Getting a good night’s sleep is the holy grail for many of us. A disturbed night can impact on our mood and energy levels the next day, and long-term sleep deprivation can have more serious health consequences. In fact, the quality of our sleep can be just as important as diet and exercise to our wellbeing.
There is a lot of advice available about how to get a good night’s sleep. For example, it is recommended to stick to a consistent bedtime routine. This means going to bed at the same time on most nights, and winding down for an hour or two with a quiet activity such as reading before you get into bed.
Having the right bedroom environment is also very important to how relaxed and comfortable you feel during the night. Maintaining an ambient temperature so that you are neither too hot or too cold can help, as can controlling light pollution with blackout curtains.
If you experience background noise from a busy road or neighbours, then playing some ambient white noise or using noise cancelling earbuds may help. Keeping the bedroom neat and free from clutter can put us in a better state of mind for rest.
However, one factor that is often overlooked is the quality of our bedding, yet this is crucial to how comfortable we feel during the eight hours or so we spend in bed. We wouldn’t spend all day wearing an ill-fitting shirt that made us feel cross, hot, and itchy after all. It is just as important to pay as much attention to our bed clothes.
Material and thread count
Natural materials such as cotton are best, because they help to regulate your body temperature during the night, reducing the chance that you will wake up in the middle of the night feeling too warm or too cold. It is also soft to the touch and lightweight, making it a pleasure to snuggle down into at the end of a long day.
For the finest quality cotton, look for a thread count of over 180. This means that the fabric has a high number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch, and will retain its softness and condition over multiple washes.
Colour and pattern
The effect that colours and patterns have on our mood should not be underestimated. Bed linen that complements your existing bedroom decor will be aesthetically pleasing and create a calm and restful atmosphere. Some people find that muted tones or soft neutral colours work well for them.
However, colour and pattern are very much a matter of personal preference. A bold and bright print that brings you a little rush of happiness every time you see it may be the perfect choice to help you feel relaxed in bed.
Finally, some finishing touches such as blankets, throws, and cushions can all help to make your bedroom feel more welcoming and homely, and will come in useful if you do want to add an extra layer for warmth during the night.
If you are looking for Catherine Lansfield bedding, please get in touch today.