Electric Beds Stoke on Trent

THE HISTORY OF BEDS 

INCLUDING INFORMATION ON ELECTRIC BEDS

 “To sleep perchance to dream” (Hamlet) 

To sleep well is very important to good health and peace of mind. One’s bed is not only a place of rest and sleep. It is a sanctuary, almost akin to the womb, where one somehow feels safe and sheltered from the busy world with all of its unwelcome intrusions. It is the only place where one is truly one’s self. A comfortable bed is the most valuable of all our worldly possession. To sleep rough on the streets or to be a soldier in a wet dug-out or ‘fox hole’ in some foreign field has to be a version of hell. The building of a nest or bed is not the prerogative of Homo Sapiens. Most living creatures need to build a place of safety and refuge in which to regenerate and survive. “The sparrow has found her an house, and the swallow where she may lay her young.” (Psalm 84) Primates build nests. Orang-utans build new nests every day, high in trees, where they are safe from predators. The nest is usually built between ten and twenty metres off the forest floor. Having selected horizontal branches, they gather sticks and leaves for the construction. The more supple branches are bent inwards and woven together to form a “mattress”. Leafy branches are used to line the structure and sometimes a roof of branches covers the finished nest; the smaller softer leaf branches formed into a pillow. And so, the orang-utan is ready for bed; safe, warm, dry and free of Council Tax!

Image:flickr

When it comes to building skills to create a bed, I have to admit that the ginger colouring of the orang-utan is all that my cat Freddie has in common with them. He uses a convenient ready-made place at the foot of my bed! Orang-utans are to be found in far away Borneo. When looking for a bed in Stoke on Trent, Freddie just makes do with what is readily available!

The history of beds is a fascinating social story. Beds not only reflect design and construction. They have been items linked to wealth, power and social custom. We always look at the Romans period as both an era of power and empire and also of ingenuity and technology. The Romans built cities, roads, palaces, baths and even central heating systems. For the rich Roman, a spectacular bed, covered with exotic textiles was a status symbol.

Image:flickr

Viking beds did not have purpose made mattresses. Animal skins were used to make sacks. These would be stuffed with dry leaves, straw and even pea-pods. The result could not have been very comfortable! The Viking and Saxon words for bed and mattress give us a clear clue to the structure.
“Baence” (bench) and “streou” (straw). Interestingly, “crib” and “cot” originates from the same source and referred to more permanent sleeping platforms.

 Viking bed frame
It is interesting to note that the wooden bed frame features the familiar Viking dragon shape more associated with Viking boat design.

Image:flickr

Image:flickr

By the medieval period, grand beds were once again the prerogative of the rich and powerful. These were elaborate constructions with feather mattresses, canopies and side curtains. I suppose that the curtains afforded privacy but also I imagine a shield from draughts which no doubt were part of living in castles or grand houses of the day.King Henry V111’s building works at Hampton Court works included a spacious bedchamber to house his own bed. In view of Henry’s corpulent build and the demands of the need for an heir with his famous ill-fated wives, it had to be quite a structure! During Tudor times beds became more common possessions for many people. Most were quite simple and others elaborate “four-posters” with fine drapes. In William Shakespeare’s will, he left his “second-best” bed and its furniture to his wife, Anne Hathaway. Tudor beds required regular attention to keep the stretched cords holding the mattress taut. These were tightened by a special lever called a “twitch”.



Tudor Bedroom 

The next major change in bed style and construction came about with the Victorians. Bed frames were made from metal which for the wealthier meant brass. The bed would be polished as part of the duties or those below stairs. After 1820, comfort was improved with a new innovation; mattresses with coiled springs. And so what of today? I suspect that in TV advertising, beds appear as often as any other product and more frequently than many. We see apparently never ending ‘sales ads’ featuring a range of couples leaping onto a mattress, strangely usually lacking sheets or duvets! Sleep is of course a vital part of our natural cycles. A lack of sleep reduces efficiency and results at best in a grumpy attitude and, at worst, to accidents. Motorway electronic signs spell out the warning – “Tiredness kills. Take a break.” No doubt we have all experienced times when for whatever reason we seem to have been awake all night. There are few worse experiences than lying there as the mind churns over with total mixed up nonsense. Sleeping problems can be experienced by those suffering illness, disability or simply the onset of ageing. It is during the night hat people feel at their lowest. Getting in and out of bed or finding the right sleeping position without those infuriating pillows sliding back can become difficult. There is an answer. Technology has afforded relief in the form of the adjustable bed. At the push of a button, the head section and other areas of the bed can be adjusted to suit the user’s needs, be it reading a book or sleeping elevated to assist breathing problems. Double beds are available for couples where the two halves of the bed can be adjusted individually.

Image:flickr

Just what are the benefits of an adjustable electric bed?

There is little doubt that people with back or breathing problems need to be careful about the type of bed and mattress they sleep on. The disadvantage of a fixed bed, being a flat sleeping surface, is that they lack the ability to distribute pressure over the entire surface and tension of muscles and joints in often increased. There is also the possibility of putting strain on the heart and poor circulation. An adjustable bed may help. For some people sleeping surface, adjustable bed that is on an incline of say 30 to 45 degrees, may be more comfortable as the upper part of the body is higher than the lower part, similar to sitting in a chair. Some support under the knees may take away stress on the lower back. There is no one single bed type that suits everyone and it is important that a potential buyer tries out a bed before making a decision.

