The Romantic Way

The worst times are usually the most romantic times. Holly’s laughing this morning. While I’d like it if it had something to do with me, I must admit that it’s likely her new bed. Don’t get any ideas, I wasn’t feeling all that great last night.

Last night was the culmination of a seven-month nightmare. We had this great idea that after we returned from Russia we’d buy this ingenious fold-out bed from Ikea. With one hand you’re able to transform your couch into a bed or your bed into a couch. The theory was that in daytime our room could be a living room / lounge type thing and at night it would with one hand transform into our love nest — all thanks to Ikea ingenuity.

The concept was a good one, but experience proved otherwise. It wasn’t a one-handed wonder like we expected. In fact, once we returned the first bed that broke, the replacement bed actually required both lovers to fold and unfold.

It’s like being a newlywed again going from mattress to mattress

Yesterday, we packed up the whole mess: mattress, frame and all and returned it to the store. We had our magic in-store credit card in hand and set out on our hunt for a new experience in love-nest comfort. It’s like being a newlywed again going from mattress to mattress in the store and trying them all out. We settled on a nice all-contained pocket-spring model with a lambs wool mattress pad. We thought our bones wouldn’t hurt so much in the morning if we added a little softness to our sleeping experience.

Want to Choose the Perfect Bed?

Since we already went through the agony, I thought I’d share with you the secrets we discovered in choosing the perfect lovers’ bed. After all, you’ll probably spend a third of your life laying in it.

• Spring for the Right Springs Don’t save a buck when it comes to bed springs. Avoid foam unless it’s for a short time. There are two basic kinds of springs: Bonell springs which are open, providing overall support and pocket springs which provide contoured support. We opted for the contoured springs.
• You Gotta Be Firm A good rule of thumb for firmness is if you’re short and light, opt for the softer mattress. If you’re heavy and long, go for firmness. Check out this mattress guide for more help.
• Which Way Do You Lay? If you sleep on your back, you’ll want a firmer bed, if you sleep on your side, you’ll need something a bit softer to allow your hips to sink in.
• Padding for Life and Comfort We added a thick mattress pad made of lambs wool which softens the surface of the bed so we can still have medium firm mattress. It also helps extend the life of the mattress.
• Headboard or Foot Board? A headboard or foot board is not just a decorating feature. It’s also functional. You also need to consider the additional space they require if you’re in a limited space bedroom like we are. We decided not to use them. Making the bed in the morning is a tad more work if you have a foot board. One other consideration is that some guys find that they use the foot board during romance almost without even knowing it. Just something to think about before you make a hasty decision. You may want that foot board for more than just looks.
• Size Matters With the bed, I mean. Consider space needs in three areas: How much space do you require in your bedroom? We opted for a double because our bedroom is small. How much space do you need to sleep? If you’re the type of couple that each need their own space, then you might want to consider a queen or larger. Finally, does romance require you to romp about the bed? Consider your space needs once again before you decide.
• Lay on It! Don’t ever buy a bed or mattress you haven’t tried out. Lay in it. Several times. Try a bunch of them. You’re buying a whole lot of sleep, so don’t settle for less without kicking a few tires. Grab your honey by the hand and jump in a bunch of beds!

So far, we’re happy with our new bed. It’s a far cry better than fighting with the fold-up model. We had to sacrifice the lounge idea, but the smaller size allows for a spacious room, some nice chairs and decorating that suits us — another nice feature that you’ll want in your love nest. Sweet dreams!

Bookmark to:

If you found this site helpful, please leave a gift for Rod & Holly. You'll enjoy giving in the spirit of The Romantic Way.