Personalised bed comfort starts with finding the right mattress for your body and sleep preferences. You probably already know that you can find a bed in a range of sizes, featuring a number of different materials. But customisation options can go far beyond that, empowering you to experience exactly the right contouring, support and comfort for your unique needs.

Learn from the Dreamwool Beds experts exactly how to use mattress tailoring to give yourself the most luxurious sleep of a lifetime.

Customisation Mattress NZ

Latex or Pocketspring

The first choice you’ll want to consider is whether you would prefer a pocketspring or a latex mattress. These options can offer two different but equally luxurious sleep experiences. They can each achieve the same level of firmness, with pocket springs providing flatter firmness and latex offering a bit more deflection. 

Size

As a luxury, hand-crafted bed manufacturer, Dreamwool makes beds in all standard sizes (Single, King Single, Double, Queen, King, Super King, Californian King) as well as European sizes and any custom size you might need, for instance, for your yacht or RV. We recommend choosing the largest bed size that will fit comfortably in your available space.

Firmness

Different wire gauges and latex densities can help you achieve your ideal level of firmness. A firmer mattress will feel more like you’re lying on top of it, rather than conforming into it, as you would with a softer mattress. But like with anything, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Age, weight, body type, injury, illness, partner comfort, and sleep preference can all affect your final mattress selection.

The only way to know for sure what works best for you is to lie down on the mattress and try it for yourself. Spend at least a few minutes trying it on both your back and your sides, and talk to the salesperson about your sleep preferences. If you’re tossing up between two options, we’d suggest erring on the slightly softer side; a bed will always feel firmer after eight hours of rest than it did after a 10-minute test on the shop floor.

How can I customise my pocketspring?

The thickness of your wire gauge can affect the firmness of your mattress, as does the coil count. A high coil count with a heavier gauge might feel quite firm, whereas the same gauge with fewer springs can feel much softer. It’s all to do with the pitch and diameter of the spring; every one has its own performance that can provide very different types of comfort and support.

Partner Preference

Bed comfort is easiest to achieve when there’s only one sleeper to accommodate, but that doesn’t mean that partners need to compromise. Just as you wouldn’t wear each other’s clothes, you shouldn’t expect that your sleep needs and preferences will be the same as your partner’s. If you are significantly different sizes, or your sleep positions or needs are very different, a great option can be a Split mattress option, where each partner is able to customise their side of the bed so that it suits their unique body and preferences.

Why should you customise your mattress?

Customisation is happening everywhere; there’s no reason it shouldn’t apply to your sleeping environment as well. People are finally starting to acknowledge that sleep is the most critical aspect of overall health and well-being. So why not invest in a tailored solution that works best for you? 

Bed-in-a-box models might be convenient, but they’ll never deliver exactly what you need. By going into a shop and talking through your preferences with a knowledgeable salesperson, you can find out exactly what combination of materials and benefits will work best for you and test it for yourself.Dreamwool’s premium pocket spring and latex ranges offer a variety of customisable sizes, firmnesses, and spring gauges to suit your unique needs and sleep preferences. Book a consultation today and find your perfect fit.

Businesses have cottoned on to the fact that savvy consumers are increasingly interested in the sustainability credentials behind the products they buy. But what is actually environmentally responsible, and what is just marketing speak?

The experts at Dreamwool Beds are here to help you sift through the claims and choose an eco-friendly NZ mattress that matches your priorities and values.

What is greenwashing?

Greenwashing is when a business or product purports to be environmentally friendly as part of a marketing strategy, but with sustainability claims that don’t necessarily hold up to scrutiny. You can generally spot greenwashing by looking for environmental buzzwords, a focus on features instead of benefits, or specific assertions (think Fair-Trade or Organic) without any certifications to back them up. The best way to ensure that your next mattress delivers on its promises and provides a sustainable sleep is to ask plenty of questions and look closely at what’s inside. 

Common Greenwashing Claims

One of the ways that bed manufacturers greenwash their products is by producing computer-generated drawings that don’t clearly show what’s inside. It’s easy to say “made with wool”, but how much? Where did it come from? How was it processed? They could be ticking the box without giving you any of the benefits. Ask the salesperson to show you real-life samples and give you the details of any eco claims, because no amount of comfort or sustainability ever came from just 5mm of all-natural quilting latex.

Another common greenwashing claim is to say that materials are local when, in fact, they are sourced locally and then processed overseas. The environmental impact of shipping NZ materials overseas to be processed and manufactured is huge, and once they’re overseas, there’s no way to ensure that the manufacturing processes are in line with your environmental values. Make sure you don’t fall for this, look for traceability in your bed maker’s manufacturing processes, and ask them about their supply chain.

What is an eco-friendly mattress?

The definition of eco-friendly is very much open for interpretation, and it can be difficult to wade through the advertising language. Some of the key things to look for are:

• Locally sourced and produced
• Transparent supply chain
• Trustworthy maker
• Samples you can see and touch
• Ethically produced natural materials (and an abundance of them)
• Responsible production processes

Greenwashing Bedding

Greenwashing isn’t just limited to your mattress; you might see this applied to your bedding as well. The eco-friendly bedding materials you want to choose, where possible, are TENCEL™ or organic cotton.

