The majority of our beds come with a sprung beech slat system as standard. A base with sprung slats has curved and laminated wooden slats which sit within the solid wood bed frame. The natural flex in the slats means that they will adjust to your profile. The slats are designed to flex where you exert the most pressure, usually under you hips and shoulders. Pine slats have no flex and are, therefore, firmer. Which you prefer may be a matter of taste, but there are other considerations….
Mattresses “wear out” over time because they lose the ability to spring back to their full thickness. I.e. they get too soft where you have the most weight, under your hips and back. In other words the materials in the mattress, whether they’re foam or springs, get tired of adjusting to your profile. Flexible slats take some of the strain, so the mattress doesn’t have to do so much work!
We are a small company and haven’t been able to do any trials to prove this, but our experience and customer feedback bears it out. And after all – it stands to reason! It is one of the reasons why at the Natural Bed Company we’ve used sprung beech slats for over 30 years.
Everything that’s good gets copied – it’s almost a universal truth – and there are now plenty of budget sprung slats from China, but we’ve continued to use best quality sprung beech slats from Germany and France. The idea’s too good to spoil by using cheaper, inferior products.
95% of our customers choose sprung beech slats for comfort and support. Both of our directors have sprung beech slats on their beds too! We occasionally have customers who want a very firm feel and prefer pine slats, and some customers need fixed pine slats to withstand a humid environment. However I (and my mattress) wouldn’t be without beech sprung slats!
Sprung bed slats are often preferred because they gently flex under weight, which helps distribute pressure more evenly across the mattress. This can create a more comfortable sleeping surface and reduce strain on the mattress. Solid pine slats, on the other hand, provide a firmer and more rigid base, which some people prefer if they want extra support.
Sprung bed slats are slightly curved wooden slats, usually made from laminated beech. They sit in flexible holders along the bed frame and are designed to flex when weight is applied. This flexibility allows the bed base to respond to movement and body weight, offering improved comfort and support.
Solid pine slats are straight, flat pieces of timber that run across the bed frame. Unlike sprung slats, they do not flex. Because of this, they create a firmer bed base and provide consistent, rigid support for the mattress.
Yes, sprung slats can make a bed feel slightly softer because they flex under pressure. This flexibility allows them to absorb some of the weight and movement that would otherwise be taken entirely by the mattress.
Yes. The type of slats used in a bed frame can change the overall feel of your mattress. Sprung slats add a little give and cushioning, while solid pine slats create a firmer and more stable sleeping surface.
Sprung slats can help reduce the strain placed on a mattress by sharing the load. Because they flex slightly, they absorb some of the pressure from movement and body weight, which may help maintain the shape and comfort of the mattress over time.
For most sleepers, sprung slats provide the best balance of comfort and support. At Natural Bed Company, the majority of our beds are supplied with sprung beech slats because they suit a wide range of mattresses and sleeping styles.
Solid pine slats may be the better choice if you prefer a very firm bed base. They can also be useful in environments where moisture is more common, such as bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom, because rigid slats are less affected by humidity.
Yes. Both sprung and solid slatted bases allow air to circulate beneath the mattress. This airflow helps keep the mattress fresh and dry and supports a healthier sleeping environment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.