Why our sleep experts loved it
The Sealy Divan Base on Glides is textbook divan, which is to say it’s a stout timber frame encased in sensible upholstery, with the option to add as much underbed storage as your room dimensions will reasonably allow. I have tested and handled this in store with various Sealy mattresses on top, and as divan bases go it feels reassuringly solid and well put together for the price. It is not a design statement in its own right, but as a reliable base to partner a Sealy mattress, it does a good job.
Offered in a range of sizes from single through to super king, with a choice of drawers or a full front ottoman, this is very much a functional piece of furniture. If you are already shopping Sealy at Bensons, this base is the natural partner, especially when you can avail yourself of package deals that reduce the overall cost.
Design & build
Under the fabric, this is a simple but sturdy timber frame. The sides feel firm to the touch, with no obvious flex when you push or sit on the edge, which is exactly what you want from a platform-top divan. It is one of the more solid-feeling bases I have come across at this price point, and it feels a step up from the very budget divans where the corners can feel a little hollow.
The base is upholstered in a contemporary woven fabric, offered in two neutral tones. On the current specification these are described as Carbon and Mink, essentially a dark grey and a softer beige. Older descriptions reference Sand and Slate, but in reality the palette is very much the same, a choice of warm neutral or cooler grey that will sit quietly behind most bedding schemes. The fabric itself looks practical rather than plush, with a fine weave that should stand up to everyday use without snagging easily.
Silver coloured glides take the place of old fashioned castors. Visually they give the base a slightly more modern look, and they sit low enough that the bed reads as one solid block rather than a frame on tall legs. The overall aesthetic is clean and understated. If you want more of a focal point, Sealy and Bensons offer matching upholstered headboards, although once you add a large headboard in a bigger size the price can climb quite quickly.
The base is made in the UK and comes with a 5 year guarantee. That, combined with the solid feel of the frame, does give some confidence that it is built as a long term piece rather than a stopgap.
Assembly & setup
Like most divan bases, this one arrives in sections. On a single you are likely to receive one piece, while double and upwards usually arrive in two halves that are joined together in situ. In practice, the assembly is straightforward: position the sections, clip them together using the metal links provided, then fit the glides into the pre drilled sockets on the underside of the base.
The glides are typically a push or screw fit, so once they are on the base feels planted and does not roll around as castors can. For most people, the bulk of the work will be done by the delivery team, especially as Bensons offer delivery to a room of your choice. Once the mattress is in place, adding a headboard is simply a case of lining up the bolts with the pre installed fixing points on the base.
If you go for the ottoman version, it is heavier and a little more involved. However the lifting mechanism is pre fitted, so you are not wrestling with gas struts from scratch. Once assembled, the action should feel controlled, particularly with a standard Sealy mattress on top.
Comfort & practicality
With a divan base the comfort story is really about support rather than softness. This Sealy base is a platform top, so it gives a flat, firm foundation for your mattress. On the shop floor, swapping mattresses between this base and a more flexible sprung base, the Sealy divan made mattresses feel a touch firmer and more supported, particularly around the edges. If you dislike that sensation of dipping or rolling towards the middle, a solid timber divan like this helps keep everything feeling stable.
Edge sitting feels secure, with none of the wobble you sometimes get on lightweight metal frames. When you perch to tie shoes or sit to read, the base does not creak or shift. That sturdiness is one of its main strengths and is exactly what you want when you are investing in a good quality mattress and do not want the base to undermine it.
In day to day use the glides work well on both carpet and hard floors. The bed stays put as you move around in the night, yet with a deliberate push you can still shimmy it out to hoover or get behind it. That is a small detail, but it makes living with it easier.
Storage options
One of the big reasons to choose this divan is the flexibility around storage. You can opt for a simple non drawer base if you prefer a cleaner look, or you can add:
2 drawers: usually one on each side at the foot end, ideal for bedding, towels or seasonal clothes. This is a good option if you have bedside tables near the head end that would otherwise block a drawer.
