Buying Guides

Bed Buying Guide

How to choose your Bed

We would always recommend trying before you buy, making sure you always try all your sleeping positions not just lying on your back. Take some time to try the mattresses. You spend alot of your life in bed, so it is very important that you make the right choice for to suit your needs, try a few different types of mattress. If you share a bed, then take your partner with you to try the bed, it is very important that the bed suits both of you.

Types of bed

Divans

A divan is a base for your mattress, they can have a solid top or springs which offer different types of support, a solid top makes your bed firmer where as a sprung base will more adaptive to the body to offer greater support. Also divans bases can offer extra storage being avaliable with upto 4 draws.

Headboards

Headboards are optional extras for divan beds, there is a wide range of different designs to suit your room.

Bedsteads

A bedstead bed frame has a more decorative look avaliable in classic or contemporary designs, You can purchase different types which have different slats, Solid slats or bowed (sprung slats), a solid slat will offer a firmer bed where as a sprung slat will give a more cushioned feel.

Things to remember

A bed will be an important investment as you spend a lot of time in it, so when considering a purchase don’t always be led by price alone, an average mattress is expected to last upto 10 years so make sure you make the right investment, if you are unsure of any aspect we have expert knowledge in our stores to help you to make the right choice for you.

The Size of the bed is important to ensure your comfort, but you need to make sure you check a few things first. Can get round the room? an average king size bed is W150 x 200cm will this fit? if your looking at a divan base can you open the draws? Make sure you measure up!

Mattress Buying Guide

Types of Mattress

Open Sprung Mattress

This is the most common mattress type, the mattress will have a border rod to keep the shape and give the mattress a firm edge.

Pocket Sprung Mattress

This mattress is a more luxurious type, each sping has a fabric pocket which allows the mattress to respond to different body sizes & weights. This mattress will need turning regularly to ensure even settlement.

Visco Elastic or Memory Foam Mattress

This mattress moulds to your body when sleeping to give greater support, The mattress will allow you to maintain a good posture and keeps your spine straight when laying on your side. These mattresses have Hypo-allergenic with anti-microbial properties. Occasional rotation of the mattress is required to ensure even wear.

Latex Mattress

Resilient feel with excellent durability conforms to your bodys contours. This mattress is very breathable so you wont overheat. Occasional rotation will ensure even wear.

Caring for your Mattress

After delivery of your mattress make sure you ‘air’ it for about 4 hours, this will allow the mattress to freshen from storage, it is also to important to ‘air’ a mattress on a weekly basis. Make sure you don’t use any plastics on or under your mattress as this can cause condensation, we would always recommend the use of a mattress protector or topper.

Sprung mattresses, to keep the mattress in the best condition and make it last as long as possible it is important that you ‘turn’ the mattress on a regular basis to ensure to make sure you prevent dips or uneven sleeping areas.

Latex and Memory foam, These mattresses generally only have one sleeping side so no ‘turning’ is required but to ensure the long life of the mattress it is advised to rotate the mattress on a monthly basis.

All sizes shown are the UK standard.

Choosing your Duvet and Pillows

As we spend nearly a third of our lives in bed, it is vitally important to make the correct decisions when buying bedding!

The type of pillow or duvet you choose can make a significant difference to your quality of sleep so it is important to make an informed decision.

Below is the indispensable information you require in order to make that informed decision about your bedding!

Natural Duvets:

Natural duvets have the benefit of being both durable and naturally breathable.
Down is the lightest of all duvet fillings and has a unique ability to trap air, thus warmth. The Fine Bedding Company’s Goose Down duvet is particularly luxurious and soft as it does not contain feather quills and the encasement is feather proof. The covers of the Fine Bedding Company’s natural duvets are of cassette pocket construction, which ensures even distribution of the filling and prevents cold spots. Naturally filled duvets also have a ‘fill power’ rating, which illustrates how well the filling recovers and also relates to the thermal efficiency of the duvet. The higher the fill power, the better the duvet.

