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Interiors Addict’s guide to choosing a new mattress

October 1, 2014 1 Comment

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Disclosure: My new bed was gifted by Forty Winks. Positive coverage was not guaranteed.

A decent bed is something you probably only shell out for a few times in a lifetime and by decent, Iย mean a step up from the cheapo one you get for your first share house. Like many things in life, you’re often reluctant to splash the cash on something which isn’t all that exciting (reminds me of my recent washing machine purchase!). It’s not like a new lounge which you can choose depending on your personal style and what’s trendyย and show off to your mates when they come over. When you buy a new mattress (and they’re often more costly than the bed they sit on) you don’t invite people round to check it out. That would be weird! But, considering you spend a good third of your life in bed, as well as the psychological and health benefits associated with getting a decent kip, buying yourself a good night’s sleep should be more of a considered purchase than you might think.

Retro

These days, however, there are so many options it can be a bit baffling. And with people’s reluctance to accept the help of a salesperson in the local bed shop due to a fear of being given the hard sell, I can see why most people might give up and put it in the too hard basket. So, after my recent mattress and bed choosing experience at Forty Winks in Auburn, I thought I’d share with you some of what I’ve learned about mattresses!

The latest mattress technology

POCKETED SPRING TECHNOLOGY

Pocket springs are springs that are separately contained to work independently. Each coil sits within an encased fabric pocket, all joined to create an inner spring which stops movement from transferring across the bed providing minimum partner disturbance.ย These pockets can be zoned to specific areas, providing optimal orthopaedic support moulding to the contour of your body. Recent spring developments include titanium enriched springs, variable response pocketed coils with secondary reflex support coils.

REFLEX ZONED SUPPORT SYSTEM

Designed in conjunction with and supported by the International Chiropractors Association, King Koilโ€™s new Reflex Zoned Support System (exclusive to Forty Winks) is a revolution in mattress comfort and support providing advanced spring technology.ย Individually encased Primary Coils gently contour to your body shape to minimise pressure and maximise support, while Active Coils positioned in specific zones intuitively respond to body weight and shape to provide support where itโ€™s needed most.ย Reflex Support Systems provide even body weight distribution and are particularly suitable for sleeping partners with significantly varying sizes, weights and shapes.

GEL INFUSED PRODUCTS

FlexGel and similar gel products have been on the market for someย time but this is now evolving. FlexGel is a revolutionary cellularย material that provides medically proven muscle and joint pressureย release allowing better circulation, superior airflow and breathability to regulate a comfortable sleeping temperature and hyper-allergenic benefits to help people with allergies get a better nightโ€™s rest.ย Gel Infused Memory Foam is a popular choice for consumers – both cool and supportive the infused gel helps to cool the sleeper and transfer heat away from the surface while holding the contour of your body.

MEMORY FOAM

A synthetic alternative to Latex, Memory Foam is a growing segment in the Australian market. Best suited to people with pressure related discomfort, benefits of this comfort layer include contouring support, pressure relief and minimised movement.ย Forty Winks offers an impressive range of mattresses and ensembles from Australiaโ€™s leading suppliers. From King Koil and Sleepmaker to Sealy Posturepedic and Tempur, there are options to suit all comfort and sleep needs.

Hamilton_6_ammended-darkened2

The reality of choosing a bed

Please don’t be baffled by the information above. You really do need to go and try them out for yourself. Campbell Singer, the manager at Forty Winks Auburn, took us through a variety of beds in our price range, all the while stopping it getting too confusing by limiting how many ‘favourites’ we kept as we went along. The process of elimination is important. We talked about my husband’s shoulder problems and what position we sleep in. We were really encouraged to have a good lie down on the beds. Campbell said many people simply sit on beds and decide they don’t feel right, when the truth is they will feel a whole lot different when you lie your whole body on them. If you sleep on your side, don’t try out beds on your back. It sounds obvious, but it can seem a little confronting to sprawl across a bed in a showroom in the recovery position, which is how I sleep and what I had to do. You soon get over yourself though!

