Bed Frames and Divan Beds Buying Guide
A good bed should refresh you for the day ahead, be suitably sized for the space and stylish in a way that suits your requirements. Lee Longlands sell all standard bed sizes, with custom sizes also available on select products if required. Our divans come in a selection of fabrics, and we also have a wide range of bedframes in various styles, materials and finishes.
Measuring for your bed
When buying a bed, it's important to measure both the bed and the bedroom to make sure you have enough space. Always double-check your measurements to ensure they are correct.
When measuring for your bed, remember that you and your partner will need at least enough room to comfortably walk around your bed.
If you purchase a bed with storage drawers or a bedframe that has room beneath it for storage, check that you have room to open the drawers or can easily access the items you are storing underneath.
You should also take care to check the dimensions of any other furniture you would like to go in the room, especially alongside the bed, such as bedside tables. Make sure there is room for you to walk between the bed and this additional furniture. If you find you are tight on space, consider opting for taller furniture to preserve floorspace.
Divan bed or bedframe?
Lee Longlands sell two types of bed - bed frames and divan beds - but which one is better? This all depends on what you need from your bed. Below, we'll show you the advantages of both and let you make up your own mind.
Divan beds
A divan bed is a wooden frame upholstered in fabric, but some premium divans from brands such as Harrison and Vispring contain springs for additional comfort. Divan beds have many great benefits:
Divan beds can contain storage
Many divan beds are available with a variety of storage options. Storage drawers are the best known of these and also highly accessible. Ottoman bases are especially handy if you have a small bedroom and don't have room to pull out divan drawers. Choose from side opening and front opening ottomans, depending on the dimensions of your bedroom. Ottoman bases are best for storing occasional use items.
They come in different colours
Generally made from fabric, divan beds can be purchased in a range of colours to suit your interior. Choose a colour that matches your colour scheme or something neutral that will never go out of fashion.
Upholstered headboards
Fabric headboards can be purchased separately to match your divan bed. They come in a variety of styles and are comfortable to lean against when reading or working in bed. For a style refresh, you can choose a new headboard to transform the look of your bed without spending too much money.
Many include a mattress
Most of our divan beds come with a mattress as standard. Find your perfect mattress, then tailor the divan to suit your space and storage needs.
Divan beds are smaller
What if I were to tell you that a double bedframe generally takes up about the same amount of floorspace as a kingsize divan bed? A divan bed is approximately the same width as the mattress, whereas a bedframe is generally larger than the mattress.
As such, a divan bed can afford you one of two fantastic opportunities:
- More floorspace
- A bigger mattress
More floorspace
More floorspace is important for smaller bedrooms and compact living. It also creates extra room for storage furniture such as bedsides, wardrobes and chests of drawers.
A bigger mattress
A standard double mattress is only 4'6", giving you and your partner only 2'3" each to sleep on! If you find you are disturbing one another during the night, you can potentially buy a larger divan and mattress and give yourselves a bit more breathing room. This can increase the overall quality of your sleep.
Bed frames
Bed frames are generally made from hardwoods such as oak, ash and mango wood and come in a variety of styles including contemporary, classic and rustic. So, what are the benefits of bedframes?
Style and matching storage options
Bedframes come in a wide range of painted and wood finishes. Many of our bedroom ranges include bedframes, so you can acquire matching bedside tables, wardrobes and chests of drawers for a uniform appearance.
No headboard required
Bed frames generally incorporate a headboard into their design, so there's no need to buy a headboard separately. This saves time, money and hassle.
Presence
Bed frames have more presence in the room thanks to their larger dimensions. This makes them great for filling a large room and making an impression on guests.
Fabric options
Bedframes also come in fabric, so you can still match the bed to your décor without requiring a divan bed.
Speak to an expert
Still unsure about what to purchase? Why not speak to one of our sales experts, either in store or on the phone on 0333 200 1552.