Hang string lights above your bed to add a little magic. Hanging the lights behind a sheet or thin curtain helps make your room feel less like a Christmas display and more like a FaiRy WoNDeRLanD. You can use normal tree lights or get these delicate ones at Urban Outfitters. Dress your bed in a giant sweater with a cable-knit blanket. Knit your own blanket if you’re looking for a project; if not, you could buy this throw (or this cheaper Ikea version), order a handmade one on Etsy (for example here, here, or here), or check out these cool chunky wool options. Get a real down comforter. It’s just one of those things that makes more a difference than you think it will. Sleeping under a beautiful weightless cloud of bird-warmth feels so much better than wrapping yourself in, like, endless layers of swampy padding made out of recycled plastic bottles. Good Housekeeping has recommendations for the very best in feathers. That said, if you’re allergic to down (or how much it costs), there are still plenty of feather-free and budget-friendly alternatives that will give you the BIG, FLUFFY FEELING you’re looking for.
Skip the top sheet and just put a nice washable duvet cover on your comforter. Europeans know this, and so should you: Sleeping top-sheetless feels LUXURIOUS AS HECK. It also means making the bed is basically zero work, and you’ll never again wake up with a dumb, useless piece of fabric tangled around your legs. Look for an easy-to-wash duvet cover made of soft, natural fiber (flannel, cotton, linen, etc). Throw down an extra fuzzy bedside rug to make things easier for your feet in the morning. When it comes to rugs, you can NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. You can get this white sheepskin at Ikea. A plushy faux-fur throw on top of the covers will add Hollywood glam to your all-day Netflix sessions. Check out Apartment Therapy’s list of throws to make your own. Learn how to tuck in your covers neatly. It seems like a small thing, but the nicer your bed looks, the happier you’ll be to get into it. Check out this quick tutorial video on folding sheets with a tidy “hospital corner.”
Make your bed every (!) day (!). It doesn’t have to be perfect, but see above re: nice beds and wanting to get into them. You’ll feel like you’re in a hotel, but the hotel is free, and you’re the only guest! If you’re not feeling motivated, you can reward yourself with an Andes mint every time you make the bed. When in doubt, add pillows. Don’t go CRAZY here, but at least two pillows per side is a minimum for baseline coziness. And anything beyond that will increase your cozy factor significantly, especially if you use pillows with a bunch of different shapes and cover textures. If you have basic sewing skills, it’s easy to turn cheap bath mats or accent rugs into cuddly throw pillow covers. Just make sure they’re unused rugs, please. Get more info here. Invest in a nice bedside lamp so you never again have to get up to turn off the overhead light. This DIY pulley lantern is super cool, but you’re also definitely allowed to just buy one.
You can save money on a fancy tufted headboard by making your own. You’ll need a board, padding, fabric, and buttons. Get the full tutorial here. If you’re ready to upgrade your sheets, try linen instead of cotton. This will make a much bigger difference than upping your thread count, which is basically a scam anyway. Linen is textured enough to be cozy in winter and light enough to keep you cool in summer. And it’s always (artfully, elegantly) wrinkly, so you don’t have to worry about getting out every little bump when you’re making the bed. Rough Linen sells these old-fashioned unfitted linen sheets, or you can find more traditional ones at Restoration Hardware or Garnet Hill. They’re not cheap, but these get even better and softer over time, so they’ll probably earn out over the years. DIY a cozy canopy by hanging fabric from the ceiling. Option 1: Buy wooden dowels for just a few cents at a craft store and attach them to the ceilings with hooks or thumbtacks.
