Here at Natural Bed Company, all of our bed bases are fitted with beech sprung slats as standard. However, we do also offer the option of fixed, solid pine slats.
The slat system is one of the most integral parts of your bed base. In turn, choosing the right system for you can be just as integral! Although many mattresses do benefit from the use of beech sprung bed slats, some mattress manufacturers will state a requirement for solid pine.
In this blog, we will go through the main benefits of both slat systems, along with any additional information you may need to know before making your decision…
Our sprung bed slats are made from steam-curved laminated beech and are fixed in place by plastic end caps. The upward curve featured is slight and provides a more flexible surface for your mattress to lay on.
These slats flatten and adjust to your profile when the mattress is laid on. The majority of this flattening takes place under your hips and shoulders. This can be beneficial for those with discomfort in these particular areas.
These slats do regain their full curve when the mattress is not being used, which can help in keeping the mattress’s shape for longer. This can in turn increase the lifespan of the mattress. (Note: it is also recommended that you follow the manufacturer’s care guidelines to get the most out of your mattress!)
An added benefit to sprung slats is that they do not sit across the centre rail like solid slats, and instead sit to either side. If the bed is being used by two people, this means each person gets their own separate run of slats. This can help reduce disturbance felt by each others movements.
Please note, beech sprung slats are not ideal for use in rooms that have en-suites. The potentially humid and damp environment may cause the slats to lose their shape.
Note: on 90x190cm (Single) and 180x200cm (Superking) models, we use a sprung double-slat system.
The slats on both sizes are longer than those used on either side of our other bed sizes. Due to this, they do have more flex. This is why we have 6 double slats on singles and 12 on superkings, which has the added benefit of allowing you to vary the flexibility/firmness of the base.
Although beech sprung slats are provided as standard with all of our bed bases, we do give the option to uplift to solid pine slats! This does come at an additional cost, so please contact us if you would like a quote.
There are a few reasons you may decide to opt for solid pine over sprung. The main being that pine slats do offer a slightly firmer feeling base. If you already have a firm mattress, do keep in mind that a firm slat base may intensify the firmness! However, if you do have a softer mattress and would like a firmer feel, pine slats might help with this as they have less give.
Another reason for choosing these slats is that they are fixed in place. They are screwed into the inner pine side rails, rather than being held in place by plastic end caps. However, this does mean the bed will take a little longer to assemble and disassemble!
As mentioned above, solid slats are also something that you may want to consider if you have an en-suite. Due to the rigid nature of these slats, they are much less susceptible to warping in damp environments.
Please note, for custom bed bases over 180x200cm, solid pine slats must be used.
I hope you have found this blog to be helpful in explaining the differences between our slat systems. If you have any questions that have not been answered here, please do not hesitate to get in touch!