Sleep isn’t always relaxing. Sometimes it can be an annoying experience full of tossing, turning, and waking up feeling worse than when you fell asleep. But it doesn’t have to be like that.
Starting from the ground up, here are the ways you can improve your bed to make your nights restful and enjoyable.
Bed Frame
Don’t let your bed lay on the floor—lift it up with a bed frame. Not only does your bed look better when it’s off the ground, but once it is up, it allows air to flow under and through your mattresses. This is important because a comfortable bed is a cool bed. If you keep your bed directly on the floor, your body heat will get trapped and you’ll slowly start to get warmer, which can lead to a bad night’s sleep.
Keep in mind that just because a bed frame is more expensive doesn’t mean it will lead to a comfortable bed. Avoid frames that use the space under the bed for storage. While functional and stylish, they reduce the amount of airflow.
Mattress
There is some debate about whether you should use a firm or soft mattress. Ultimately, it comes down to what you like the best. Some people want to feel like their bed is surrounding them in a fluffy cloud, where others want more support.
While it doesn’t matter if you prefer a soft or firm mattress, the quality of the mattress matters. A proper mattress should comfort and support you throughout the night. If you consider yourself light sleeper, it might start with your mattress not providing you the support your body needs.
Mattress Topper
If you want to improve the feel of any bed, add a mattress topper to your bed. A mattress topper is a removable cushioned layer between you and your mattress. A good mattress topper can transform a decent mattress into something luxurious.
A good mattress topper will be made of a light, breathable material that helps keep your bed a constant temperature throughout the night. A breathable topper will naturally wick away excess moisture keeping you cool and dry throughout the night. Memory foam may feel great when you first lay down on it, but it will trap your body heat and leave you waking up covered in sweat.
Sheets
Throughout the night, you might toss, turn, move around, or spread out, but through all of it your sheets are what you are in constant contact with. It’s possible to cut corners in other places and still have a comfortable bed, but if your sheets are itchy, scratchy, too thin, or too heavy, it can ruin the work you’ve done everywhere else.
If you sleep in a warm or humid environment, a comfortable set of linen or bamboo sheets that are breathable will help keep you cool throughout the night. However, if you live in a chilly climate, you should consider flannel sheets to keep you comfortable.
You can also consider your health needs when it comes to your sheets. Hypoallergenic sheets are resistant to dust mites and allergens, which can help you sleep better throughout the night and not wake up with a stuffy nose and red eyes.
Thread Count
The thread count is the number of threads woven into one square inch of material. This count is deceptive because you might assume a higher thread count means better quality. This isn’t true, and there are even ways to artificially inflate thread count.
Thread count only takes into consideration the density of threads in the fabric. It doesn’t take into account the materials used, the quality of the fibers, or your needs. To get the most comfortable bed, you have to try out different sheets and fabrics on the market to find what works best for you.
Pillows
Decorative pillows are rarely comfortable and unnecessary for a comfortable bed. Ditch the tiers of pillows in columns and pyramids and use a single functional sleeping pillow instead.
The goal of your pillow is to support your neck during sleep and to align the bones of the neck and spine. Your pillow needs to fit your body. If a pillow is too high or too low, it can leave you waking up with neck or back pain.
Blankets
A bed swarming with blankets, throws, duvets, quilts, comforters, and afghans is not going to be comfortable to sleep in. It might look nice, but it’s not practical or comfortable to use. A quality sheet and a quality blanket are all the layers you need.
When you are deciding on what blanket you should use, a lot of the same thoughts that went into picking your sheets still apply. Some people like heavy quilts or overstuffed comforters, while others only need a light blanket.