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In Brief
Divan Bases are the most economical alternative to a bedframe. They are supplied in kit form to the majority of bed manufacturers from only a handful of manufacturers here in the UK and also from abroad. These components for the divan bases are assembled on site and covered in the appropriate fabric that matches the mattress.
Like all things, the components used for divan bases are graded and you will get pretty much what you pay for. Many manufacturers will sell their bases for not much more than cost price, realising that when combined with the mattress the complete set will be a more appealing purchase.
When doing price comparisons, even in store, always price up the mattress only, and the (no storage) set separately. You will then get a truer price of the supposed mattress quality. You will soon come to see that either the mattress is overpriced with an equally overpriced base or there will be no option to buy the mattress separately.
Example: (Argos Jan /2010) Silentnight Oakleigh Memory (Kingsize);
- Mattress Only: £779.99
- Base and Mattress: £1049.99
Incidentally, another little thing to keep an eye on is the way the stuff is priced. How many of you I wonder have already worked out that the base example above has a cost of a massive £270.00 for a no storage base? The nines are there not to add less than a quid on the price of a £800 mattress, but to allegedly, probably, possibly, just a guess, to deter you making a quick mental calculation. If it was rounded up to: - Mattress Only: £780.00
- Base and Mattress £1050.00
It is a lot easier to calculate.
| How are Divan Bases constructed? |
In my opinion, divan bases should not be considered as a permanent fixture in your bedroom. They are ugly boxes that invade your room space and by the time you have added the headboard and drawers you could have purchased a really nice bedframe that will last considerably longer whilst still looking good. The basic construction is a simple soft timber box frame stapled together. The top has a hardboard sheet stapled to it to provide a base for the mattress. The base is then covered with a matching fabric. The underside of the frame has a nylon mesh dust cover. If drawers are added, then additional support struts are used to house the drawers. Divan bases classed as top of range will be constructed with a lot more care with features such as screwed timber struts, padding on all surfaces and machine jigged drawers to ensure smooth use. Note: Unbelievably pointless paying this money for a well crafted divan base where you could purchase a good quality bedframe. |
| What about a sprung edged base? |
A sprung edged base means that the entire top surface of the base has a spring system as a suspension for the mattress. Also known as a boxspring (Am) Despite it's name, a sprung edge covers the entirety of the base top - not just the edge. Again, there are a few variations and will reflect the price you are paying. The most cheapest version (or should be the cheapest!) is the 'snake spring' similar to the spring in a cheap sofa whereby the 'spring' is stretched across the frame and held in place by a fixing. The alternative will be a three to four inch bed of coiled springs similar to another mattress topped off with a layer of felt wadding. The price for having a sprung edge on your base will be in the region of £65 (Double) |
| Storage Drawers |
Many people think that they need a divan base because of the storage options they offer. This is true, however considering the average price of storage drawers is £20 each means that you are paying £80 for 4 draws which in all honesty is money that can be used towards a purpose built set of drawers or a storage trolley that slides under a bedframe. Storage drawers in divan bases are renowned for failing - this means where the fronts of the draws will come off or the bases fall through. The blame for this can be equally shared between the user and the manufacturer. I have seen this problem on all ranges of drawers, from the most well known brands to the least known brands. The majority of drawers will have hardboard bases and just cannot cope with weights that many people stuff into them. Drawer fronts are doweled and very rarely glued and with regular use will just simply come away. If you really do need a storage draw, the best option is the Jumbo End Draw. This is a draw that slides out from the bottom of the base and is one and a half times the size of a standard draw. When a manufacturer adds this drawer they have to add additional support struts in the base to accommodate. For the £25 this costs it is well worth the money and can easily store extra pillows, quilt etc. |
Summary
The matching divan bases that I offer on this site are all priced around the £65 mark which is not far off the cost price. This reflects the basic nature of the product and the hope that you will only use them as temporary measures and eventually invest in a good quality bedframe.
These bases are not sold separately.