Category Archives: Electric Blankets

Seven Festive Tips to Prepare for Christmas Guests

Tips for Preparing for Christmas Guests

As Christmas approaches, many of us are busy preparing our homes for the festive season. From decorating the tree to organising the Christmas shop, the added pressure of holiday guests coming to stay can sometimes leave us a little overwhelmed.

To help take the stress out of the holiday season this year, we’ve prepared the following tips to make sure you don’t lose sleep over where everyone else is going to sleep this Christmas!

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Essential Uni Starter Kit

Student Bedding Essentials

The wait is over and the results are in. The months (and years) of hard work and studying round the clock are a distant memory, albeit temporarily.

For those of you with children off to college and university, new beginnings and broader horizons await. And, of course, the day will arrive too when they’ll be leaving the family home behind.

As a local family business, we know that every penny counts when getting the kids university ready. Yes, we’ve been there and done that!

So, where do you start?  Never fear, at Dalzells we’ve put together our essential university bedding starter kit to help you on your way.

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Top 5 Festive Buys This Christmas

Top 5 Festive Buys

Yes, it’s that time of the year again when we’re full of festive cheer and running around snapping up those bargain buys and great deals for Christmas.

It’s the time for giving and receiving, and unless you’re a bah humbug type, you’re probably relishing the idea of watching your loved ones open up their pressies on Christmas day.

Can there be any better feeling that seeing a child’s eyes light up, or a loved one’s heart melt as they unwrap that perfect gift? Of course, finding that elusive perfect gift can be the tricky part.

So we at Dalzell’s have taken the leg, and head work, out of the equation and chosen our top five gifts for Christmas to suit every type of budget. Continue reading

7 Tips to Spring Clean Your Bed

Is Your Bed Up To Scratch?

Now that spring has finally sprung many of us our turning our minds to cleaning the home. Our bedrooms in particular need a good deep down clean at this time of year. From freshening up our bed linen to airing the mattress there are lots of ways to breathe new life into the bedroom.

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Preparing For Visitors This Festive Season

                                     

Guest Bed Solutions 

It’s that time of year when we are all refreshing our decor so our homes are looking at their best – from the annual winter clean, to a quick retouch of the paintwork, we’re also busying ourselves with putting the finishing touches to the festive decorations.

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Celebrate National Sleep In Day with a Lie In!

As a parent of small children it’s not often I get a chance of a lie-in but with next Sunday, 27th October marking National Sleep In Day – the day that we can turn back our clocks by an hour – you never know, it might just happen!

Northern Ireland Sleep Habits

According to a major report published by The Sleep Council, the average person in Northern Ireland has less sleep than the rest of the population in the United Kingdom averaging just 6hrs 19 minutes of sleep per night.

Some 46% of people reported that worry or stress was keeping them awake at night, and scarily, 26% have used alcohol as a remedy to help them get to sleep.

So how do we ensure we get that all important sleep, never mind that all too precious lie-in?

Top Tips on Getting a Lie-in

  • As National Sleep In Day falls at the weekend we can justify turning off those alarm clocks next Sunday morning and allow our bodies to wake naturally. If you’re getting enough sleep, you should wake up naturally without an alarm. If you need an alarm clock to wake up on time, it may be that you need to go to bed earlier.
  • Turn off gadgets and phones so you have no background stimulation to interfere with your sleep. Many people also rely on the alarm clock on their mobiles to wake them up – make sure it’s turned off just in case!
  • If you have blackout blinds or curtains it’s best to have them closed tight and drawn to prevent daylight from seeping through. Even a little bit of morning light can wake the drowsiest of sleepers.
  • Is your bed preventing you from having a good night’s sleep? If your bed is too hard, or too soft, it might be stopping you from experiencing a deep slumber. Not sure if your bed is giving you the proper support? Take the Bed M.O.T. and find out.
  • With the colder nights coming back we’re tempted to turn up the thermostats to keep the chill out. Temperatures around 12-13°C (53-55°F) are usually too cool to be able to drop off. Conversely, anything over 24°C is more likely to cause restlessness. Bedroom temperatures should be between 16-18°C but if you you like your bed to be a bit warmer why not try an electric blanket to take the edge off – cheap to run too!
  • Of course you can always layer up your bed with duvets and pillows for extra snuggly comfort. Or dig out those bed socks and keep your feet from feeling the autumn chill!
  • Avoid alcohol the night before. Not only will it  interrupt your sleep later in the night but it will play havoc with sleep patterns.

