Choosing a bed may seem to be a rather mundane part of decorating your home. But if you've ever suffered the injustice of an uncomfortable bed, you will realise the importance of taking some time over this purchase. At WeddingsOnline.ie, we hope to take some of the aches and pains out of bed buying by offering you the following glossary of terms from the land of nod.......

Divan: The most common type of base available in which the solid sides go down to the ground and are usually on coasters (wheels) for mobility.

Split-Base: Many double bed bases are split in two for ease of maneuvering and then clipped together when in situ. Split-bases are invaluable and even obligatory if you live in a small modern house with narrow stairs.

Tension: This refers to the firmness of the mattress and the base. There is no exact science for measuring the perfect tension so make sure that you both try the mattress together with the base that you're thinking of buying - what's right for one person may be another's bed of nails. Similarly terms such as "soft" and "firm" are purely subjective.

Depth of mattress: Mattresses will vary in depth (and correspondingly in price) from 7 inches deep to approx. 11 inches.

Ticking: This is the cover of the mattress (the part which we see) and may be made of nylon, damask or other fibres. Again, ticking will affect cost.

Filling: Mattresses can be filled with natural fibres such as horsehair, felt or lambs wool or with synthetic fibres such as polyester.

Springing: There are two main types: Pocket Sprung - this is the more expensive type, where each spring is made up of individual wire for increased comfort; Open Coil - all the springs in the mattress are made of one single wire.

Bedstead: An alternative to the divan, this is the more traditional bed raised up off the ground on legs.

Sleigh Bed: Something Santa's sleigh might look like, with decorative headboards and footboards curling away from the bed.

Spring Base or Firm Base: If you like a firm bed then you might want to try a bed base with wooden slats rather than one of springs. For a soft bed try a spring base topped by a mattress, as they will compliment each other well. Do remember that some modern designs of bed bases are not suitable for fitting a valence.

Orthopedic beds: Buyer beware! There are no set criteria for what constitutes an orthopedic bed and manufacturers can label any bed as such.

Bed Sizes: Once again, in Ireland there are no set measurements for standard size Double, Kingsize or Queensize beds. In one store the Queen size is larger than the King size and in another the standard Double is a King size and the largest is called a Super king. Double beds generally vary from 4ft. 6" to 6ft.

Irish Made: King Koil and Odearest are two of the best-known Irish manufacturers of mattresses.

Headboards: These are an optional extra if buying a divan and come in all sorts of shapes and styles. Some people even make their own.

Prices: Expect to pay anything from £270 for a standard size Double divan that includes a mattress. Prices can and do go up to several thousand pounds from here.

And for something a little different.......

Waterbeds: According to manufacturers, waterbeds provide the best possible support for your body, which is why 95% of sales are to people with back problems. No matter what your weight and that of your partner a waterbed will support you both equally. The weight of a waterbed is well distributed and with its built in safety liner there is little cause to worry about leaks or falling through ceilings. The water-filled mattress is covered with an easy-to-clean cover and looks just like an ordinary mattress. The removable cover also makes it a good choice for asthmatics and anyone allergic to dust mites. There are four different types of movements in waterbeds (i.e. how long the water in the mattress will continue to move after you have stopped moving) - 10 seconds, 7 seconds, 4 seconds and 1 second. Waterbeds are also thermostatically heated so you can change the temperature to suit the season. This does however mean that they need to be kept plugged in. Waterbeds look much like any other type of bed and come in various styles of bases. A Double waterbed will cost somewhere between £800 to £2,000.

Electric Adjustable Beds: Ranging in price from £700 up to approximately £2,000 for mattress and frame, these beds also come in several different shapes and sizes. Adjustable positions and massaging mechanisms make these beds another good choice for anyone with back or neck problems.

There is a huge range of beds and mattresses available so there is no need to sacrifice aesthetics for comfort. Just remember that buying a bed is like buying a pair of shoes - the fit has got to be right. And remember - the key to a happy marriage is to get into the right bed!