Synthetic Duvets:

The Fine Bedding Company’s duvets are manufactured from raw materials that will not cause an allergic reaction and are thus non-allergenic. Synthetic duvets are also more easily washable in a domestic washing machine, making them a practical alternative for those who are sensitive to natural fillings or suffer from allergies.

What tog to choose?

Tog is not a measure of quality or an indication of weight; it is purely an indication of warmth. The higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet.

Choosing the right pillow is important, as the incorrect pillow could lead to a bad night’s sleep. A pillow should ideally support your head and neck in a comfortable position in order to facilitate a good night’s sleep.

If you are not completely sure which type of pillow is best for you, take into consideration how you sleep:

A medium to firm pillow is recommended for those who sleep on their backs, whilst a firmer pillow is recommended for those who sleep on their sides. For stomach sleepers, a softer pillow is recommended.

Washability and Care:

Synthetic duvets are fully washable in a large capacity machine, although the Fine Bedding Company’s Spundown range is constructed from ultra fine fibres that compress to fit into any domestic washing machine.

It is recommended that you wash your synthetic duvet occasionally in order to ‘refresh’ the filling as it can accumulate moisture and dust.

It is also necessary to remember that the lifespan of a pillow is less than that of a duvet, as a pillow must support the full weight of the head. A naturally filled pillow will maintain its shape better than a synthetic pillow but always plump any pillow on a daily basis.

Plain Dyed Bedlinen

We have two types of plain dyed bed linen for you to choose from, with differing thread counts. The term ‘thread count’ refers to the number of threads in a square inch of fabric; the higher the thread count the better the quality.

Our Downtown 150 thread count Polycotton plain dyed range comes in a variety of sizes and nine colours to suit any bedroom!

Our Beldorm 400 thread count Egyptian cotton plain dyed range is the epitome of quality of comfort and comes in a variety of sizes and three colours; white, ivory and cream.

Both of our plain dyed ranges are a fully co-ordinating range, incorporating flat and fitted sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers and valances.

We offer both housewife pillowcases and oxford pillowcases. A housewife pillowcase is a standard pillowcase, whereas an Oxford pillowcase has a border or frill around the edge.

TV Buying Guide

Jargon Buster

SD – Standard Definition, this is the term given to the current TV broadcast picture quality.

HD – High Definition, a better picture quality than your standard TV Broadcast, up to a 4x Clearer picture than SD.

HD Ready – The equipment is capable of accepting A High Definition Picture via a Separate item plugged in Via HDMI, Resolution 720P.

Full HD – The equipment is Capable of accepting A HD Picture Via a Separate item Plugged in Via HDMI, Resolution 1080P.

Resolution (720/1080p) – This will determine the overall HD picture quality you can receive. 1080p will give the best picture outcome. But will only affect HD pictures, SD quality wont be affected as they are a lower resolution.

LCD – Liquid Crystal Display, Type of screen, gives a Sharp and bright picture.

Plasma - Type of screen, gives a more natural colour. Very quick response time so deals with movement very effectively.

Hz – A Standard LCD/Plasma TV will run at 50Hz, If a TV shows a higher Hz rate ie 400Hz this means the TV will display a smoother and clearer picture especially when viewing sport.

Freeview – Digital TV service, this gives you your digital channels via an aerial*.

Freeview HD – Digital TV service, this gives you your digital channels but adds the capability of receiving HD Broadcasts via an aerial**

Freesat – Digital TV Service, This gives you your digital channels via a Dish.

Freesat HD – Digital TV Service, This gives you your digital channels but adds the capability of receiving HD broadcasts via a Dish.

HDMI – This is the connection for all HD equipment i.e. Bluray.

Scart – This is the connection for most non HD equipment i.e. VHS.

HDD – Hard Disk Drive.

GB – Gigabyte this is the memory size of a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), the higher the memory the more storage or time is available to record. Standard Set top boxes have from 320 – 500 GB.

TB – Terabyte this is the term for 1000 GB a massive amount of storage, generally used in HD equipment as HD requires more space per hour over SD usually by 50%.

* Aerial Upgrade may be required to receive all digital services.

** HD broadcasts only available in areas where the digital switchover has been completed.

When do I go Digital?