 

What to do next

Dalzell’s is a Sleep Council accredited retailer so our staff are always on hand to offer advice for those who wish to buy a new bed or mattress. Situated in Markethill, we’re convenient to most major towns and cities across Northern Ireland. Positioned halfway between Armagh and Newry, we’re but a short drive from Dungannon and Portadown. Even if it’s not convenient to Visit us in-store, our online shop armaghbeds.com features many of our extensive range of beds and mattresses for you to shop from the comfort of your home. You can always telephone us 028 37 55 1260 or Email us if that’s how you prefer. With Free Delivery throughout Northern Ireland you can rest assure that you’ll get a great deal and excellent customer service from our family run business. What’s more, we also provide Free Collection & Recycling of your Old Bed when we deliver your new bed or mattress. This great Free Delivery and Free Recycling Service is extended further to our customers in Counties Louth, Dublin and Monaghan with very competitive rates throughout the rest of Ireland.

 

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Layer up this Autumn with Luxurious Bedding Essentials

As the long nights draw in is there anything more inviting that sinking into a warm and cosy bed! While spring is synonymous with clearing out clutter and cleaning, darker evenings make us all want to layer up and snuggle down in between our duvets and pillows. Of course what could be snugger than an electric blanket to warm the bed before we sink in for the night!

At Dalzell’s we know that bedding accessories are a must in creating that all important ambiance in our bedrooms and ensuring that that we get that well-deserved retreat after a long day’s work. Stocking a range of duvets, pillows, electric blankets as well as mattress and pillow protectors from leading brands including Kaymed, Dunlopillo, Beurer, Morphy Richards and Protect-a-Bed we’re confident you’ll find all those bedding essentials necessary for a relaxing and comfortable night’s sleep.

Bedding Essentials

Knowing what type of pillow suits your sleeping position is as important as choosing your preferred mattress tension and support. Although not designed to have the same lifespan or durability as a mattress, a good quality, comfortable pillow can significantly reduce any neck, back or shoulder pain experienced when sleeping.  The Kaymed Gel Therapy Pillow has a unique massage effect from its gel centre  helping to maintain the correct posture whilst sleeping, ultimately providing a great night’s sleep.

The majority of naturally filled duvets are made from duck feathers and down, goose down, or a combination of both. What you’ll notice about natural duvets is how soft, lightweight and comfortable they feel and because they form air pockets within the fabric casing, these luxurious duvets offer the same level of natural warmth as a synthetic duvet. With its 85% white goose feather and 15% white goose down filling, the Bedroom Couture White Goose Feather & Down 5′ Duvet provides even distribution for all over warmth and comfort.

An Over Electric Blanket warms you and your bed from the top. A Fitted Under Electric Blanket is a popular choice as it heats the body from underneath and adds extra warmth to your bedding.  The Morphy Richards 75288 Dual Control King Size Heated Mattress Cover is made from an extra thick fleece material, and contains ultra-thin wires ensuring ultimate comfort. Costing from as little as 2p per night, this luxury electric blanket is a fully fitted mattress cover design that is incredibly easy to fit.

Designed to protect your mattress and pillow against soiling and general wear and tear, mattress and pillow protectors will also keep your bedding and bed fresher and cleaner for longer. The Protect-A-Bed® Plush 5′ Mattress Protector offers complete protection from allergens, liquids, irritants and stains. With its unique Miracle Membrane™ and total heat transference formula, this mattress protector is guaranteed to moderate temperature and enhance sleeping comfort.

What to do next

At Armagh Beds.com we stock some of the leading bedding brands including KaymedDunlopilloBeurerMorphy Richards and Protect-a-Bed.  What’s more, our bedding accessories benefit from Free Delivery across Northern Ireland and Counties Monaghan, Louth and Dublin (£5.99 throughout the rest of Ireland). To aid you in your purchase we have compiled a comprehensive buyers’ guide. So whatever sort of bedding product you’re looking for whether it’s a duvet, electric blanket or simply a pillow, you’ll be able to find it at Armagh Beds.com, Northern Ireland’s premier bed website. You canalso  place your order and gain expert advice from our experienced team over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email. Or why not Visit in-store at Dalzells, located in Markethill, just off the A28 between Armagh and Newry and less than 50 minutes drive from Belfast.

 

 

Student Essentials

Now that the ‘A’ Level results are out and young people are preparing to head off to college and university it’s time to get them kitted out for their new ventures.  As a local family business, with a set of business values you’d like to expect but don’t always get nowadays, we know that every penny counts when getting our kids university ready. Yes, we’ve been there, done that, and bought the T-shirts!

At Dalzells we retail a great selection of bedding products, beds and mattresses that will see your ‘little darlings’ through their studies. From Pillows, Duvets, Mattress & Pillow Protectors through to the all essential Electric Blankets, to stave off those winter chills in student digs, rest assured we’ve got you covered! What’s more, with our ‘spend and save voucher’, you’ll even get something back to cushion the costs of getting them started in their studies.