4 drawers: two on each side for maximum capacity. This works best in larger rooms where you have space either side of the bed to open drawers fully.
2 + 2 drawers: two full size drawers at the foot, plus two shorter drawers at the head. Those shorter drawers are handy when you have bedside tables or radiators close by, because they stop short of the obstruction while still providing useful storage.
Full front ottoman: instead of side drawers you get a lift up base with storage running the full footprint of the bed. This is the most generous storage option and is particularly good for bulky items like spare duvets, pillows and out of season bedding.
On inspection in store, the drawers ran smoothly and closed flush with the base. They are not luxury soft close drawers, but they feel robust enough for regular use. As always with divans, clearance is something to think about. You need space either side of the bed to pull drawers out fully, so in very tight rooms the ottoman option can be the more practical choice because it lifts vertically from the foot or side rather than sliding out into the room.
Everyday use
Living with this base day to day, what stands out is how reassuringly solid it feels. It is not glamorous close up, but the corners are tidy, the upholstery is neatly finished and the frame does not protest when the bed is moved or sat on heavily. Compared with some cheaper divans I have criticised in the past, there is less creaking and less sense of the frame flexing under load.
The limited colour choice is worth noting. While the available shades are sensible and popular, if you are looking for bold colour or on trend velvets you will not find them here. That said, the neutrality makes it very easy to pair with patterned bedding, cushions and more expressive headboards without the base fighting the scheme.
The glides are a practical touch on both wooden floors and carpets, helping the base stay put without the annoying rolling you sometimes get with castors. Optional headboards are widely available in the Sealy range, but the cost of a large upholstered headboard can add up quickly, particularly in king and super king sizes. In store I found there was some room to discuss package pricing, so it is worth talking to the sales team if you are buying mattress, base and headboard together.
At the time of looking, prices for the Sealy Divan Base on Glides started at around the high two hundreds for a basic single, with larger sizes and extra storage adding to the cost. It sits comfortably in the mid range bracket: not the cheapest option on the floor, but not in luxury territory either.
Who it will suit
This base is a good fit if:
You want a solid, no nonsense divan to partner a Sealy mattress, and you like the idea of buying everything in one place with a clear 5 year guarantee. It suits bedrooms where extra storage is valuable, whether that is a couple of discreet drawers or a full ottoman. If you prefer a firmer, more supportive feel under your mattress rather than the bounce of a sprung edge base, this platform top design works well.
It is also a sensible choice if you have a mix of hard flooring and carpet in your home. The glides help the bed stay put in normal use, but they are not so sticky that you cannot move the bed when you need to.
Who it will not suit
This is probably not the right choice if you are looking for a bed that makes a strong style statement on its own. The design is intentionally quiet and functional, so if you want bold colours, detailed upholstery or visible legs, a fabric bed frame or wooden frame may suit you better.
It also will not appeal if you need a very low cost base and are willing to compromise on build quality to get there, because there are cheaper generic divans on the market. Equally, if you dislike the look of a solid block all the way to the floor and prefer the airiness of a frame with space underneath, this style of divan is unlikely to win you over.
Final verdict
The Sealy Divan Base on Glides is exactly what a branded divan base should be: strong, stable and sensibly specified, without trying to be more than it is. The timber frame feels robust, the storage options are practical and the neutral fabrics will work in almost any bedroom. It is better built than some of the cheaper divans I have come across, and the 5 year guarantee plus UK manufacture are reassuring touches.
The trade off is that the colour choice is limited and the overall look is quite plain, and once you add extra drawers, an ottoman mechanism and a matching headboard, the total price can climb quite quickly. For many people though, particularly anyone already committing to a Sealy mattress from Bensons, this base is a sensible and dependable choice that will quietly get on with its job for years without drawing attention to itself, which is exactly what a good divan base should do.
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