Conditions that may be helped by electrical adjustable beds:

• Lower back, neck and shoulder pain. 
• Acid reflux 
• Arthritis
• Asthma 
• COPD
• Swollen legs or feet
• Some heart conditions.

How do electric adjustable beds work?

Watch this video to find out and come to Stoke on Trent to see one in our showroom at ST5 0HE.

 

So from orang-utans to sparrows and cats to Kings, we have devised ways to rest our weary heads. From bags of leaves to memory foam, from stately curtained four posters to electronic adjustable beds, our search for rest and relaxation is a daily requirement. Visit our Stoke on Trent electric bed showroom to find yours.

Adjustable Beds Stoke on Trent

Adjustable Beds in Stoke on Trent

"Goodnight, perchance to sleep"

Image:Flickr-quinnanya

Whatever our age or mobility a good night’s sleep, perhaps in a comfortable adjustable bed is very important.  Call us on 611411 today to find your new bed or to arrange a visit to our showroom.

Research suggests that most of us need between seven and nine hours sleep a night, with only one in fifty needing less than six hours.  If we don’t get enough good quality sleep it can affect our health and wellbeing, as well as our concentration and mood.

How do we achieve a good night’s sleep
and what are the key ways to ensure we do?

Healthy lifestyles, a regular bedtime routine i.e. going to bed at roughly the same time every night and of course a comfortable bed feature at the top of the Sleep Council’s list.


Are you sleeping comfortably?

Adjustable beds are one way of making sure you get the best possible comfort in bed.  If you already own a reclining chair you’ll know what we mean.

Source:Flickr-rightee

A motorised adjustable bed allows you to put the bed in the most comfortable position for you.  So inclining the upper body to a comfortable sitting position, whilst raising the knees so that you don’t slip down the bed, means that you can watch the television or read with ease.  It’s even a good position for breakfast in bed!

Source:Public domain

Perhaps even more importantly, slightly tilting both the top and bottom of the bed can put your spine in its correct position and aid a comfortable night’s sleep.  This is good for all of us, but particularly important for people suffering from a bad back?

The beauty of modern adjustable beds is that you can operate the motor using a hand-held control without getting out of bed!

Easier to get in and out of bed
An adjustable bed is suitable for everyone, but even more so for those of you who find getting in and out of bed difficult.  Certainly being aided into the sitting position is enough for some conditions where the core muscles aren’t strong enough for you to lift yourself.

A physiotherapist may advise on additional help, especially if you have difficulty sliding across the bed from sitting to lying down or lifting your legs onto the bed.  A pole or grab rail next to the bed can often be all the assistance you need to make sliding across easier.

Sometimes it is actually standing up from the bed that is difficult, so beds where the height can be adjusted are often all the help you need.

All of these things help to keep you independent no matter what your condition or age.

Types of electric bed

You can get beds that just raise the top of the mattress or ones that have two or three adjustable points.  Once upon a time it was only hospital beds that were adjustable but over the last thirty years or so, they have become more popular and more available for the domestic market.  Most modern adjustable beds have slatted bed bases which of course aid the movement of an adjustable bed.


 The Sherborne Dorchester Adjustable Bed - See it in Stoke on Trent.

This is a great modern adjustable bed that not only resembles a good quality regular bed and one you’d be proud to have in your bedroom, but it also has up-to-the-minute technology and is particularly strong.  In fact it can be used by people who weigh up to 25 stone.

This bed is suitable for those who just want a good night’s sleep or for those who have mobility issues.  After all we spend at least a third of our time in bed, so we need to be as comfortable as possible.

The Sherborne has a newly developed action with a very worthwhile 5 Year Guarantee for all its adjustable functions, its frame and of course its electrical parts.  That means the guarantee covers the bed and the adjustable frame, the electric motor, transformer and control box, as well as the handsets.  All other electrical parts of the bed are also covered in the 5 Year Guarantee.

With the added comfort of a top layer memory foam mattress supported by a thicker layer of reflex foam, the bed is not only ultra comfortable but designed to work with the adjustable frame.  The memory foam has the added bonus of relieving pressure, which is particularly good for those with limited mobility in bed.

The addition of a Cool-Max cover for the mattress helps to resolve any over-heating problems that may occur whilst you sleep.  The availability of the Supreme Mattress, which has a slightly softer top than the standard one, also helps to control the temperature.  Of course if you prefer, you can also take a medium or firm mattress.

This British made bed is aesthetically pleasing and would make a great addition to any home without looking out of place alongside your other furnishings.  The beds have a fully upholstered drawer for storage in the bed base too.

The double beds are similar to two single beds joined together allowing one side to be adjustable.  However we bet your partner will want to experience the comfort and movement of the adjustable bed too.

The Sherborne’s dual controls allow the top and bottom of the bed to move independently of one another.  They can be adjusted separately using the sleek backlit hand control unit, which also has memory functions built-in as standard.

If you’re looking for a top quality bed to do the job, the Sherborne is your strongest and most reliable option.  It is also sent by Express Delivery so that once you’ve decided this is the bed you want; you won’t have to wait too long for a comfortable night’s sleep.  Also available in Acapulco Grey or Acapulco Brown, why not visit our Stoke on Trent bed showroom to see one of these fabulous Adjustable Beds in Acapulco Fawn .