Bedding Essentials

Duvets

Moving away from home can be challenging at the best of times,  but what better way to seek comfort than sinking into a fresh and cosy bed with a comfy duvet.  Duvets vary in their softness, level of warmth and weight allowing for seasonal adjustments and personal choice. Our great selection of Single Duvets and Double Duvets from Bedroom Couture will ensure that no matter how drafty the students digs are, your child will be warm and toasty.

Pillows

Whether your child’s preference is for a luxury memory pillow, like the King Koil Memory Fill, or your prefer a good value range such as the Bedroom Couture Polycotton twin pillow set, we’ve a style and range to suit everyone. Although many pillows are now fully washable, (yes we know, that may be asking too much of our little darlings!), it is advisable to replace them every two years. Pillows that have become lumpy or discoloured will no longer provide proper support and could contain high levels of dust mites and skin; a nuisance for allergy sufferers.  Designed to protect your pillow against soiling and general wear and tear, it’s worth remembering that good quality Pillow Protectors will also keep pillows fresher and cleaner for longer.

Mattress Protection

If your child is moving into student accommodation where there are existing beds and mattresses, it really is worth considering buying Mattress Protectors.  Enclosing the mattress similarly to a fitted sheet, mattress protectors are available in a range of fabric types. Our selection of 100% cotton mattress protectors are perfect for added bed freshness and ensuring a cool sleeping environment. For allergy sufferers, we also retail a huge array of anti-allergy, natural mattress protectors to keep the bed allergen-free, or prevent existing allergens from being present in older mattresses.

Electric Blankets

As the colder nights draw in it’s important that our kids are warm in their new student accommodation. At Armagh Beds.com we stock some of the leading Electric Blanket brands, with the added reassurance that they have undergone rigorous testing and conform to all relevant UK and European safety standards. So whether it’s a fitted under electric blanket or an over electric blanket we’ve a great range of products from leading brands such as Morphy Richards and Beurer.

Beds and Mattresses

We appreciate that the budget may not stretch to buying beds and mattresses but with a huge selection of cheap beds and mattresses in stock it might be more affordable than you think. Our expert staff are always happy to advise and as we only deal directly and in bulk with manufacturers we can achieve real savings which we pass directly to you. What’s more, we’re easy to talk to and willing to strike a deal! We also have Great Finance Deals, with up to 12 Months 0% Buy Now Pay Later. Ask in-store for full written details.

What to do next

In these uncertain times being able to trust a retailer is everything. Our being in business for more than 55 years and excellent reputation is the kind of reassurance you can feel comfortable about.  We are members of The Sleep Council, the consumer education arm of the National Bed Federation and are duty bound to raise awareness of a good night’s sleep, provide helpful advice on how to improve sleep quality and to help shoppers choose the right bedding products to meet their individual requirements.   Not only that, but we provide Free Delivery* and Free Collection and Recycling of Your Old Bed throughout Northern Ireland, and Counties Monaghan, Louth and Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. We’ll also unpack and place your New Mattress and/or New Bed in a room of your choosing and dispose of all the packaging. Call in-store or view our bedding collection online at Armaghbeds.com , email or telephone our expert staff on 028 3755 1260 and they’ll be only too happy to chat about your needs. We’re just a short drive from Lisburn and Belfast, positioned between Armagh and Newry and convenient to Dungannon, Cookstown and Omagh.

*Delivery throughout the rest of Ireland available at Highly Competitive Rates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is the Cold Keeping you Awake at Night?

How does the cold affect sleep?

With the snow still lying on the ground and the freezing temperatures set to continue it’s no wonder we’re all retreating to our bedrooms to snuggle up and keep warm. Research* has shown that, similar to animals, humans have their own kind of hibernation during the winter months with adults five times more likely to spend more time in bed during the winter months than summer.

If we get too cold at night, we get restless, our sleep patterns are interrupted and we lose out on our sleep. Essential to our health and well-being, sleep plays a significant role in brain development.  After just one night without sleep our concentration levels lessen considerably. For a restful night’s sleep our core temperature should only be half a degree less than during the day.  So what can we do to make sure we stay warm at night without overheating?

The Sleep Council has produced this really useful guide on keeping warm. Their simple and easy tips will ensure you avoid the chill at night but don’t overheat either.

 

Top tips on keeping warm 

  1. Wear night clothes such as pyjamas or a large T-shirt to keep you warm. Natural fibres such as wool, cotton or silk will keep you warmer than synthetic materials.
  2. Have a warm bath just before you go to bed. This will gently warm and relax you to help you feel sleepy.
  3. Have a warming, milky drink.
  4. Try to take some exercise which will get the circulation going to help keep the body warm – but don’t do vigorous exercise too close to bed time as you may feel too invigorated to sleep.
  5. Keep the bedroom warm, but not too hot, and free from draughts.
  6. Look for a mattress which has a “warm” side for use during the winter. A soft sleeping surface is a better insulator than a flat one. Use a fleecy underblanket to retain the heat.
  7. Choose a duvet with a high tog rating or use several layers of bedding rather than one single layer. Layers will trap warm air and are easily removed if you get too hot.
  8. A hot water bottle is an ideal way to keep warm once in bed. Make sure it has a cover on it to avoid scalding and also so that it won’t feel cold in the middle of the night.
  9. Electric blankets are ideal. Underblankets will warm the bed up before you retire for the night, while overblankets maintain a constant temperature throughout the night.

