How are bed bases made?

Hi Christina,

Many thanks for your comment and what a great question. We hand make all of our mattresses and bed bases here in the UK and I'd be happy to guide you through how they are made.

We offer 3 main types of mattress bed base.

1. Platform top divan (non sprung)
2. Sprung Edge Divan (with pocket springs)
3. Upholstered bed frames (no slats platform top)

We don't offer any slatted bases which we will discuss later on in the answer.

The type of bed base you choose is entirely up to you and there's a few differences between them depending on the feel and look you want to achieve in your bedroom. Let's have a look at each bed base type and also how we make them at John Ryan By Design.

1. Platform Top Divans:

Platform top divans are made from a softwood frame which is then padding with wadding, usually polyester at the price point. They are then upholstered and they offer up to 4 drawers (size dependant). Castors or glides are used as feet to raise them off the floor. Platform tops are entry-level divans. The construction method will feature screwed timber, glue, joints and staples where appropriate.

Platform tips give a firmer feel to any mattress as there are no springs or give in the top layer, other than the upholstery. They give incredibly consistent support as there are no gaps, like slats or wonky DIY/self-build requirements. They arrive fully made with no moving parts, except the screw in castors. They are usually split east to west in double sizes and above and connected via linking bars. This helps give central support to the base and ensure a long lifespan. Headboards are fitted using standard headboard bolts and are removable if you need to change the headboard.

2.Sprung Edge Pocket Spring Divans:

Sprung edge divans are the creme de la creme of comfort and support in a bed base. Think of them as a mattress for your mattress. They are higher end than platform top divans often with more joints and wooden crossbars. They encase a layer of pocket springs that should* sit in a true or firm edge perimeter bar. This is to stop you rolling off when sitting on the edge of the bed. (*Cheaper styles may omit this to save costs. You can tell if they have as the edges feel soft and like they will collapse.)

Again they are super consistent for any mattress but offer a more progressive support, slightly softening a mattresses feel so a more advanced feel. You often find these paired with super high end mattresses where quality is paramount. We offer our Artisan Sprung Edge Bases with our high-end Artisan hand made Natural Fibre range of beds. They arrive fully made and can be split usually into 2 parts, we can also offer them split into four for tricky access requirements.

They are usually split north to south in double sizes and above and connected via linking bars. This helps give central support to the base and ensure a long lifespan. The north to south split means they are ideal for zip and link beds, if they need to be split and used as two singles or be joined. This is a great benefit for guest rooms. Headboards are fitted using standard headboard bolts and are removable if you need to change the headboard.

3.Bed frames:

Bed frames offer you the quality of a divan base but with a far more stylish appearance. These appeal to people who want a real statement bed in their bedroom. Most bed frames use dreaded slats though which can damage the mattress. More on those later. We offer 5 bespoke Bed Frames with no slats. They are constructed of wood with the usual joints, screws and frames before being upholstered. We use a platform top that's been fully upholstered in place of the slats. Meaning you get all the consistent comfort benefits of the platform top with the beauty of a bed frame.

Bed frames come with an integrated headboard and arrive in 4 pieces for easy assembly. They add a real statement piece of furniture to your bedroom and come in 22 luxury fabrics. All made and upholstered by hand.

Why we don't use slats in our bed bases

We don't use slats in our bed bases because they are the most basic and cheapest of bed frame construction methods. Usually used to save money and make delivery easier for consumers. However, there are many issues with badly spaced slats or rough sawn timber. Slats with gaps of over 2" can actually cause even the most luxurious of mattresses to conform between the gaps leading to bulging and irreparable mattress damage.

Sprung slats were created to try and replicate a sprung edge base but are also a poor alternative as they flex to crudely often leaving a hump in the centre of the bed where their connecting bridge bar is.

That's not to say slats can't be fixed. Customers buying our hand made mattresses for slated bases are advised to board over the slats to prevent these issues. Thus meaning they can continue to use their current base if in good condition. You can read more on how to board over slats here.

We hope that helps and gives you further mattress buying guidance. If you have any more mattress related questions please get back in touch on info@localhost or 0161 437 4419.

Sleep well
John & Ryan