TENCEL™ is made from wood pulp and requires less energy, water and chemicals to produce than conventional cotton. It is biodegradable, requires less harmful dye, and can be sourced from certified and responsibly managed forests. Organic cotton is the next best option and is an excellent choice for sustainable bedding, but it still typically uses more land and more water to produce than TENCEL™.

Making the Most Sustainable Choice

Ultimately, sustainability is about determining the maximum value and eco credentials that you can realistically afford, and then looking behind the label to see if your purchase measures up. 

If certifications are important to you, look for GOLS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, and FSC. If locally sourced, natural materials – like those used in abundance by Dreamwool – are what matter most, ask your salesperson to explain exactly what’s inside, where it comes from, and how much is in there. If the mattress delivers on what they’re promising, they’ll be delighted to back up their claims. 

Dreamwool mattresses showcase locally sourced Merino wool, natural latex, and finely crafted, European-made pocket springs. We use only the best natural materials at meaningful volumes, allowing you to reap the sustainability benefits and experience optimum comfort. And we’d love to tell you all about them. 

Book a consultation with our expert team today to learn more.

Feng Shui is a system of Chinese principles that governs spatial arrangement with regard to the flow of energy, or chi. The core idea behind Feng Shui is that you can experience favourable or unfavourable energy effects, depending on how you design and arrange spaces. By balancing the world’s five main natural elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water- it’s said that you can increase your quality of life and create harmony in your home. 

When deciding the best position for your Dreamwool Bed in Feng Shui, there are a few key things to consider.

The Commanding Position

Feng Shui dictates that you should place your bed in what’s called the “commanding” position, where you can easily see your bedroom door while in bed without directly facing it (doing so, with your feet pointing towards the door, is known in Feng Shui as the “coffin” position).

Ideally, your bed should be placed diagonally to the door. If this is not feasible, you can still achieve a commanding position by placing a mirror in your bedroom so that you can see the reflection of the door while in bed.

Face South

A south-facing bed is believed to encourage wealth. If you can face south while in the commanding position and avoiding the line of doors, this is generally the best Feng Shui position to increase your overall quality of life. A good second choice would be to face east, as this is thought to improve health and focus.

Ground Your Bed Against a Solid Wall

It is important in Feng Shui to have a solid wall behind your headboard. Place the head of your bed against a solid wall, avoiding windows.

If you have an en suite bathroom, you should also avoid placing your headboard on the same wall where the bathroom is located. 

Avoid Architectural Features and Clutter

Where possible, do not place your bed directly under architectural features, beams, or sloped ceilings, as these are thought to create oppressive energy above you. If this is unavoidable, you could choose to mask architectural ceiling elements with paint or fabric. It is also recommended to avoid clutter in your bedroom space, as this can interrupt the flow of energy.

Provide Access to Both Sides of Your Bed

To keep the energy – chi – flowing smoothly around your bedroom, ensure that you have at least 45cm of space around both sides of the bed. Pushing your bed up against a wall on one side is thought to hinder the balance of yin and yang energies, as well as being impractical for partners who may wish to access both sides of the bed.

Where Needed, Use Crystals and Mirrors

Mirrors and crystals can both be valuable tools in achieving good Feng Shui. Place mirrors perpendicularly to doors to make your bedroom seem more airy and spacious, and use hanging crystals between your bed and the door to disperse any negative energies.

Find the Best Placement for You

Many of the tips provided by Feng Shui are also great from a practical standpoint: a solid wall behind your headboard provides you with greater temperature consistency, reduced clutter helps to create a greater sense of calm, balanced space on both sides of the bed provides clear access and equal partner comfort, and avoiding a shared wall with the toilet will prevent sleep disturbances in the night.

Feng Shui principles can be a great place to start as you consider your bedroom design decisions, but it’s always best to find the right solution for your needs and space. Ultimately, the experts at Dreamwool recommend that you prioritise quality sleep over all else, and design the space you need to make that possible. 

Book a consultation at Dreamwool today and learn how you can achieve the greatest sleep of a lifetime.

What is an orthopedic bed?

Many mattress manufacturers include what they refer to as “orthopedic” beds in their product range, stating that these beds are created specifically for good spinal alignment. But the truth is that there really is no such thing.

What are often referred to as orthopedic beds are simply firmer mattresses that can be beneficial for people who, perhaps, have had an operation and require a specific level of support.

What are the benefits?

The claim is that the benefits of an orthopedic bed include better support, higher quality materials, pain and pressure relief, and temperature regulation. But, generally, orthopedic is just a description given to firmer mattresses within a manufacturer’s existing product range.

The good news is that every Dreamwool mattress offers all of these benefits and more. With each Dreamwool bed handmade to order and filled with only the finest natural materials, we are able to outperform so-called orthopedic mattresses with every bed we produce, and we can tailor each one to our customers’ unique needs and preferences.

