Beds are important. We spend roughly a third of our lives in them – even more if we’re getting over the prescribed eight hours a night (hello duvet days). Getting a bad nights sleep can wreak havoc on you: studies show that sleep deprivation seriously impacts your ability to store new memories – making prepping for exams and paying attention in lectures pretty redundant if nothings staying in your head. Basically, that meme about the biggest relationship in your life being the one with your bed is actually pretty accurate. So make sure you don’t, as Ru Paul says, fuck it up. And the easiest way to not fuck it up? Good bedding, friends. Good bedding is the answer.
I know, “good bedding” usually conjures up images of cashmere mattresses and fabrics with thread counts that match the number of pounds on the price tag (spoiler alert: it’s in the thousands). But that idea just isn't true. Yes, those silk blend sheets are probably dreamy, and 100% what Mariah Carey would sleep on, but we all need to accept the reality that we are not Mariah Carey, and not everything we touch can be made out of silk spun on a moonless night by gentle yet strangely flamboyant centaurs.
Cash isn’t the only way to get the bed that you lie awake thinking about, because your own bed has a spring digging between your third and fourth rib. Instead, it’s about knowing the tricks to make the things you’ve spent less on feel like more, and adding a few extra pounds where it really counts. To quote one last icon before we get to the good stuff: know better, do better. And it’s time to do better bedding.
1. Understand your sheets
Don't believe the hype: higher thread count doesn't necessarily mean better. Take it from someone who has spent a LOT of time in The White Company stroking the various soft textiles until the staff come over to pointedly ask if I "need any help". Thread count just means how many threads are in the sheet – past 1000, there's not really any difference. Most hotels tend to go for 200-400 thread count cotton sheets, in either percale or sateen finish. Percale is crisper, while sateen is softer and silkier (I prefer sateen because I am a *fancy lady*).
In terms of types of cotton, Egyptian is considered the best but this is largely marketing. The real markers of good cotton is long fibres, careful farming and no pesticides or nasties. If you want to skip the research though, I can tell you now the best value sheets I've found are at Soak and Sleep, who do a full set of pure cotton 200 thread count sheets for £66 all in (inc. pillows, fitted sheet and duvet for a double bed). Tielle are another great one – they're where all the hotels get their bedding from, and do a 300 thread count "hotel" set for £117 (or less if you're in a single ned). Plus you can sign up to their newsletter to get 15% off your first order.
2. If you can't afford an amazing mattress, get a topper
Look, I'm not going to lie to you, mattresses are important. The more you can spend on your mattress the better – there's nothing like a good mattress for helping you wake up feeling amazing. Plus, all the mattress-in-a-box companies (Eve, Simba etc) are currently pretty new, meaning you'll get good deals right now as they all compete with each other. Trust me, that will not last. There's already been a big price jump up from last year. Unfortunately though, not everyone has a spare £600 to drop on a mattress (me, like me). My top hack to make a cheap mattress more palatable is a mattress topper. I'm not talking about protectors – I'm talking about big inches of fluffy padding that will make your bed feel like an actual cloud.
There's all sorts you can get, like memory foam, soft microfibre and even goose down. The best value ones I've found are from Amazon: I have this 4 inch "luxury" topper and it is lovely (and only £37.99). If you want memory foam, you're probably looking at around £70 - £120 for a double topper, but this one on Amazon is currently on sale at £55. Aaaand if you're properly skint, this one is only £16.99 and is very well reviewed.
3. Know which pillows work for you
Rules of thumb for good pillow times: if you're a front sleeper, you want a flatter, softer pillow; if you're a side sleeper, you need neck support, so go for a medium/firm pillow; if you're a back sleeper, medium support is best. If you switch positions, then memory foam is a good all-rounder. FYI, the memory foam pillow generally agreed to be the best is the Panda pillow (£44.95).
4. Regulate your body temperature
One of the biggest culprits for a sleepless night is body temperature. Sure, expensive sheets are nice, but they're pretty useless if you're waking up shivering, or in a puddle of your own sweat (I'm sorry for that mental image). If you're a warm sleeper, avoid synthetics. You need breathable, natural fibres like cotton or silk. Tighter weaves can also lead to less breathability, so go for a lower thread count and a crisp percale finish. Mattress-wise, inner-spring mattresses without foam and memory foam mattresses are much cooler. It can also be worth looking at moisture-wicking sheets, like these ones from CoolMax, and memory foam pillows with cooling gel (this one from Amazon is only £29.99). Duvet-wise, get something that's 4.5 to 10.5 tog.
If you're always cold though, then there's a few tricks to keeping toasty. Firstly, get a duvet that's min. 10.5 togs but ideally 11.5 or 13.5. Down duvets are also brilliant for being lightweight but brilliant at keeping you warm (just make sure the down is ethically sourced). If you're keen on staying natural, then wool covers and mattress toppers are also brilliant for keeping you warm. You can still have cotton sheets, just opt for sateen over percale, otherwise have a look at flannel sheets. And always remember the magic of an electric blanket. You can get good ones for about £30 these days, and they're a bit cheaper to run than space heaters.
5. Check your allergies
The final trick to a dreamy night's sleep? Making sure you're not allergic to anything in your bed. It sounds like overkill (I am the heartiest of humans and never get hayfever, ever, I hear you cry), but honestly so often the reason you're waking up feeling groggy and tired is because of your bedding. If you've got a synthetic duvet, pillows or bedding their tiny fibres can come out and cause havoc when you breath them in. Similarly, harsh washing detergent can cause anything from itching to acne. If you don't have animal allergies, down duvets and pillows are brilliant (and loads come with anti-allergy treatments these days). But if you don't have the cash for those, then just make sure you're getting anti-allergy microfibre duvets and pillows, cotton sheets and washing everything regularly with gentle, non-bio detergent. I love Fairy non bio (£4) and Ecover's gentle laundry liquid (£3.75).
