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.