Option 2: Rig up two short curtain rods on either side of the bed. Add a foam or feather pillow-top pad to your mattress to make it softer. You can get foam pads at IKEA or toppers filled with down at other home stores. If your bed is in a nook or very small room, you can turn it into a ship-shape hideaway with some curtains. Adding a wall mirror and light will keep it extra cozy and make sure it’s not too dark. Get more info on this cool small-space DIY at Apartment Therapy. When all else fails: Find someone furry to share your bed with. Dogs are basically just everlasting hot water bottles. If you’re looking for more ways to stay warm and cuddly, check out this list of 22 Obnoxiously Cozy Things That’ll Help You Embrace The Cold. Want awesome DIY tips in your inbox four times a week? Sign up for the BuzzFeed DIY newsletter!#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Based on 58,404 Consumer Experiences Topper Pros and Cons
Quick Summary of Mattress Toppers Topper on One Half of Mattress Select a topper below for more detailed information, including brand reviews / ratings. The terms "mattress topper" and "mattress pad" are sometimes used interchangeably. Generally, however, these are two different types of products, each with their own purpose. Pads are used to protect a mattress and or provide a limited softening; they are also sometimes placed over a topper to secure it to the mattress. Toppers, by contrast, are used almost exclusively to improve mattress comfort. See Mattress Pad Reviews for the top-rated waterproof and non-waterproof pads. Based on consumer experiences, below are the top four advantages of mattress toppers. As a mattress ages, especially an innerspring mattress, it tends to become compacted and loses much of its cushion. A topper improves cushioning, resulting in better comfort and reduced pressure. At least 20% of owners report that their topper provides them with at least somewhat better
sleep due to improved comfort. In other words, a mattress topper is capable of providing the benefits of a new mattress for a fraction Toppers are not only for older mattresses. If you have a newer mattress that does not suit your personal preference for firmness, a topper can alter the comfort to better suit you. Some toppers, namely memory foam and latex, can improve not only mattress comfort but also support to a limited extent. This can help to reduce pain, including back pain. If two people sleep on the same bed and have different firmness preferences, a topper can be added to one side of the bed to, in effect, provide different firmness levels for each side. Learn more on how to have a topper on one half of a bed. Also, a memory foam topper can to some degree improve the motion isolation of a mattress, resulting in less disturbed sleep. Based on consumer experiences, below are the top four disadvantages of mattress toppers. While a topper can improve an aging or uncomfortable mattress, it is not a miracle
If your mattress is uncomfortable due to sink holes, sagging (uneven sleep surface) and protruding springs, the topper will be of only limited help. Many memory foam and latex toppers are about one inch smaller than the mattress on all sides to help ensure the bed sheets fit over both the topper and mattress. cause sitting or sleeping near the edge of the mattress to be uncomfortable / unsupportive, and it may give a somewhat awkward appearance to the bed's surface. About 4% of owners – especially owners of memory foam toppers – report that their topper has a significant odor when new. This odor (or off gassing) tends to diminish within a few days in most cases. A topper that softens a mattress will often to some extent envelop the sleeper. This can decrease air circulation and cooling around the sleeper's body. As a result, about 4% of topper owners report bothersome heat retention. Memory foam and latex toppers are somewhat more likely to trap heat than are the other topper types.
A topper is placed on top of a mattress under the fitted sheet. For thicker toppers especially, this means that the sheet will need to cover a greater height. Depending on the pocket depth of your existing sheet, it may now be too small to securely cover the mattress. Since a topper is not a fully integrated part of the mattress, it may move around independent of the bed somewhat. About 5% of owners – especially owners of lighter toppers such as fiber and feather – report this problem. (A mattress pad can be placed over a topper to secure it to the mattress.) Pros: Most popular topper • often highly effective at improving comfort • available in many varieties to suit individual preference. Cons: Initial off gassing odor • some heat trap potential • squishy feel possible • somewhat difficult to move on / get up off • relatively heavy. detailed Memory Foam Topper Reviews / Ratings based on 38,500+ owner experiences. Pros: Generally effective at softening a firm mattress • relatively affordable, light weight and easy to handle • few reports of bothersome heat retention.
Cons: Can lack adequate thickness • fluffing / shaking often needed to maintain loft • feathers poking through cover is possible which can be painful • may produce some noise • dry cleaning often required. detailed Featherbed Reviews / Ratings based on 4,600+ owner experiences. Pros: Can make mattress softer or firmer • above-average pain relief • comes in many varieties including all natural. Cons: Expensive • limited availability • initial odor and heat retention possible. Read detailed Latex Topper Reviews / Ratings based on 1,300+ owner experiences. Pros: Mostly effective at softening a firm mattress • low price • little or no odor or allergy-causing potential. Cons: May be too thin and lumpy for some • shaking / fluffing may be needed to maintain loft and comfort • damage by machine washing / drying possible. Read detailed Fiberbed Topper Reviews / Ratings based on 13,400+ owner experiences. Pros: Generally effective at softening a firm mattress and providing a luxurious feel • fairly cool / dry in summer and warm in winter • often durable and long lasting.
Cons: Pricey • may not provide adequate cushion for some • initial odor possible • regular shaking / fluffing may be required to maintain loft. Read detailed Wool Topper-Pad Reviews / Ratings based on 485+ owner experiences. a topper can be added to half of the mattress to, in effect, provide different firmness for each half. To accomplish this on a king-sized mattress, you will likely need to buy an x-long twin topper and place it on one half of the mattress under the linens. (An x-long twin topper in most cases will be one-half the size of a king-sized mattress.) You will want a topper that merely lies on top of the mattress without needing to be secured to the sides. Foam, memory foam and latex toppers almost always meet this criteria. With a queen-sized bed, things are more complicated. There is no topper size that will cover one half of a queen. Therefore, you will likely need to buy an x-long twin sized topper and trim it so that it will fit half of the mattress.