What is the difference between a regular bed and an orthopedic bed?

The bottom line is that there isn’t one (or, at least, there shouldn’t be). When bed manufacturers are talking about orthopedic beds, typically what they mean is a firmer mattress with extra support and less comfort layers. 

With Dreamwool beds, any mattress selection you make will offer the support, premium natural materials, customised firmness, sleep health benefits, temperature neutrality, spinal alignment, and pain relief promised by orthopedic bed manufacturers.

What are the disadvantages of an orthopedic mattress? 

It’s important to use care when buying a mattress labelled as orthopedic, as these tend to be too firm for most people who think they need one. You don’t need a high level of firmness to achieve suitable stability; indeed, a mattress that is too firm can actually increase tossing and turning through the night and reduce your overall quality of sleep. 

Who should use an orthopedic mattress?

An orthopedic mattress is only really necessary for someone who has been explicitly prescribed one by an orthopedic surgeon. Even then, it’s important to determine exactly what they mean by the term so you can use their tailored advice to choose a mattress that suits your individual, post-surgery needs.

Can a normal person use an orthopedic mattress?

Yes, anyone can use an orthopedic mattress, as this is simply just a firm mattress. The more important question is whether or not a firm mattress will meet your needs. It’s best to test a few mattresses in person to determine the right support and conformity for your body shape and sleep preferences.

What is the best sleeping position on an orthopedic mattress? 

For most people with back or joint pain, sleeping on their back is the best position to maintain spinal alignment. If you prefer to sleep on your side, use a pillow between your knees to keep them separated and cushion sensitive joints.

Choosing the Right Mattress for Your Spine and Joints

Don’t get distracted by clever marketing – the truth is that orthopedic mattresses are typically a firmer mattress from within a manufacturer’s existing range. If you do have genuine orthopedic concerns, it’s best to discuss these with your doctor and get specific recommendations for a mattress that will meet your joint and spinal health needs. 

If you’re unsure, the expert team at Dreamwool can talk to you about your orthopedic needs and make recommendations around the right materials and firmness to support you. 

Book a consultation today to learn more.

If your mattress is showing signs of age and wear, or you find yourself stuck with a mattress that doesn’t feel right for your body type and sleep preferences, you might be wondering what you can do to make it more comfortable. While there are some short-term solutions available such as mattress toppers and pads, there really is no substitute for a high-quality, fit-for-purpose mattress.

The better question to ask, perhaps, is: Why would you try to make an uncomfortable mattress more comfortable? That’s like wearing an extra pair of socks because your shoes are the wrong size!

What to Do When You Get a New Mattress

To ensure that your new mattress is as comfortable as possible, it’s important to test it in-store and find out exactly what’s inside. Look for a good volume of high-quality natural materials that will support great sleep now and in the future. 

If you’re torn between two mattresses, typically the softer option is better. If it feels firm after a few minutes on the shop floor, it will feel much firmer after eight hours of rest. And if the mattress you’re replacing is old and uncomfortable, please dispose of it, rather than recycling it back into New Zealand’s bed stock and making someone else lose sleep!

Does Folding a Mattress Damage it?

It is possible to safely fold your mattress while transporting it, though if you are storing it for an extended period, this should always be done with the mattress laid flat. If you do need to fold your mattress when getting it home from the shop or moving it to a new bedroom, the important thing to remember is that it should only ever be folded from head to toe. If you fold a pocketspring mattress from side to side, you could split the pockets.

So What CAN You Do if Your Mattress is Underperforming?

The experts at Dreamwool Beds would always recommend replacing your mattress if it is uncomfortable, ridging or bowing in the middle, or displaying a lot of body impression. But if you’re not quite ready to invest in your next mattress, there are some things you can do to help maintain your comfort.

Rotate Regularly

You should rotate your mattress regularly with each season. This ensures that you are sleeping on it evenly and distributing your weight across the whole surface.

Mattress Protectors and Pads

Mattress protectors and pads can provide a thin layer of added protection for normal sleep activities such as perspiration. Just make sure your protector is breathable in order to maintain the full comfort of your mattress.

Mattress Toppers

Mattress toppers are thicker protectors that can change the overall comfort and feel of your mattress. They can also make your mattress easier to care for due to their ability to be removed, aired and cleaned.

Most Dreamwool mattresses already have an integrated woollen overlay mattress topper which adds additional comfort layers and enables easier maintenance. Other mattress toppers on the market are typically designed to be a cheaper alternative to mattress replacement, with the aim being to extend the lifespan of your bed. This may work for a while, but it is ultimately a Band-Aid solution.

Prioritise Lifespan and Quality

The best way to have a comfortable mattress for as long as possible is to buy one with longevity in mind. High manufacturing quality and premium materials matter. Fewer or lower-quality fillings will result in a poorer quality of sleep; this only worsens as the layers wear over time. 

By selecting a premium Dreamwool mattress, you can ensure optimum comfort and support for many years to come and experience the best sleep of a lifetime.