Harrison Spinks’ Hemp Shiv At Harrison Spinks we grow and harvest hemp to provide us with a unique natural filling for our mattresses. Hemp is a highly absorbent material... As lambing season is fast approaching on the Harrison Spinks Farm, we’re revisiting the special story of Hugo the sheep. Hugo was born on the... So often space for a bedside table can be tight so slim wall-hugging tables are a great solution. More importantly, these tables aren’t big enough for you to amass bedside clutter. Bedside clutter = distractions you don’t need. MARKS AND SPENCER HOME A carafe at the side of your bed will stop you getting up in the night for a raging thirst (a glass of water will also wake you up if you have an early start). If you wake up a lot in the night neurologists advise you not to overdress or pile on too many heavy blankets or duvets. The idea is to pile on layers and adjust your body temperature by throwing them off in a way that rouses you from sleep the least.
This soft flannel Dhuggie is a comfy and easy alternative to PJ’s. High quality linen duvet covers don’t come cheap, but they are hardwearing, look great and the fabric gets better and softer with age. This is one of the best value linen stores I’ve found. There are all sorts of pillows designed for how people sleep that help align your body in its most comfortable position. This one is a side sleeper pillow and it fits in standard-sized pillowcases. NB: synthetic pillows should be replaced every six months to a year, down and feather pillows every two to five years. Fold your pillow in half and place something heavy on top of it. If the pillow doesn’t spring open when you take it off, it needs replacing. Sounds obvious but a tidy bedside table will add to your sense of orderliness and peace at bedtime (as will leaving your phone in another room). L’Occitane pillow mist promises to aid a good night’s sleep and contains, amongst several essential oils, the good old “sleep saviour” lavender.
Don’t mock, lavender is now starting to gain some credence in scientific circles, in terms of the importance of bedtime rituals to helping promote restful sleep. It’s worth investing in decent bedside lighting. Place within arms reach so you don’t have to hop out of a warm bed to turn off the light. If you get too hot for duvets, consider layers of bed sheets, blankets and quilts which mould to your body. Add a decorative throw to complete the look. Spray some of this Ritual of Sakura Bed and Body Mist onto your bed sheets. The spray contains moisturising ingredients that will leave skin velvety soft with a beautiful scent. Keep a little medical kit by your bed for, erm, “morning emergencies”. Keep trinkets to a minimum by your bed, plus make sure they have a use, like this jewellery stand. Scientists say that deep relaxation is successful when your “skin is in contact with softness”, so choose fabrics that are cosy; ie silks, velvets and soft cottons in a high-thread count.
This dusty-pink velvet eiderdown isn’t cheap, but it’s oh-so worth it if you consider you spend a third of your life in bed (that’s what I’m telling myself anyway). I’ve never been one for elaborate bed making, but I would go as far as investing in these velvet cushions that I can pop onto my bed before I leave the room for the day. If you’re in bed and can’t sleep, try to keep your eyes open and stay awake. Attempting to stay awake is surprisingly tiring and helps you fall asleep. But remember that you have to use the power of your mind and are not allowed to read, watch TV, or move about. Experts say if you’re awake for more than about 20 minutes during the night, get out of bed and do some form of non-stimulating activity, such as writing a “worry list” (avoid bright lights and computer screens). If my room feels more cosy and put-together, so do I. I always find Habitat has great bedlinen that’s not too expensive and will wash well. THE SCANDINAVIAN SHOP VIA TROUVA
Thanks to mobile phones, alarm clocks have fallen out of favour. But with a lot to be said about the benefits of moving your phone into another room (or at least switching it off for the night), maybe you need to reconsider. And avoid any clocks with a LED lights that can keep you awake at night. Like the sound of those super-comfy luxurious memory foam mattresses but don’t want to go to the expense?Memory foam toppers will do the job just as well. THE WOOL ROOM VIA NOT ON THE HIGHSTREET I am a wool duvet convert – they keep you cool when it's hot and warm when it's not and recent scientific studies have shown that they can actually give you 25% more deep regenerative sleep when compared to synthetic bedding. Wool bedding is also anti-allergy. According to research warm feet means swift sleep. Urban Outfitters call it a “boyfriend pillow”, I call it a thing of dreams, and worth every penny of it’s £75 price tag… Thinking how I can bring it to work…
HOME BY KIRSTY VIA TROUVA Research shows that we all underestimate how much of the night we spend sleeping so if lying awake is making you feel anxious, try to relax by remembering that you are probably getting more sleep than you think. And then buy a I’m Going Back To Bed Pillow. A portable black-out blind may be intended for kids, but I think it’s great for anyone who has to travel and fight jetlag. Cashmere bed socks are not only wonderful things to own, but if you get cold at night (or have a partner who likes to steal the duvet), they are essential. Buying a good-quality bed and mattress seems excessively expensive, but work out the “per night” cost: a £1,500 bed kept for 10 years will cost around 35p a night – far less than your daily latte. Replace your mattress after about eight years, and ignore the myth that hard mattresses are best; everything depends on your size and sleeping position. There’s a lot of research into light being a natural cue for your body to reduce the production of sleep hormones (e.g. melatonin) and gradually increase the levels of those that help you get up and go (e.g. cortisol).