John Ryan By Design

11/07/2026

Summer is when a lot of our customers are furnishing a spare room, a student let, or a smaller second bedroom, and the question we get asked most often at this time of year is whether a small double is actually big enough for an adult to sleep on comfortably. It is a fair question, and the honest answer depends on who is using the room and how often.

For comparison, our Artisan Naturals is £2,180 in king size, which shows the range available once you move up from a small double into something more substantial for a main bedroom.

A few things worth thinking through before you buy for a spare or second room:

📐 A small double suits a single adult sleeper well, but two adults sharing regularly will usually find it tight for long term comfort

🎓 For a student room or occasional guest use, a small double is often the sensible, space efficient choice

🛋️ If the room could eventually become a main bedroom, it is worth measuring for a full double or king size now rather than buying twice

🧹 Consider how the mattress will be used day to day too. A firmer feel tends to suit multi purpose rooms doubling as a study or sitting space

We have written an honest guide covering exactly who a small double suits and who should stretch to something larger.

Is a small double mattress right for you? Discover the ideal mattress size for your space, comfort, and sleep quality with John Ryan By Design’s expert guide.

08/07/2026

Waking up overheated in the middle of the night is one of the most common problems we hear about once the weather turns warm, and it is almost always down to what the mattress is made from rather than how thin your duvet is. Foam traps heat close to the body all night. Wool and Cotton allow air to move through and moisture to escape, which is why a natural fibre mattress sleeps noticeably cooler.

Our Origins Natural Comfort is £1,300 in king size and is one of the mattresses we recommend most often to customers who have struggled through summer nights on a foam mattress.

Here is what actually causes overheating, and what helps:

🔥 Foam mattresses retain body heat because the dense structure does not allow air to circulate underneath you

💧 Wool naturally wicks moisture away from the skin, which is why it has been used in bedding for centuries, long before synthetic fillings existed

🌬️ A breathable Cotton cover on top of natural fillings lets heat escape rather than building up through the night

🧊 Layering matters too. A lighter tog duvet paired with a cooler mattress will solve the problem far more effectively than the duvet alone

We have gone into the full explanation, along with practical fixes, in our guide below.

https://buff.ly/6tPf168

Overheating at night? Discover why your mattress feels too hot and how natural fibre mattresses from John Ryan By Design can keep you cool and comfortable.

07/07/2026

A tired mattress does not always need replacing. Before you commit to anything new, it is worth checking whether the base mattress itself is still doing its job properly. If it is, a topper is often all it takes to bring the comfort back for spring, without the cost or hassle of a full replacement.

Our Hotel Quality Dual Layer Topper is £145 in king size and sits directly on top of any supportive mattress to restore that fresh, springy feel. It works particularly well on a mattress that has simply lost its surface comfort but still has good support underneath.

For reference, our Origins 1500 mattress is £1,050 in king size, and pairing a sound base like this with a good topper will comfortably outlast a cheap replacement mattress bought on impulse.

A quick spring check before you decide what your bedroom actually needs:

🛏️ Press firmly on the mattress surface. If it springs back within a few seconds, the base is sound and a topper will likely solve the comfort issue

📏 Check for visible dips or body impressions over 2.5cm deep. This suggests the base itself has broken down and a topper alone will not fix it

🌡️ Think about how you have been sleeping through winter. If you have been waking stiff or achy, the fix may be firmness rather than softness

🧵 Choose a topper by material. Mulberry Silk suits those who run warm, while a Hotel Quality Dual Layer works well for most sleepers wanting a general refresh

We have written a full guide on choosing the right topper for your budget and sleeping position, covering every option in detail.

https://buff.ly/K5lMe5T

Not all mattress toppers are created equal! We explain how to pick the best mattress topper to improve your sleep and suit your bed type.

10/05/2026

Most people have never considered that how they sleep matters just as much as what they sleep on. 😴 If you’ve been waking up stiff, restless, or just not quite right, the answer could be simpler than you think. It might not be stress, it might just be your bed. 🛏️
Whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper, or someone who ends up in every position by morning, the wrong mattress tension can cause real problems over time. 😭💤👎

We’ve put together a full guide covering exactly what to look for based on your sleeping position, so you can stop guessing and actually wake up feeling rested. ✨

Read the full guide: https://johnryanbydesign.co.uk/understanding-beds/best-mattress-for-each-sleeping-position/

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Regardless of how you sleep, a mattress which doesn't suit your sleeping position is likely to cause problems. Discover the best mattress for your position.

06/05/2026

Simba is everywhere. The ads are on the telly, the discount codes are in every podcast, and the reviews look impressive. But strip away the marketing budget and what are you actually buying? 🔍

Our honest 2026 review gets into the detail.

Read the full review: https://johnryanbydesign.co.uk/understanding-beds/are-simba-mattresses-any-good-an-honest-2026-review/

Simba is the UK's most recognised mattress brand but there is a lot buyers should know before spending up to £1,299. Our honest review covers construction, the CMA pricing investigation, one-sided limitations, and handmade alternatives at every price point.

25/04/2026

Flaxby mattresses are an investment. But are you paying for genuinely superior materials and construction, or for the brand name on the label? 🤔

We've gone through the spec in detail, so you don't have to take the marketing at face value.

Read the full review: https://buff.ly/8vbq9ge

We explain who makes Flaxby mattresses, what the range actually contains, the documented pillow top problems, and what comparable alternatives look like at the same price.

24/04/2026

You've stayed in a Travelodge and slept surprisingly well. So what exactly is that mattress, and can you actually buy something similar for home? 🛏️

We've investigated the spec, the supplier, and whether the alternatives on the market are worth your money instead.

Read the full guide: https://buff.ly/jTxEg6z

We explain exactly what mattress Travelodge uses, who makes it, what it actually contains, why it feels different at home, and which alternatives may offer better value.

18/04/2026

Struggling to sleep with a bad back? 🤒 💤 🛌 One of our customers explains why the right spring tension and upholstery layers in their new John Ryan mattress has fixed years of awkward uncomfortable sleep!

Our small expert team of bed geeks are waiting to help create your own customised sleep solution. No more tossing and turning! 🥰🙌

So what’s stopping you from upgrading your sleep?

08/04/2026

Are you a hot sleeper? 🥵🔥😳

Thought it was just you? What if we told you it’s actually your mattress and bedding that are contributing to your nocturnal heatwaves?!

If you’re sleeping on synthetic fibres, memory foam or other heat trapping materials, the chances are you’ve been lying there at 2am wondering why you feel like you’re slowly being roasted 😅. Memory foam in particular works by absorbing your body heat to mould around you, which sounds great in theory, but in practice it means you’re essentially sleeping on a giant heat sponge. Not ideal. 🙅

That’s where natural fibre mattresses and bedding come in. Materials like Wool, Cotton, Horsehair and natural Latex are breathable by nature, meaning they actively wick moisture away and allow air to circulate rather than trapping heat around your body.

Wool in particular is remarkable for this, keeping you warm in winter and genuinely cool in summer because it responds to your body temperature rather than fighting against it. 🌿

We’ve been making natural fibre mattresses here in Manchester for over 25 years, and the number of customers who come to us after years of overheating on a foam or synthetic mattress is honestly staggering. The difference they notice? Real, restorative sleep. Not just cooler, but deeper and more comfortable too. 💤😴

If you’re waking up hot, kicking off the covers at 3am or just never feeling fully rested, your mattress might be working against you. It’s worth a conversation. Drop us a message or give us a call and we’ll point you in the right direction. 👇