Buyer's guide THE BEST REST

GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AND STAYING IN STYLE ARE EASY WITH HB'S GUIDE TO BEDS, FROM FRAMES TO MATTRESSES AND MORE

- HANNA MARTON & BRITTANY SMITH

Hopping into a brand new bed with lovely clean linen is one of life's greatest pleasures, but the shopping process can be confusing. Should you get an ensemble or a bed frame? Do you need an adjustable bed? What about a sofa bed for guests? While these considerations might be overwhelming, taking the time to do your research will certainly pay off. Sleep impacts our physical health, mental clarity and emotions, so selecting a Goldilocksworthy mattress and a bed that meets your needs is essential. After all, it's where you spend up to one-third of your life. To take some of the pain out of bed shopping, we scoured Australia's top bed suppliers for the dreamiest offerings, from bed base to bedhead.

Fitting in

Many interior designers recommend buying the biggest bed for the space, such as a king, provided you leave at least 82cm - roughly the width of a doorway-between the side of the bed and walls. However, if you wish to carve out a relaxation nook, go smaller. "If the bedroom is used as a retreat during the day, a sofa, chaise longue or chairs could delineate a separate zone for TV watching or reading," says Joy Simonsen, senior interior designer at Coco Republic. "This may entail reducing the bed size to a queen to utilise more floor space." It's also important to know that the bigger the bed size, the more expensive the linen will be.

The right support