Horrible divan or lovely looking bed frame??

[jollyroger2]

After months of looking, we've found the perfect mattress (a Sealy one - and expensive). Do I need to buy the divan that comes with it to guarantee it still feels as firm as when I tried it in the shop?

I have never owned a divan before, always putting the look of it before anything else in the past.

Can't bear the look of a divan, but it is only £100 extra on top of the mattress, so in a way it's tempting as a stopgap at least. Want to buy a nice-looking bed frame but they almost all have sprung slats. Last time we bought a bed we put a Warren Evans mattress on top of a (sprung slatted) bed from Loaf - bed looked lovely, but the mattress felt soft and uneven. Swore I'd never put a mattress on sprung slats again. Desperate to replace it. very uncomfortable.

Warren Evans do flat slats but I'm not keen on the frames.

So, should I get the divan and be done with it? Any views on divans / bed frames? Thanks!

[wowfudge]

I may be wrong, but I imagine that on a bed frame a firm mattress will slightly firmer than on a divan, especially if the divan base is sprung. We have a bed frame from Oakfurnitureland and a mattress from John Lewis bought earlier this year. DP insisted on a firm mattress. It is honestly the comfiest bed I've ever slept on. DP wouldn't let me buy a divan as he hates them.

[mellicauli]

Divan beds are the best and most comfy beds going. but if you put a duvet on if and a nice headboard you'll not notice their undeniable fustiness. Who cares about trendy when you can sleep soundly 56 hours a week?

[Qwebec]

They are not all ugly, googled divan bed base and even ikea has nice ones.

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

You can buy special divan covers in suede etc to make them look less OAP-ish.

[ziggyziggy]

put the mattress on the floor until you can afford a bed frame, divans are horrible and dated!

[BumWad]

I have had so many beds but the divan has always been the best.

I have a gorgeous padded cover on my divan. Let me try and find you a link to something similar.

[jollyroger2]

Hi ladies, OP here. Thanks for all your comments, and sorry for slow reply. Haven't bought anything yet (we're now away on holiday), but definitely going to buy a divan. Thanks for all your input and swinging it for me!

[Follyfoot]

I remember the manager in the bed department at John Lewis telling me that a divan will always be superior to even the most expensive bed frame. If its decent support and comfort you are after, definitely go for a divan. Lovely as they look a bed frame will never be as comfortable. And as for being 'dated' surely its about getting a good night's sleep?

PS we have a Sealy and it's fab, will be getting another.

[TheUnwillingNarcheska]

We went to a bed factory where they make the divan and mattress on site to your specific requirements.

That meant I could choose the fabric that goes on the divan base, and choose any drawer option I wanted plus what feet to have. They can use your own fabric and do the same.

A 6ft zip and link (we couldn't get a 6ft mattress up the stairs) with divan base was £1k.

[PrimalLass]

I'm trying to break our divan drawers so I can ditch it and get a nice one with an ottoman function. I'd love something like this:

www.time4sleep.co.uk/beds/storage-beds/ottoman-beds/kaydian-walkworth-ottoman-storage-bed-slate-fabric

[Katie2001]

I have a lovely bed frame with sprung slats on it, together with a pocketspring mattress it's one of the comfiest beds ever, including divans.