Our bedroom is a sanctuary, our preferred corner in the universe, the one spot we crave after a long tiring day. It makes perfect sense then that we get quality sleep. What is the point of sprucing your bedroom with frilly curtains and glow-in-the-dark stars when you are stuck with your decade-old, musty pillow and thinning mattress?
If you want to get better ZZZs, you need to buy bedding sets that fit your needs.
Choosing Pillows
Heads up! You need resilient, comfortable, long-lasting pillows that will make sleeping such a joyous venture. Using the wrong kind would only exacerbate existing problems like neck or back pain. Factors to consider:
- Fillings or stuffing. Our recommendation: Pillows with natural fill like feathers or down. With proper care, they can be used for a decade. They’re light and they can adjust to your head comfortably. Synthetic fill is all right, too, since they’re hypoallergenic and affordable—just make sure you get the microgel polyester gill or cluster polyester fill, because they’re refluffable like natural down. Memory foam is popular these days as well since they adjust to your body as you move throughout the night. Latex pillows are firm and mould-resistant as well.
- Sleeping style. It’s amazing how there are pillows made for our quirky sleeping positions. Whether we spread-eagle on the bed or curl up into a fetal pose, we have options to choose from. If you’re a side sleeper, get firm pillows to offer neck support. Medium firm pillows are made for back sleepers and soft pillows for those who sleep on their stomachs.
Choosing Mattress.
Here are tips to remember when you’re off to replace your ancient mattress (finally!):
- Research like it’s no one’s business. Go online and scout for choices, so by the time you’re at the home store, you already know what to consider purchasing and test (more on this later). Each brand has a variety of mattresses, so expect to spend hours just whittling your list of Future Mattress Finalists from 20 to 10.
- Familiarize yourself with the kinds of mattresses. You have innerspring, foam, air, and water mattress. The most common type of mattress, innerspring’s durability and strength depend upon the coil gauge and coil count. Rule of thumb: the more coils, the better. A foam mattress, on the other hand, moulds itself to your body, which makes switching positions during sleep uncomfortable. Air mattress is flexible and highly customizable (would you want your bed to be softer or tougher?), while water mattress has fewer dust mites, and is therefore ideal for those with asthma or other allergies. Ready to go organic? Go for foams with soy or organic cotton fillings.
- Test it. Go ahead. Lie on the bed for a good 15 to 20 minutes. Lie on your sides. Lie on your back. Concentrate on how it feels on your body. Close your eyes and imagine yourself drifting off to dreamland. Make sure that it moulds perfectly to your form—meaning, there is no prominent space between the mattress and your body.
- Be sure. Make sure your bed has a 30-day money-back guarantee or return policy. There’s no other way of knowing if the bed works for you except testing it and lying on it for a long time. If you’re uncomfy for the first few weeks, return it right away.
Zinus Orthopedic Pro Zero-Motion Latex Mattress
Breathable Tencel Fabric + Natural Latex Layer + High-Density Foam
Image by Zinus.
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Cover photo courtesy of Optimize Sleep