Choosing the right duvet

A duvet’s warmth is rated by its tog rating and can extend from a lightweight summer version of between 3.0 – 4.5 tog through to a warmer, cosier autumn or winter duvet with a tog rating of between 9 and 13.5. Seasonal duvets are increasingly popular as they can be quickly adjusted to the temperature dipping: this added flexibility is a hit with many in these cold winter months.

Maybe you or your partner struggle to keep warm with one or other taking control of the duvet – a duvet one size up may be the ideal solution to keeping you both cosy. The Bedroom Couture White Goose Feather & Down 5′ Duvet is a great choice. With its 85% White Goose Feather and 15% White Goose Down filling, this Luxurious Duvet provides Even Distribution for all over Warmth and Comfort.

For those that need an anti-allergy duvet, try the Bedroom Couture Microfibre 5′ Duvet. With its Microfibre Fabric Cover providing a Super Soft Feel and Superior Drape, this Ultrafine Spiral Hollow Fibre filled Duvet  is  available in a 13.5 Tog and is Non-Allergenic and Machine Washable for added convenience.

What to do next?

At Armagh Beds.com we retail an extensive collection of duvets in a range of sizes including Single Duvets, Double Duvets and King Size Duvets. With more than 55 years of  bedding expertise you can count on Dalzell’s to deliver! Located in Markethill on the main A28, just 45 miles from Belfast, we’re just a short drive away from Portadown and Lisburn. Of course you can always place your order online, over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email.  However you decide to shop with us you can be assured of Expert AdviceA Great Deal and Free Delivery of your Bedding, Bed or Mattress throughout N. Ireland and Counties Monaghan, Louth and Dublin City, with highly competitive rates available across the rest of the UK and Ireland.

*From the HiberNation survey of 1,000 adults, undertaken by the Better Sleep Council of America, published in autumn 1998.

Warm up to an Electric Blanket


Banish the Winter Chill

With a cold snap predicted, we’re all turning our minds to keeping warm at night. So what’s a cheap and safe way to keep your bed toasty?  A popular choice is an electric blanket to stave off that winter chill. With a range of under blankets, over blankets and duvets, electric blankets give you lots of choice in transforming your bed into a haven of warmth and comfort.

Types of Electric Blankets 

Heating the body from underneath, and adding extra warmth to your bedding,  under blankets fit to the bed like a normal elasticated fitted sheet.  A great choice is the Beurer Monogram Symphony Single Electric Blanket. Available with a Preheat Setting for Fast Heat Up, this Single Control Under Blanket is made from a Soft Polyester Material with a Tie Down Fitting to secure the blanket to the bed.

Or the Morphy Richards 75288 Dual Control King Size Heated Mattress Cover, with Ultra Thin Energy Efficient Nano Wires, this model is very economical to run. Made from an Extra Thick Luxury Fleece Fabric, and designed to fit the mattress like a fitted sheet, this under blanket provides you with Extra Heat at the Foot of the Bed to keep your feet warm and cosy on those cold winter nights.

Convenient and easy to use, an over electric blanket warms you and your bed from the top. Many designs are now available with heat sensitive technology, adjusting to the temperature of the body and room while you sleep. The Overblanket can either be placed on top of the bed or inserted into a duvet cover.

Energy Efficiency

Worried about the cost? There’s no need. With many electric blankets costing as little as 2 pence per night to run, their energy efficiency means savings on your heating bills as well.

Machine washable and tumble dry safe, and available in a range of sizes from single through to kingsize, once you’ve tried an electric blanket, you’ll never turn back!

What to do now?

At Armagh Beds.com we stock some of the leading Electric Blanket brands including Morphy Richards and Beurer, with the added reassurance that they have undergone rigorous testing and conform to all relevant UK and European safety standards. Conveniently located on the A28 between Armagh and Newry, you can Visit Us In-Store. We’re a short 20 minute drive from Portadown or Dungannon and 45 minutes from Belfast down the M1. You can of course always place your order and gain expert advice from our experienced team over the phone on 028 3755 1260 or even by Email. However you decide to shop with us you can be assured of Expert AdviceA Great Deal and Free Delivery of your Bed or Mattress throughout N. Ireland and Counties Monaghan, Louth and Dublin City, with highly competitive rates available across the rest of the UK and Ireland.