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch

Fill in your details on the right for your digital switch over dates.

Digital TV Information

www.freeview.co.uk information on Freeview TV Service
www.freesat.co.uk information on Freesat TV Service
www.digitaluk.co.uk information on the Digital Switchover

Size Matters

The size of your TV is always a very personal thing, some don’t want to over power the room, and others want the biggest TV possible, however if you are unsure here is a simple guide to help you work out what size could be right for your room.

Distance away from the TV x 4 - General TV viewers watching Freeview.

For example you sit 8ft from your TV 8x4=32. So in this case you would be looking at 32” (81cm) TV.

Distance away from the TV x 6 – HD viewers watching HD Broadcast & Bluray Disks.

For example you sit 8ft from your TV 8x5=40. So in this case you would be looking at 42” (107cm) TV.

TV Setup or Connection Issues

We know sometimes it can be difficult to get all your equipment working as it should be, so we have provided below each brands support information so you can get your problem solved as soon as possible.

Please click the link for the Brand of TV you have purchased. You will find information on how to connect your TV as well as Hints and Tips to get the most out of your purchase.

Sony: http://support.sony-europe.com/index.aspx?site=odw_en_GB

Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/main/supportMain.do

Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Support/Downloads/220239/index.html#anker_220239

LG: http://www.lg.com/uk/support/index.jsp

Alternatively you can call the Manufacturer Technical Support help lines as follows:

Sony: 0844 8466 555

Samsung: 0845 726 7864

Panasonic: 0844 844 3852

LG: 0844 847 5454

What to do if you’re experiencing a possible fault with your TV purchase?

Under the 1st Year of warranty only

If you feel that the item you have purchased from us is faulty we ask you to complete 3 simple steps before contacting us.

1. Check all your connections, making sure they are all plugged in correctly.

2. Unplug the equipment leave for 5 minutes and then plug back in.

3. Contact the manufacturer support line, make a note of any reference numbers given.

Years 2 – 5 of warranty

Please contact the Service team on Tel: 0845 2505 502

Luggage Buying Guide

Choosing what type of luggage is right for your trip can be a complex business, with so many options to decide between. Hard or soft sided? Trolley case or travel bag? The length of your trip can also determine what type of case you require, as can your mode of transport.

Peruse the tips below to help guide you in your decision!

Trolley Cases

A trolley case is either a hard or soft sided case on wheels, normally with a telescopic handle so it can be pulled along without exertion. Trolley cases are more stable than wheeled travel bags and are, as a result, much easier to control. Those that come with four wheels are even easier to manage as they can be pulled along beside you, as opposed to being dragged along behind you.   

Soft-sided Cases

Soft-sided cases normally feature flexible panels so are easier to store and tend to be packed more easily in coaches and awkward spaces. They are usually made from Polyester and are more lightweight than their hard-sided counterparts. The Polyester is graded in denier and the higher the denier the greater the thickness and durability of the fabric. Some soft-sided cases are also expandable, allowing greater room for those unexpected purchases!

Hard-sided Cases

Hard-sided cases are rigid in nature and are designed to be more resistant to the strains of air travel, from general handling to the extreme temperature variations that your suitcase will undergo in the hold of the plane. Most hard-sided suitcases are made from ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), which is very strong. ABS can also be given attractive finishes and shine and even though it is strong, it remains lightweight and easy to manoeuvre.

Briefcases and Garment Bags

Our great range of briefcases and laptop bags contain many compartments, great for business use, whilst remaining stylish in leather or polyester. Polyester is graded in denier and the higher the denier the greater the thickness and durability of the fabric.

Mobile offices are small trolley cases designed for business travel that can accommodate everything required for an overnight business trip, including clothes and business paraphernalia.

A garment bag is a cover for a suit or dress that will transport the garment whilst incurring minimum creasing.

We also offer a great range of travel accessories, including luggage straps, padlocks and luggage scales to weigh your bag before embarking on your trip. If you are travelling to the USA it is best to choose a TSA approved padlock as it will enable American security officers to examine your suitcase without damaging it or the lock.

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