Do you love your bed?

I had a good chuckle the other day when an astrology account I follow posted on Instagram a “you can only choose 2” list for each astrological sign. For Taurus the options were, “be right about everything”, “unlimited supply of fine wine”, and “the power to shrink your bed and take it with you”. As a Taurus - that is a hard decision to make – I like being right, I like fine wine and I also really love my bed. But the reason I’m telling you this is because I really, really love my bed and you should too! Here’s why, and what you can do if you’re not currently as in-love with your bed as you could be.

My beloved bed. Photo by Darren Lebeuf

Why you need to love your bed

We all know that there are major health benefits to a good night’s sleep. Sleep is the most natural mood booster, it increases productivity, supports overall good mental health, improves memory and performance, strengthens your heart, and even supports your digestive and immune systems.

And also, think about how much of our lives we spend in our bed – this is a spot that deserves attention and investment!

How we feel when we go to bed and wake up is a really important part of our day. If you walk into your bedroom and feel annoyed by how sad your bed looks with the old duvet that was a hand-me-down, that means you’re going to bed feeling a bit sad. Same thing when you get up. If you wake up feeling cozy and rested, you’re likely to start your day feeling a bit happier. I mean, you may not be keen to actually leave the bed, but at least there is a smile on your face!

I get to see a lot of bedrooms in my line of work. I’m still a bit surprised by how many people just put their bedroom together with what they have, not realizing what they are missing out on by not being more intentional with their choices. Not to mention that, if you don’t have a spare space, the bedroom often ends up being where all the bits without a home get stashed when you’re tidying for visitors (and this is a pretty clear indicator you’re prioritizing the comfort of others over your own sleep!) More than once, when we’ve come into prep a home for sale and even just change out the duvet and decorative pillows, the client has come back to us saying how much better their bedroom felt even with such a small change. And then they proceed to replicate that in their new home. You may think that mis-matched sheets and a lumpy duvet aren’t really that bad, that it doesn’t actually impact how you feel, but just trust me on this – it does. The moment you’ve put together a functional, comfortable and beautiful bed, the change in how you feel will be noticeable.

So where do we start?

Your Mattress

It comes as no surprise that a good quality mattress that suits your specific preferences and needs is a must. It’s also an item you shouldn’t cheap out on – remember when we talked about how much time we spend on our mattress?

There is a strong trend at the moment that favours the mattress-in-a-box suppliers. A lot of my clients have had good success with these mattresses, but it’s also a relatively new way to shop. Not many of us have had our bed in a box for 8-10 years (which is the average life span of a mattress) so it may be too early to say for sure. Do your research and get to know what you like and what you don’t like in a mattress. Pay attention to the things about your current mattress that make you nuts – there’s almost always a mattress out there that meets just what you need. And there’s a surprising amount to it! Pocket coils, foam, breathability, temperature regulation, posture support, edge support – who knew?! (You, if you’ve ever researched mattresses!) And remember that you can always add comfort to an existing or new mattress with padded mattress covers or other similar accessories.

Your Pillow

I can’t pretend to be an expert on all of the different options for pillows out there but what I can say is, it pays to figure out what is the right pillow for your body and how you sleep. For some people there is nothing better than a good down-filled pillow. Others go more specialized with water pillows. There are memory foam pillows, cooling pillows, pillows for side sleepers and back sleepers, the options are endless. So take some time to research your options and you may need to go through a bit of a trial and error process. But once you’ve found The One, you won’t want to sleep without it.

Photo by Darren Lebeuf

Your Bedding

The material and quality of your sheets and other bed linens make a big difference too. Certain fabrics have different effects on our temperature and comfort when we sleep. My go-to is Tencel Lyocell primarily because it is so wonderfully soft. But also because they are durable, breathable and eco-friendly (lyocell is typically made from eucalyptus or other sustainably grown wood). Bamboo sheets tend to be similar to Tencel as well.

Cotton is one of the most common materials for bedding, and it definitely has both pros and cons. 100% cotton is fairly durable, it actually softens over time and becomes more comfortable, it’s good for regulating the body temperature and – last but definitely not least – there are good cotton options to fit every budget. On the downside, different cottons can shrink or become misshapen, they are hard to keep wrinkle-free and neat, and they capture a lot of dust which can be challenging with allergies.

For those who like to keep things cool, linen is a great option. Linen sheets are great for temperature regulation and are quite breathable. They do tend to be higher priced and can take a while before they stop feeling rough. If you are someone who doesn’t like to look at wrinkly sheets, linen may not be for you. And for those who like it hot, flannel is a great option! Flannel bedding is durable, cozy, soft and generally affordable.

Of course everyone’s favourite debate around bedding is whether or not thread-count is the big deal it’s been made out to be. Thread-count refers to the number of threads, horizontal and vertical, per square inch. The idea is that, the more threads there are per square inch, the more the bedding will soften over time. Generally speaking, you can find good quality sheets with a thread-count anywhere between 200 and 800 – anything above that is likely not worth it as there are some tricks that can artificially elevate thread count (such as twisting threads together, reducing quality and durability). Remember that thread-count is only one factor to consider when you’re selecting your bed linens, and try not to get too worried about it.

Your Duvet / Comforter

For those of us who live in a climate with very distinct seasons and big temperature changes, going with a duvet and duvet cover is a great option, because you can have a summer and winter duvet! So during those summer months, your lighter weight duvet is your go to option and in the winter months, the warmer duvet is here to keep you cozy all night.

But it’s not just about the level of warmth – there are also different duvet fillings to consider. Most of the duvets we see are either a natural feather / down duvet or a synthetic fibre duvet. Natural duvets tend to be better insulators than their synthetic equivalents, but you’ll also want to ensure that the fillings come from an ethical source. In many cases with synthetics, the filling is often a type of plastic, which means they can’t be recycled or biodegrade.

Don’t forget a headboard

I really just think everyone should have a headboard. Visually, it makes the bed feel more grand and even luxurious (which helps how you feel about it) but the material can also be of benefit too.

Upholstered headboards are my favourite. They are comfortable if you're someone who likes to sit in bed and read, for example. They also feel more luxurious and can stand alone as a design element without needing art above as a focal point. However, they aren’t for everyone because they can be difficult to clean and, while we don’t want to think about it, the natural oils from our scalp in particular can lead to discolouration if not regularly cleaned and maintained.

On the other hand, wood headboards are much easier to maintain and clean, but aren’t as comfortable. There are some great options out there that allow for some modular functionality with shelves and drawer units too.

I want you to love your bed and I want you to start considering the ways you can improve how you feel when it comes to your bed. Making sure it’s visually pleasing and welcoming to you when you enter the room. That it’s cozy, comfortable and supportive when you crawl in, and that you wake up each day feeling good with a little smile on your face. It can be easy to underestimate the importance of loving your bed – after all, you sleep through most of the time you spend in it! – but it’s one of the most important ways your home and its design can support your goals. Including getting some quality z’s.