Your Recently Viewed Items Become a member to receive gifts, offers, previews & invitationsGetting that elusive good night’s sleep isn’t as difficult as one would imagine. Unlock the secrets to finding the right bedding, pillows and mattresses for that sound sleep you’ve been dreaming of. Think of the most comfortable bed you’ve ever been in, and what immediately springs to mind? Stretching out on soft, luxurious sheets, sinking into lush pillows, and snuggling up under a warm, enveloping blanket perhaps? For most people, these memories are usually set in an extraordinarily lux hotel room, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend copious amount of dollars on 5-star hotels just to get that elusive good night’s sleep. The trick is simply unlocking the secrets to putting together a comfortable and snug bed – and lucky for you, we’ve got a few tricks hidden up our sleeves. From fitting your bed with the right sheets, to picking out the right pillows – not to mention the perfect mattress to suit your sleeping style, here are some hidden secrets to a sound sleep.
Fitting the right bedding When it comes to shopping for bed sheets, there’s always more to look out for than how pretty the prints are – though that certainly counts for something as well. Of course, one feature that most people flock to is thread count, but do higher thread counts really mean more comfortable beds? Well, the answer is: yes and no. High thread counts indicate denser weaves of the material, which means thicker and stronger sheets. But all that means nothing if your thread material is of a stiff, generic quality that brings you more scratchy discomfort than anything else. When it comes to choosing your bedding material, cotton is king. Don’t be fooled by “100% Cotton” labels though; it’s 100% Egyptian cotton or 100% pima cotton (marketed as Supima) that you should be looking out for. While both Egyptian and pima cotton make for soft, sumptuous sets of sheets, offering you that oft-desired sleeping-on-a-bed-of-feathers sensation, Egyptian cotton is a whole lot stronger, promising to last a longer time than its countertypes.
Then there’s the weave of sheets to consider, which creates the feel and finish of the fabric. Your best bets are in percale weaves, which offer a lightweight feel and smooth-textured finish, or in sateen, a fabric woven with more fibres, providing you with a lustrous texture similar to satin. Foam, feather or flat? Having to give up that shapeless pillow you’ve tugged around since your childhood days for a strange new variety can be a rather tough choice to make. But know that choosing the right pillow for your bed also means you’re making the choice between restful nights and mornings of possible neck aches. It becomes less of a dilemma when you know what exactly to look out for when selecting your next pillow. First off, choose the right filling. For a warm, embracing feel, opt for goose down or feather fillings, which are luxurious and soft, and mould easily into the shape of your head and neck. Foam fill pillows also mould into the shape of your head, but where down pillows may lie flat after a while, foam pillows remain firm and dense through the night for optimum support.
Even better if you can get your hands on memory foam pillows, which, as its name suggests, remembers the shape of your head and is malleable enough to conform to your head position even as you roll around at night, making it great for restless sleepers. Next, take note of your favourite sleeping positions, as they do play a part in your pillow choices. Stomach sleepers should choose softer pillows, which help align your head and neck with your spine; back sleepers might consider medium pillows, which can support your head above the mattress; while side sleepers need firm pillows, as greater support is needed to fill the gap between the head and neck. Choosing the perfect mattress You might have heard that when it comes to mattresses, the firmer it is the better. But that might not necessarily be the case for each and every individual. Fact is, everyone is unique and could do with different mattresses that address their individual needs. Some factors to consider when selecting the perfect mattress include one’s weight, sleeping patterns, and personal preferences, just to name a few.
For instance, if you suffer from sore muscles and stiffness, memory foam or latex mattresses would do your muscles some good. Or if allergies often disrupt your sleep, you may want to look for a hypoallergenic mattress to ease you into a sound sleep that lasts through the night. Of course, your sleeping patterns play a large part in your mattress decision as well. Are you a sprawl-out back sleeper, a dozy front sleeper or a curl-up side sleeper? What about your personal preferences? Do you prefer a plush feel or a firm bed? Certainly, choosing the right mattress that may very well dictate your nights for the next decade or so is no mean feat. To ease your mattress troubles, try out Robinsons’ Choose & Snooze, an online Bedshop Concierge that gets to the bottom of your sleeping needs and recommends the best mattress for you. Also, you can register for nap trials and a personalised service to get that sound sleep you’ve been dreaming of for as long as you can remember. The following list is awards won by PASAYA.
Linen Sheets: The Best Nights Sleep On the recommendation of one of our readers, I decided to petition Santa Claus for a pair of linen sheets. He came through, and ever since, sleep has never been so deep or sweet. For all you who have written it off as too scratchy or stiff, reconsider! Although I love the look of linen in almost any form, I was a bit skeptical of committing to sleep in it, thinking that it would be too rough long term. However, with a few months of sweet sleep under my belt— and this coming from someone with a baby who still doesn't sleep through the night— I'm a convert. The weightiness and softness is luxurious but not stuffy or stifling. And better yet, it's the first type of bedding that is equally pleasing to both my husband— basically a warm blooded space-heater— and me— someone who is always freezing. There are countless sources for fabulous linen sheets, and now that I've fallen love, I may be checking out more options in the near future, especially Tricia Rose's Rough Linen which has won the praise of countless Apartment Therapy readers.