(Image credit: Maxwell Ryan) Bed: Saatva Luxury Firm Mattress My Year In Bed (YIB) continues this year as I retested this Saatva on a proper foundation. The previous test had been with the mattress directly on the slatted frame of the bed, and it was fascinating how such a thick thing could feel so odd and squishy without true support surface - very princess and the pea. This time I was very pleased with the results and found that Saatva really met their claims on delivering an excellent mattress at a much lower price than similar beds. This is a very good solution that gives you real coils and organic cotton while removing all the dizzying decisions that usually accompany the category. (Image credit: Maxwell Ryan) Saatva is a very new company that is disrupting the mattress business by cutting out the middleman and selling direct to consumer online. This means that you may not have heard of them, but that's okay, they make their mattresses in factories that have been making them a long time and they know what they're doing: they're carefully cutting out the things they think you don't need and doubling down on those that they think you do;
getting it to you at at least half of what someone else might charge for it. This is a great bed if you're stepping up from a starter bed and looking at the mid-tier for more quality. I slept really well. I tested the Luxury Firm, which is a popular choice (Americans love firm mattresses) and Saatva's middle choice ("not too firm and not too soft"), I found the sleep a little firm for me (I'd go softer next time), but it had a nice soft layer on top that made it cozy. If you are a side sleeper, you would want to choose their Plush Soft version to give yourself more depth and give. There was a ton of support and the mattress was responsive, but consistent from side to side - no dips or "valleys" occurred in the middle at all. While I have a slatted bed frame, the mattress sat on a solid thin foundation, which really was required to insure a good night's sleep. Saatva has thrown a lot of material into their mattress to make a "luxury" mattress at a lower price, and they've done a good job.
The construction is not unlike regular mattresses, but they've just been a lot more generous with the materials. The core is made up of individually wrapped coils on top of a "a tempered steel support lower coil base." I prefer a coil construction. It tends to sleep better, cooler and longer. Around this there is a lot of foam and some memory foam to create a thick topper, which is finally wrapped in organic cotton. I detected no off-gassing at all. The mattress is quite thick and heavy (note: you won't move this by yourself!). Where Saatva really excels is on price, and they do a good job of getting this claim out front. For the money you are definitely getting a lot of mattress and you really would have to spend a lot more to beat this offering. Most mattresses under $1,000 are not half as good, and those that cost twice as much are just as good.If you suffer from neck or shoulder pain, or you just can’t get comfortable in bed, it could well be down to your pillow. But finding the ideal balance of softness and support in a new pillow isn’t easy, with contributory factors including whether you’re a side, front or back sleeper, as well as your body shape and size.
It’s also down to personal preference. Remember that even the best pillows won’t last you longer than a few years, eventually failing to give you the support you need, as well as potentially becoming unhygienic. If your pillow is discoloured or you regularly wake up with neck ache or a blocked nose, it’s almost certainly time to go pillow shopping. According to the Sleep Council, a good pillow should hold your head in the correct alignment – that is, in the same relation to your shoulders and spine as if you were standing upright with the correct posture – and be tucked well into the neck and shoulder to support your head fully. Side sleepers, remember you’ll need more support and possibly even two pillows, while front and back sleepers may benefit from one soft pillow that’s on the thinner side. Ideally, try before you buy. 1. Debenhams Feels Like Down: £45, Amazon The cloud-like, bouncy filling here is almost (but not quite) indistinguishable from those made with far more expensive down.