The one

When we finally settled on what we thought was ‘the one,’ Campbell encouraged us to find the right kind of pillow, settle down and spend a good 10 minutes seeing how it felt to lie on. It’s been a week since ourย Serta iRespond Medium ensemble arrived and we are loving it!

iRespond_Medium (2)
The bed we chose, for how it felt, not its looks! It now has a rather lovely upholstered headboard attached!

Things that surprised me about Forty Winks

  • They sell mattresses at all price points. While they’re known for stocking the big name, established brands, they also have plenty of options for people on a budget or those, for example, looking for something for an infrequently used guest bedroom.
  • They sell a lot of really on-trend beds with plenty of upholstered headboards in Warwick Fabrics.
  • They also sell bedroom furniture such as bedsides and ottomans.
  • A lot of their stock is Australian made.

My biggest advice?

Accept the help offered to you in the bed showroom. Tell them how you sleep, what you want to spend and what your areas of concern are. It’s not just about selling you a bed at a certain price, but selling you the right bed in your budget as there’ll be several options.

Remember that a bed isn’t just a piece of furniture. As Forty Winks say, they’re not selling you a bed but a good night’s sleep. I’ve certainly had a few of those lately!

Find your nearest Forty Winks store.

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I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new @madeinaustshow in Sydney this August.

๐Ÿฆ˜๐ŸจForget every tacky association you ever had about touristy Australian made and prepare to see a showcase of the best of home, lifestyle, fashion and beauty made right here. If the pandemic has made you appreciate buying local even more, this is for you.

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Do I recommend a timber vanity top? A big fat NOP Do I recommend a timber vanity top?

A big fat NOPE! ๐Ÿ’ง 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!๐Ÿค—

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap ๐Ÿฅด) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon ๐Ÿ˜†

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too ๐Ÿ˜‰

#interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #timbervanity
Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

โœ”๏ธ I'm English ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008๐Ÿ˜† 

โœ”๏ธ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. ๐Ÿ› 

โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

โœ”๏ธ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London ๐Ÿš” 

โœ”๏ธI had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK โค๏ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 

โœ”๏ธ At school, my favourite subject was French ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท and I was head girl ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

โœ”๏ธ I'm addicted to โ˜•๏ธ , long hot baths and๐Ÿ’„ (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

โœ”๏ธ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

โœ”๏ธ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or๐Ÿท 

โœ”๏ธ Cheesy as it sounds, ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธbeing a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿ‘ฆ

โœ”๏ธ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view ๐Ÿ“– 

โœ”๏ธ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

โœ”๏ธ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

๐Ÿ“ธ @vanlowvanlow
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๐Ÿ™Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

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Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! ๐ŸŽจ 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

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None of us enjoy laundry (OK, there are a few of you out there who do. Weird!) but we have to do it. And often. So if your laundry bin can be as good looking, functional and space saving as this, then why wouldn't you?!

I've lost track of how many baskets I've thrown out because they've gone soggy or mouldy. They look pretty, sure, but they're not fit for purpose and they're often messy and overflowing.

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โœ”๏ธ ventilation holes
โœ”๏ธ no need to remove the lid for small items plus it hides your dirty laundry from view
โœ”๏ธ easily removable and washable inner laundry bag that velcros back on 
โœ”๏ธ corrosion resistant so fine in bathroom or laundry 
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โœ”๏ธ compact, sleek, European design
โœ”๏ธ 10 year warranty
โœ”๏ธ tall and skinny so takes up less floor in my tiny laundry

The Rolls Royce of laundry bins? I think so ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

TOLD you this was going to be exciting!

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#gifted
"Living rooms are important spaces where our publi "Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect."

So says stylist @nataliewalton in her gorgeous new book Style, the Art of Creating a Beautiful Home.

"They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction."

Read an extract, the chapter on elevating your living room, on the blog today via link in bio.

Published by @thamesandhudsonau Pix by @chriswarnes 

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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Comments

  1. AvatarTrinity says

    October 6, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    Hi Jen,
    Can you please tell me where I might find the green upholstered bed here? Thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

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