A made-to-order bed does not exist on the day you choose it. That is the whole point of it, and it is also why December catches people out.
Most people only ask about lead times once they have fallen for a bed. By then, the date they had in mind is often tighter than they think. Here is how the weeks work, and how to plan around them.
Why it takes weeks, not days
A bed from a warehouse is already built. It waits on a shelf until someone buys it. On our delivery page that kind of bed typically arrives in one to two weeks.
A made-to-order bed starts after you order. Your size, your tension and your fabric are set first, and only then does the work begin. For made-to-order and bespoke beds, we quote six to eight weeks.
Much of that time is hand work you will never see:
- Hand side-stitching. Rows of stitches pull the springs and the edge into one firm wall. Our Westend Deluxe carries four rows and the Westend Supreme five. We explain why it matters in our guide to hand side-stitching.
- Natural fillings laid by hand. Horsehair, lambswool, cotton and silk are hand teased and layered, not glued in as a sheet.
- Hours at the bench. A Marshall & Stewart bed takes between 40 and 160 hours to make, depending on the model.
Hypnos works the same way. The company has made beds by hand in the UK since 1904, and still makes every bed to order. Tréca Paris has made beds by hand in Alsace since 1935.
If the bed is for Christmas, the dates matter more than the deals.
Ordering for Christmas
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, and our deliveries run Monday to Friday. Six to eight weeks of hand work means the order has to be in well before December.
This year, the last day to order for delivery before Christmas is Saturday 31 October.
If you miss it, a bed from stock or an ex-display bed may still be possible, because neither has to be made. Call us before you choose and we will tell you plainly what can arrive in time. We would rather say so now than promise a date we cannot keep.
Check the access before you order
A beautiful bed that cannot get up the stairs is a problem nobody wants on 23 December. London homes have narrow hallways, tight turns on the stairs and lifts built for people, not mattresses.
If your access is restricted, we recommend an access check before you order. It costs you a short conversation and saves a failed delivery. Measure the narrowest doorway, the tightest turn on the stairs and the inside of any lift, and bring the numbers with you.
If the bed runs late, or you are not ready for it
Hand work does not always keep to a calendar, and we would rather say so now. You buy from Westend Bed Company, not from the maker, so we look after you either way:
- A loan bed. If your bed is delayed, we will always do our best to help, which can include a loan bed, subject to availability.
- Free storage. If the bed is ready before you are, we store it free for up to three months. That helps if you are decorating, moving or away over the holidays.
On the day, our own team carries the bed to the room, assembles it fully and takes all the packaging away. They call about 30 minutes before they arrive. If you want your old bed or mattress taken away, arrange it when you book the delivery.
Three things to do this week
- Decide how firm you want it, in person. Feel matters more than the label, and it is the decision that holds everything else up.
- Measure your access. Doorways, stair turns, lifts.
- Ask for a date before you fall in love. It changes which beds are realistic.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a made-to-order bed take?
At Westend Bed Company, made-to-order and bespoke beds usually take six to eight weeks. Beds from stock typically arrive in one to two weeks.
Can I still get a bed delivered before Christmas?
This year, the last day to order for delivery before Christmas is Saturday 31 October. After that, a bed from stock or an ex-display bed may still be possible. Call 020 7723 2925 and we will tell you what is realistic.
What happens if my bed is delayed?
We will always do our best to help, which can include a loan bed, subject to availability. If you are not ready to receive a finished bed, we can store it free for up to three months.
Ordering for a date? Call us on 020 7723 2925 to check a delivery date before you choose, or get in touch.
Our showroom is at 215 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, SW14 8QT, open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm.