And so to bed
Above: hand-painted Louis Panelled bed
Our bodies need a good night’s sleep so we wake up refreshed and ready to face another day. The bedroom should be an environment where you feel calm and sedate, but if it is so cluttered that you can hardly find your bed, how on earth can you drift off to sleep with a relaxed state of mind?
For a peaceful bedroom, avoid clutter. Tidy away those clothes left on the floor from when you wore them last week and take yesterday’s cup of coffee to the kitchen.
And, once you get into your bed, it should be comfortable. The mattress shouldn’t be too soft, or too hard, but must give you the correct support and comfort. When buying a mattress, it is vital that you try before you buy. Don’t feel embarrassed about lying down and wriggling around on the beds in showrooms – it is normal behaviour for bed-buyers, honestly.
Vast choice
There is such a vast choice, from pocket sprung to continuous springing, and filled with materials as widely different as foam and water. Also take into accountvariables such as back problems, allergies, available budget, space available and style. There are options to cater for every kind of need imaginable.
Andy Hills, managing director of And So To Bed comments: “Most people seem to think they would like a ‘firm’ mattress, but in truth firm means different things to different people. So your starting point should really be a visit to a specialist bed supplier (with your partner) to spend time trying out different beds to see what suits you.
He adds: “You should pay attention to the feel and performance of the mattress and ask what it is filled with. Is it cotton or wool, hand teased or in a pad, mixed or in separate layers. How many springs are there, is it hand stitched.
do remember that you really do get what you pay for
“The most expensive mattresses have several thousand springs and four rows of hand stitching. They range in price from a hundred pounds to a few thousand, so do remember that you really do get what you pay for, so spend as much as you can afford.
“The benefits of a good night’s sleep are boundless and you should find you have more energy, better concentration and improved health.”
The Sleep Council recommends that a bed is no more than eight to 10 years old; after 10 years a bed used regularly will have deteriorated by as much as 75 per cent from its original condition. It isn’t hygienic to buy second-hand beds as we can sweat as much as half to a pint of liquid a night.
The bed should be as large as possible so there is plenty of room to move about and reduce the risk of disturbing your partner; The Sleep Council says that we toss and turn around 60 or 70 times a night.
Do remember that buying a bed is a two-part process, you need to find a mattress and also a frame or divan. Again, the choice is immense – from upholstered divans to metal or wooden bedsteads. You can even get beds with a remote control that do virtually everything bar make you that morning cup of tea.
Enhancing sleep
To further enhance a good night’s sleep, make the room as dark as possible so the light doesn’t disturb your slumber. Opt for thick curtains or blinds specifically designed to reduce the amount of light entering the room. Try to make the room as quiet as possible. If the budget doesn’t stretch to double-glazing then try some thick curtains. It is also important that you are not too hot or too cold. An open window that circulates fresh air can help in the summer, as does changing your bedlinen throughout the seasons.
Duvet warmth is measured in togs, the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. Naturally filled duvets have better thermal properties than synthetic ones. For a lightweight summer duvet go for something with a 4.5 tog rating but for a winter warmer, something between 12 and 13.5 togs is more appropriate.
Feather and Black does a partner duvet, which has a warm side and a cool side, perfect for one who’s always hot and one who’s not.
Pillows need to provide the correct balance of comfort and support. They do deteriorate over the years, although naturally filled pillows tend to keep their shape and support longer than synthetic varieties. Allergy sufferers should go for polyester filled pillows that will withstand frequent washing.
Colour does play a major role in creating ambience. Judy Smith, a Crown Colour Consultant says: "If you want your home to be tranquil, you will need to look at colour schemes that are harmonious and easy on the eye. Colours will need to be calm and soft - pale shades of green and blue, neutrals like cream and grey, the subtlest yellows and pink. In fact, using pastels with soft neutrals is an interesting way of combining lighter colours."
At the end of the day, quite literally, we spend a third of our lives in bed – so you may as well make it as nice an experience as possible.