posture" in bed. Too soft and your body will slouch - often leading to back pain - and too firm and you will cause discomfort at pressure points such as your hips and shoulder. Ideally the mattress should mould to the shape of your body while remaining supportive. When you lie on your side your spine should be horizontal and you should be able to turn easily.
Our main recommendation to you would be that you visit a couple of your nearest bed retailers and start to try different beds for yourself and see what you like. There is no substitute to trying before you buy and selecting the right one for you. Don’t just sit on the edge and bounce up and down, actually lay down and stay there for ten minutes or more. Do not be embarrassed about lying on the beds in the showroom – that is what they are there for!
Remember that taking the time to try a new bed is a 10-minute investment to ensure you get many years of comfortable sleep. Most retailers will not exchange a bed if it proves not to be comfortable, so it’s very important to get it right first time.
All our beds have Miracoil as the "engine" - you just need to choose which of our two sleep ranges is right for you.
Miracoil 3 is the most popular sleep range in the UK. It gives you zoned support that loves your back, pressure relief for a perfect night's sleep, edge to edge support for extra sleep space and individual sleep zones for undisturbed sleep. Perfect if you or your partner don't have any particular sleep problems, prefer a medium to firm feel.
Miracoil 7 is our advanced sleep range. It gives you all the benefits of our Miracoil 3, but has been enhanced to feature an extra sensitive support layer to provide more targeted support. With even more gentle cushioning around the shoulder and neck area, and more sensitive support around the hips, our Miracoil 7 beds offer luxurious comfort with ultimate support. Perfect if you or your partner prefer extra cushioning when you sleep on your side, love more luxurious comfort and support.
The mattress cover, or tick, can give you an indication as to the quality of the mattress you are looking at. A non-woven fabric may be found on budget range mattresses, while knitted fabrics provide a better quality finish.
Quilted mattresses attach the upper fillings to the cover to create a smooth surface and decorative finish.
A tufted mattress has a more undulating appearance. This effect is created by threading tapes, at regular intervals, through the mattress to prevent the movement of the fillings inside. Better quality tufts are secured and well protected with a material washer or pompom, often made of felt. However, some more sensitive people may be more aware of them than others, in which case a good mattress protector can help. Otherwise choose a quilted style instead.
Cushion top mattresses have padded fibres woven into the top of the mattress for a sumptuously soft feel.
Pillow top mattresses have an additional layer of padded fibres on the top of the mattress for the ultimate in luxurious softness.
Look out for mattresses with the fresh & healthy Purotex cover - Friendly bacteria ensure a naturally hygienic & dust-mite free mattress.
All our beds feature standard fillings that offer the latest in comfort technology. But we've taken this a step further. We've developed new materials to suit the needs of different sleeper types. So there's a mattress that's the perfect fit for your body and the way you sleep.
If memory foam's your thing, you'll love our new generation memory foam. Working with your natural body heat, it moulds to your curves to relieve uncomfortable pressure points. Our intelligent new design means that unlike other foams, you can also now turn over easily - keeping your body's circulation healthy.
Looking for ultimate comfort in an instant? Our new natural latex gives you cushioned support and great pressure relief but, unlike memory foam, it doesn't need body heat to be activated. It's also naturally hypoallergenic and ideal for allergy sufferers. As latex is the most durable and resilient sleep surface available, your mattress will always retain its bounce.
You know springs offer support, but did you know that they can also offer luxurious comfort? Our mini pocket springs are one third of the size of normal ones, so they can be used with the main Miracoil spring system to create a unique combination of durability and comfort.
The top layer of our mattress is more than just the icing on the cake. It actively works with your body to create a healthy sleeping environment. But we have taken this even further in our Miracoil 7 sleep range. We have developed Cirrus Airflow - a clever new material that stops you overheating and creates the perfect microclimate - how cool is that?
Whatever type of sleeper you are, there's a Silentnight bed for you and there are just three simple steps to choosing it.
Step 1: choose your Miracoil support. Discover the magic of Miracoil and then choose between our two ranges.
Step 2: select your comfort and delight layer.
Step 3: consider the perfect microclimate. Make sure the sleep range you chose has the right healthy top layer for you.
We hope the above will help you on your way to choosing your new Silentnight bed.