Buying Guide & Tips

Beds & Mattresses

Bed Sizes

Standard UK bed sizes:

Small Single - 2' 6" (75cm) x 6' 3" (190cm)
Single - 3' 0" (90cm) x 6' 3" (190cm)
Small Double (Three Quarter) - 4' 0" (120cm) x 6' 3" (190cm)
Double - 4' 6" (135cm) x 6' 3" (190cm)
King-size - 5' 0" (150cm) x 6' 6" (200cm)
Super King-size - 6' 0" (180cm) x 6' 6" (200cm)

The dimensions above refer to the sleeping area/mattress size of the bed. Bed frames in wood, metal or fabric will have an overall width and length greater than the sleeping area due to the nature of the beds construction. Divan beds will be the same width and length as the sleeping area.

Base Types - Bedsteads

Slatted base - Traditionally this was the base type used on wooden beds, the (usually) solid pine slats are laid across the bed frame, in bigger beds there will be a central spine that runs the length of the bed with two sets of slats in each half of the bed, they will make the overall feel of the mattress slightly firmer as they are solid slats of wood and are not responsive to weight and pressure.

Memory Foam

Memory Foam is visco-elastic foam originally developed by a Swedish company for NASA It was used by NASA because of its ability to distribute pressure across the entire surface, thus easing extreme G-forces. It's also sometimes called slow release foam.

A memory foam mattress is usually denser than ordinary mattresses. This makes it more supportive - but also heavier. An alternative is to add a topper or pad to an existing mattress.

What to look for in a Good Quality Memory Foam Mattress

It is important to allow the foam to do what it is best for:  Allowing for a better contouring of your body shape and therefore less pressure placed on the areas of your body that press harder against the bed.  However, don't just go by your weight, because if you are tall, then your weight is dispersed over the bed more.

A good memory foam mattress will not need a box spring underneath it to make the mattress feel good.  You can order a platform base to increase the height of the bed, but remember that this mattress should feel good if it was placed on an even, concrete surface.

Rub Test Value

Most fabrics undergo the Martindale Test to check their durability and suitability for various uses, i.e., curtains, domestic furniture & contract furniture. The test is also known as the Rub Test and it tests for abrasion. The test gives a score in 1000’s of rubs. Domestic fabrics often have a rating of 20,000 rubs. Generally, the higher the figure the more suitable the fabric for heavy usage. For example some KOTHEA velvets have scores of over 100,000 making them usable for heavy contract scenarios in hotels.

A circular specimen, mounted in a specimen holder and subjected to a defined load, is rubbed against an abrasive medium (standard wool fabric) in a translational movement tracing a Lissajous figure, the specimen holder being additionally freely rotatable around its own axis perpendicular to the plane of the specimen. The normal end point of the test is when two threads are broken or in the case of pile fabrics when the pile has completely worn off. The inspection interval is dependent on the end point of the fabric and is usually every 1,000 up to 5,000 rubs, every 2,000 between 5,000 & 20,000 every 5,000 between 20,000 & 40,000 and every 10,000 above 40,000

Real Leather

Sunlight and heat will dry out leather and make it less pliable so try to place it away from possible sources of damage.
Scratches can be made less visible by rubbing over them with a wet cloth.
To avoid leaving marks when wiping up spills, moisten the entire surface evenly and lightly to clean. Allow to dry naturally. Don't use a hairdryer or apply direct heat.

Bycast Leather

Bycast leather (also known as bicast leather, split leather or PU leather) is split leather with a layer of polyurethane applied to the surface and then embossed. Bycast was originally made for the shoe industry and recently was adopted by the furniture industry. The resulting product is cheaper than top grain leather and has an artificially consistent texture and is easier to clean and maintain.

Faux leather

Faux leather is becoming increasingly popular as it's cheaper than the real thing but achieves the same warm, luxurious look. Unlike real leather, it won't act the same way in different temperatures and it may damage more easily as it is usually made of a thinner fabric.

Toughened Safety Glass

Toughened or tempered glass is glass that has been processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempered glass is made by processes which create balanced internal stresses which give the glass strength. It will usually shatter into small fragments instead of sharp shards when broken, making it less likely to cause severe injury and deep lacerations. As a result of its safety and strength, tempered glass is used in a variety of demanding applications, including passenger vehicle windows, glass doors and tables, as a component of bulletproof glass, for diving masks, and various types of plates and cookware.

Toughened glass is physically and thermally stronger than regular glass. When broken, it crumbles into small, relatively safe granules rather than jagged shards and is therefore less likely to cause injury.

Wood Furniture

Veneer

A veneer is a thin covering over another surface. More specifically, it may refer to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3mm, that are typically glued onto core panels (typically, wood, particle board or medium density fiberboard) to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture.  Plywood consists of three or more layers of veneer, each glued with its grain at right angles to adjacent layers for strength. Veneer beading is a thin layer of decorative edging placed around objects, such as jewelry boxes.

Oak

A classic wood, usually with a tight grain. There are two main groups; red oak and white oak. White oak is considered superior as its grain has a finer texture. All oak lends itself to the French polisher’s art, accepting a huge spectrum of stains, finishes and colours. Previously used mainly in traditional farmhouse style furniture, many designers are now using oak in cutting edge furniture designs

Pine

Several varieties of this fast growing softwood, including Scots pine, Douglas fir and Norway spruce, supply the furniture industry. The trees’ sources of origin will dictate rich variation of colours from pale cream through to a red brown. Pine has a close grain caused by the short growing seasons high in the northern hemisphere, and will feature knots, marking the point on a tree trunk where a branch or side shoot once grew

Walnut

Grown across the world, the wood from each producing country has its own peculiarities. American walnut has a distinctive black grain and is often known as ‘black walnut’. Wood from Italy is similar. English walnut has strong dark streaks; it is extremely rare and usually only found in antique furniture. French and Turkish walnuts have highly figured grains and are commonly used as veneers.

Acacia

A durable hard wood from fast growing trees from the Far East and South America. The thin grain, the flame design and varied colour shades give furniture made from it a warm appearance.

Ash

With a strong grain, this durable hardwood is usually light in weight and colour. It has good flexibility for making tables and chairs.

Beech

 A cabinet maker’s favourite for making chairs, its benign grain makes it easy to stain or paint. The colour of this medium hardwood ranges from very pale brown to a dark reddish brown.

Colours and Effects

Stain: Natural or synthetic dye is used to colour wood and bring out its best features. Stains may be water, spirit or oil based.

Top Coat Finishes

Lacquer: A clear, durable, easy care finish that brings out the beauty of the wood in a matt or a gloss finish.

Oiled: A traditional and natural finish that requires repeated applications over time. It causes the wood to harden giving it greater durability and enhances the beauty of the wood grain.

Polyurethane: A transparent plastic coating which protects against general wear and tear, which is also easy to maintain.

Varnish: A resinous solution with pigments added to produce a coloured opaque waterproof finish. It is very tough and durable.

Wax: Another traditional and natural finish requiring repeated applications to enhance the beauty of the grain. Used on bare or stained wood, a wax finish often covers a lacquer finish for the perfect combination of feel and practicality.