If you want to take full advantage of the January sales, forget clothes shopping and instead buy a large item such as a bed. Eoin Lyonsoffers some advice
We spend a significant portion of our lives sleeping, and with the January furniture sales now in full swing, if your bed isn't up to scratch, this is a good time to buy a new one at a reasonable price. Your priority should be mattresses and divans, rather than decorative bed frames. Don't be guided by price alone - the dearest mattress may not be the best for you. It might sound obvious, but lie on the bed before you buy it. There are great savings to be had, particularly in beds with latex, slow-release mechanisms and cashmere-mix padding. Check out these shops in your search; each has an excellent selection.
FURNITURE CONNEXIONS(Dublin and Monaghan; www.furnitureconnexions.com) stocks beds by a company called Body Impressions, which are made from temperature-sensitive "memory foam" which adjusts to the body's weight and temperature. It relieves pressure on painful joints by conforming to the body's shape. A king-size bed that was €1,199 is now reduced to €899. Its Nano Silver range (also memory foam mattresses) is treated with an anti-bacterial material (anti-dust mite and anti-mould) which is good for allergy sufferers. A king-size bed from this range which previously cost €1,799 is now €1,349.
The Bed Tailor range by Harrison Beds is individually made to a customer's requirements and comes in any width, length or height. The mattresses and divans have pocket-sprung bases, which increase the comfort and longevity of the bed, and better quality fillings such as latex, mohair, silk, wool, soft cotton and cashmere. Some offer a warm winter and a cool summer side - just flip the mattress over. You can also have two different levels of firmness on the same bed. Prices in this range have been reduced by 25 per cent. A king-size bed that usually costs €1,748 is now selling for €1,399. Delivery takes six weeks.
ARNOTTS(www.arnotts.ie) is one of the first places many people think of when buying a bed, and it's still one of the best. The most popular range here is Tempur. Its 6ft bed with deluxe mattress was €4,995, but is now selling for €3,990. For that kind of money, expect incredible comfort. Tempur is a temperature-sensitive and pressure-relieving material that moulds to your shape. Also at Arnotts, the 5ft Kaymed Pillowtop bed, €2,575, is now €2,035. It's made from memory foam and has 2,000 pocket springs (small individual coils) in the mattress.
(South William Street, Dublin 2 and Bray, Co Wicklow, www.living.ie) has beds made for them by an Irish bed manufacturer in Co Meath. They are pocket sprung, and a king-size is down in price from €995 to €900. The reduction isn't huge, but this is still a good price considering the high quality of the beds. Most other beds are guaranteed for five years, but these have a 10-year guarantee. Delivery is fast: two weeks at most. Also check out the oddly-named Aloe Vera range, in which double mattresses and bases are down to €580.
CLASSIC FURNITURE(seven stores in Dublin; www.classicfurniture.ie). Perhaps the strongest section at Classic Furniture is its bedroom furniture. The newest branch in Carrickmines is very good, and includes an excellent mattress area. All are of good quality and varying prices. In the sale you'll find the Kokoro mattress, which features something called visco-elastic body-responsive cushioning, which claims to guarantee a great night's sleep. This bed is reduced from €1,800 to €1,500. Custom sizes are also reduced.
(O'Connell Street, Leopardstown, Blanchardstown, Naas; www.clerys.ie) has offers such as the 5ft Sealy Excelsior latex bed (comfortable and mite-free), which was €2,000 and is now selling for €1,399. Most branches have dozens of mattresses and divans on offer, with €100 off most models. The Slumberland Memory Foam 5ft bed was €999 and is now €899. Clerys has a great selection of orthopaedic beds, too. The Silent Night Classic Orthopaedic 5ft bed is down to €599 from €699.