Could This Be The Secret To A Better Night’s Sleep?
Your sleep deserves better
By Kiri Johnston | 27th October 2026You’ve invested in your skincare, booked the reformer class, and found a barista who perfects your morning coffee, but how much thought have you given the bed you wake up in?
We spend time choosing the linen, the cushions, and the bedside lighting. The mattress underneath? Often, it stays put long after we’ve stopped finding it comfortable. It’s a purchase worth taking your time over, preferably with your shoes off and no plans to rush.Brisbane locals now have somewhere to do exactly that. Swedish bedmaker Hästens has opened a permanent showroom inside Great Dane in Fortitude Valley, inviting visitors to explore its handcrafted beds firsthand.
You might recognise the signature blue check, or perhaps you’ve seen the Grand Vividus bed in Drake’s Toronto home. Even when your days involve selling out stadiums, there’s something appealing about calling it a night. Designed with Ferris Rafauli, it’s an extravagant example of what the bedmaker is known for: craftsmanship, natural materials, and a serious approach to sleep.
Beneath the blue check
Hästens has been making beds in Sweden since 1852, with six generations of the same family involved in the business. Each bed is made by hand, with natural materials including horsehair, wool, flax, and cotton layered around a system of springs.
Those materials are part of what gives a Hästens bed its feel. Horsehair is used throughout the mattress, while layers of wool and cotton add cushioning. Beneath them, the springs respond to the body and help absorb movement. The construction varies across the range, so a bed that feels right for one person may not be the one someone else chooses.
It’s also where the showroom comes in. Rather than choosing from a description online, you can compare different beds in person and notice how each one feels when you’re lying on your back or side.
From Sweden to Fortitude Valley
For Great Dane founder Anton Assaad, a visit to the Hästens factory in Sweden offered a closer look at the work behind the beds. “The passion of the makers completely changed the way we understood what they do,” he says.
Now, the Fortitude Valley showroom gives Queenslanders a chance to explore that craftsmanship for themselves. Visitors can learn about the materials and construction, ask questions about the range, and take their time finding a level of support and comfort that suits them.
A Hästens bed is a substantial investment, and Assaad believes it’s worth thinking about how much time we spend using it. Given we spend around a third of our lives in bed, he suggests giving more thought to what we sleep on.It also puts a very personal purchase back where it belongs: in person. You can read about layers, springs, and natural fibres all day, but at some point, you need to take your shoes off and lie down.
Take it lying down
If you’re curious, give yourself longer than a quick sit on the edge. Take your shoes off, stretch out, turn onto your side, and compare a few options. Ask about the differences in construction, available sizes, and pricing, too.
The Hästens showroom at Great Dane is now open at 2 Prospect Street, Fortitude Valley. Visit for a browse or enquire about a private consultation to explore the range.
Your next interiors investment might be the one you spend the most time enjoying.