With 280 thread count cotton covers (good sheets range from 200-800) the outside feels as luxurious as the filling, and they’re sold as a pair, meaning you won’t have to argue over them. 2. John Lewis Canadian Goose Down Pillow: £150, John Lewis We defy anyone to find a softer, more sumptuous pillow than this. Yes, it costs a bomb, but everything about it – including its shape, stitching and springiness – spells quality and its comfort reaches a whole new scale, as well as being available in soft to medium or medium to firm. It comes with a five-year guarantee. 3. Tempur Cloud Pillow: £85, John Lewis Memory foam pillows are the marmite of the pillow world, but if you are a fan, this high-quality, hypoallergenic pillow knocks the socks off most memory-foam equivalents in terms of comfort and durability. Exceptionally malleable, without compromising on support, it also responds to body temperature and the natural curvature of the neck and head. 4. Tielle Rosewood Goose Feather and Down Pillow: from £80, Tielle
Containing 70 per cent goose feather and 30 per cent goose down, this pillow feels soft and mouldable, but with decent firmness for neck and head support. In fact, we think this plush pillow is the perfect height for sending you straight to the land of nod, and it keeps its shape well too. 5. Lidl Microfibre Pillow: £4, Lidl Budget pillows are prone to lumps and static electricity and they often lack bounce. So at under a fiver, we weren’t too hopeful about Lidl’s microfibre offering. Yet it is soft, smooth to the touch and generously stuffed. The only downside is it probably won’t last you more than a year and you’ll need two if you like extra support. 6. The White Company Soft and Light Breathable Pillow: from £35, The White Company Bedding products from the White Company are among the best at making you feel instantly sleepy and this pillow is no exception. It’s plump, springy and soft, with lots of airflow to avoid a sweaty head, even in summer. Good for those who like a bit of bulk to their pillow, and great value for a manmade piece.
7. The Good Sleep Expert Slim Pillow: £20, Amazon Sleep expert and physiotherapist Sammy Margo launched this pillow range specifically to suit different sleeping positions and body sizes. We think her slimline option is great for front and back sleepers who get neck ache from plumper pillows, as well as younger kids or anyone on the smaller, lighter side. It’s also good as a topper if you find your existing pillow not quite elevated enough. 8. Marks & Spencer Reversible Pillow: £35, Marks & Spencer Great for couples who have different preferences of firmness for their pillows – and manage to regularly muddle them up in bed – this unique pillow has one side made of firm memory foam and the other from squashy microfibre. It’s on the thick side, but very comfy. 9. Soak and Sleep Hungarian Goose Down Pillow: £58, Soak & Sleep Sumptuous and squishy Hungarian goose down pillows don’t come cheap, but this one is much better value than most and if you like the marshmallow feeling, it’s well worth the investment.
Choose from soft medium (best for front and back sleepers) or medium firm option (for side sleepers). Even the piping is swish. 10. Sound Asleep Pillow: £11, Amazon You plug your mobile device into this high-tech pillow and hey presto, music plays from deep inside. It’s not the most supportive or luxurious of pillows, and you’ll need to be sure to choose restful melodies if you’re using it to help you nod off, but it’s certainly more than a mere gimmick and will particularly appeal to teenagers. 11. Dunlopillo Latex Serenity Pillow: £55, John Lewis Neck and back pain sufferers, rejoice. This orthopaedic pillow is a bit like memory foam, but without the yield or smell, and offers excellent support. Many side sleepers love it too, although it’s heavy and pretty solid so be sure to test it out first if possible. 12. DreamGenii Maternity Support Pillow: £35, Amazon Pregnant women rave about this pillow. It’s soft yet supportive, big yet versatile, and could be the difference between a good night’s sleep and no sleep at all.
In short, it provides support for your bump when lying on your side, as well as some relief for hip pain, and it stops you rolling over. 13. The Fine Bedding Company Boutique Silk Pillow: £30, Amazon Made from 10 per cent silk and 90 per cent microfibre, this indulgent pillow is the crème de la crème of The Fine Bedding Company’s synthetic bedding. We found it very supportive, retaining its shape even after washing, and particularly good for people with allergies. 14. Hypnos Wool Pillow: £60, Lombok Wool pillows are a godsend for allergy sufferers. They’re also supremely comfortable. You can personalise this one to your preferred level of comfort by adding or removing wool. We found it remains cool throughout the night – a joy for anyone who gets hot while sleeping. The cover is washable. 15. Beaumont & Brown Duck Down Pillow: £69, Beaumont & Brown With its piped edging, 230 thread count cover and soft filling, everything about this soft duck down pillow spells luxury.