Our bed choices affect our quality of sleep, and good quality sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being. These are the key areas for creating the perfect bed:
Bedding.
A change of bedding is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve your night’s sleep. Nobody wants scratchy, bobbled sheets which are too hot or too cool: they can keep us awake at night or give us a lesser quality of sleep without us even being aware of it. We need to choose a fabric which feels soft against the skin, such as cotton. You may find silk or satin sheets, although soft to the touch and fashionable, too cool, particularly during winter months in the UK.
A recommended brand of bedding is Harlequin, who make quality duvet covers, pillowcases and cushions and throws. Harlequin bedding is of the highest quality, made from fabrics such as 200 thread count cotton sateen, which has a gentle light reflecting sheen.
Harlequin duvet covers feature designs which are contemporary yet warm, and some are reversible to give you flexibility with changing the look of your bed. The Pod design is retro, featuring a deep purple and zesty lime colouring. Prato, in contrast, boasts a graduating stripe in dusky blue and stone colouring. Both Harlequin duvet covers feature a piped edge in one of the design’s main colours, demonstrating the quality of these designs. These two designs are typical of Harlequin’s range of bedding. The quality fabric in these designs, and Harlequins other bedding, feels fresh, crisp and allows the skin to breathe. The thread count has been carefully selected to allow an optimum temperature and level of comfort.
There is more to Harlequin than bedding however. Finish off a room with luxurious silk cushions or a rich velvet throw, designed to match Harlequin’s bed linen ranges.
Pillows and Duvet.
Pillows and duvets can feature natural or synthetic fillings. Synthetic pillows are less luxurious, but are more likely to be machine washable, which removes mould, mites and their droppings. This is particularly useful to those with allergies affected by dust mites, although eczema sufferers may find synthetic pillows too hot and uncomfortable.
Natural fillings for duvets and pillows include wool, silk and feather, which are more difficult to clean.They do tend to mould more successfully to the head and neck however, and have a more luxurious feel.
Mattress.
Mattress type is a very personal preference. Unlike bed linen, where everybody looks for quality and design in brands such as Harlequin, mattresses very much depend on the individual.
Open spring mattresses are the most common type of mattress. These tend to be the cheapest, yet least durable form of common mattress.
Pocket spring mattresses differ in that the springs are sewn into separate pockets. This is ideal if there is a weight or size variation between the two people sleeping in the bed.
Memory foam mattresses have become popular in recent years. They work by moulding and re-moulding to the shape of the body, providing support and helping to maintain a good posture. People with spinal conditions may benefit from a memory foam mattress because of this.
But whatever mattress, duvet or pillows you choose, don’t forget the importance of choosing quality bedding. A top-of-the-range expensive mattress is no use if your bed linen is keeping you too hot, too warm, or awake all night.
