If you’ve got a European-sized bed, you’ll know that standard UK-sized mattresses are not a good fit. On the continent, mattresses tend to be both wider and longer than their standard-sized UK equivalent. This poses a problem for those with continental beds who don’t wish to travel across the channel to purchase a new mattress.
At The Odd Company, we handcraft our fully sprung mattresses to any size or shape, using the same process we use for our standard-sized mattresses. The result? A comfortable, luxurious, and supportive mattress, which will fit your European sized bed perfectly.
You may have an antique French bed, or a contemporary Swedish bed, both of which require a bespoke mattress. Whatever the type or size of bed, we can make a European mattress in the required dimensions. As with all our mattresses, we only use the highest-quality natural materials; from our lambswool, horsehair and cashmere fillings, to the steel used in our spring systems and the cotton fabrics used in the mattress upholstery.
For those who are unsure as to whether their bed has been made to continental dimensions, we have compiled a table below which lists each size and the corresponding dimensions for UK and European mattresses.
| Size | European | UK |
| Single | 100cm x 200cm | 90cm x 190cm (3’0″ x 6’3″) |
| Double | 140cm x 200cm | 135cm x 190cm (4’6″ x 6’3″) |
| King | 160cm x 200cm | 150cm x 200cm (5’0″ x 6’6″) |
| Super King | 180cm x 200cm | 180cm x 200cm (6’0 x 6’6″) |
Although this table is comprised of the modern continental standard sizes, over the years we have seen European beds of every size, shape and depth! In truth, until the latter half of the 20th century there wasn’t really such a thing as a ‘European’ standard mattress size, with dimensions varying between countries and regions. Mechanisation, free trade and mass production brought with them the need to create standard dimensions. Indeed, if your bed predates the 1960s, you may find that the measurements found in the above table do not relate to the bed you own. Of course, this isn’t a problem for The Odd Company: we can make a European mattress of a bespoke size, just for you.
Our European mattresses are always fully sprung. This means that we never use foam as a core material, when crafting a mattress with European dimensions. We believe that high quality steel springs are unrivalled in the level of support they can offer your body while you sleep. It is because of this that every single one of the mattresses we make uses a spring system, made from British steel as its central component.
Two different types of spring system exist; the interior spring unit, which is also known as an open coil spring, and the pocket spring. Which spring type is more suitable will depend on who will be using the bed, and how frequently. However, when it comes to supporting the contours of your body, the pocket spring system found in our European mattresses is superior. As the name suggests, each 15 cm (6 inch) spring is located in its own fabric pocket, allowing each one to move independently from those around it. Pocket sprung mattresses can therefore support the natural shape of your body much more effectively than other types of mattresses like interior sprung mattresses or European sized mattresses that use foam as a mattress core. Additionally, if you share you bed with a partner who can’t seem to stay still while sleeping, the fact that each spring is independent means their movements are less likely to transfer through the mattress and disturb your slumber.
Together with the luxurious natural filling listed below, a pocket sprung European mattress provides the ultimate level of comfort as well as posture alignment and muscle and joint relieving support.
We use natural fillings whenever we can. Not only are natural materials often hypoallergenic, they are also sustainable, and can be widely recycled when your bespoke mattress eventually needs replacing.
Synthetic materials like memory foam, petroleum-based rubber and latex are non-porous, making them great materials for the production of insulation, wellington boots and birthday balloons, but which should be kept out of the bedroom as much as possible. They are hot and unhygienic, breathe poorly, retain moisture and hold in heat. They also contain glues and solvents, which of course, evaporate creating an odour. That being said, if we were to find breathable, sustainable, man-made fibres which performed better than the fillings listed below for our bespoke mattresses we would of course consider using them: we just haven’t found any yet…
Because all of our mattresses use natural fillings, they’re hypoallergenic, non-irritable, and breathable. We use a cotton ticking to upholster our bespoke mattresses, for a most luxurious and comfortable finish.
Cotton
A natural fibre which has been grown and harvested for the production of textiles and clothing for many centuries. This uniquely breathable and naturally absorbent filling is used in the construction of our mattresses due to its ability to naturally wick away moisture ensuring restful sleep.
Wool
A natural material which has played an important role in the British economy since the medieval period, and whose trade was once described as the ‘jewel in the crown of the realm’. Wool brings a number of benefits to a mattress. Unlike synthetic fibres which tend to trap and hold moisture and heat, wool’s structural composition makes it great at regulating temperature. Wool like cotton is also incredibly breathable, wicking away moisture and ensuring you stay cosy during winter months and cool during summer ones. It is thanks to these properties that we use it as a filling in some of our highest specification mattresses.
Horsehair
For hundreds of years, horsehair has been an important filling in mattresses of the highest specification. Before the interior and later pocket spring system were invented, each strand of curled hair acted like a tiny spring, creating support and elasticity within the mattress. We continue to use horsehair today for this exact same reason – think of it as providing an extra layer of natural micro-spring close to the sleeping surface, to complement the pocket sprung system found in the mattress core. Additionally, the fluted structure which each strand forms channels moisture and heat away from the body while you sleep, replacing it with cooler, fresher air over the course of the night.
Cashmere
The coat of the Kashmir goat is considered one of the most luxurious wools available. Its fine fibres – half the width of sheep’s wool – make it incredibly soft and springy to the touch and therefore one of the finest fillings that can be used in your mattress.
The goats take their name from the Kashmir region in the Indian subcontinent in which they were first found, an environment which is subject to extreme fluctuations in temperature. Cashmere, like other wools, is therefore an excellent regulator of heat. It is best to think of cashmere as a natural, silent air conditioning unit built into your bed: the structure of each hair is such that it directs heat along the fibre to be released into the cooler environment. When it is cold, cashmere’s crimp – the natural waviness of each hair – traps large volumes of air between its fibres, creating an insulation layer which holds heat.
Get in touch on 01772 786 666 or use our handy online enquiry form below.
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"I tried several companies before I arrived at The Odd Company and I was immediately reassured by the quality and level of service that I received over the phone. The senior gentleman that dealt with my enquiry had proper knowledge and understanding of the product and was able to steer me in the right direction, pointing out many helpful things that I had not considered. The bespoke mattress I bought consequently fits like a dream."
Helen
"Prompt and efficient service. Home delivered and fitted. Even sourced us some hard to find brass bed parts to complete the project. Can’t rate this company highly enough."
Paul
"The Odd Company simply are the best bed manufacturers in the World and I'm not exaggerating. They have made and delivered time and again and every time perfect and all my clients have been completely delighted."
Woody
