Beautiful and Comfortable Bedding

Bedrooms are more than just a place to sleep. A beautiful bedroom is a retreat from the stress and strain of everyday life. The right bed and bedding can help establish your bedroom as a place of comfort and relaxation, where you can go to refresh your mind and your body.

It’s an easy concept to understand, but finding just the right bedding and accessories to transform your sleeping space into a comfortable and refreshing retreat can be a bit more difficult. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you turn your bedroom into a place of calm and rejuvenation.

The first step is to build your bedroom around the most important piece of furniture — the bed. Size is important there. Sleep experts speculate that most people are sleeping in a bed that’s the wrong size. They suggest that most children should be in a double/full size bed by the time they reach adolescence. That size, they say, is the right size for an adolescent or adult sleeping alone. If you share your bed with a partner, they say, you should be sleeping in at least a queen size bed, and if either of you is especially active in sleep, a king size bed is even better.

Likewise, anyone over who is over 5’10” or so should be sleeping on a king size mattress, which gives the sleeper some extra length so that he or she can sleep comfortably without curling up or sleeping diagonally on the mattress top.

How to Pick the Right Mattress

The next step in creating a comfortable bedroom is to choose the right mattress. Shop carefully and be sure to consider how your sleeping style affects the mattress that you choose. For most people, the most comfortable bed will be one that offers both firm support and comfortable cushioning. A memory foam mattress on a platform bed or a high-density spring mattress and box spring can provide both. The most important thing to keep in mind is that your mattress will last you at least ten years and you want it to be comfortable the entire time. If you’re going to skimp on costs, do it somewhere other than on your mattress and foundation.

Some choices you might consider: a Dream Oaks 10-inch Eco-Foam mattress made in environmentally friendly and hypo allergenic memory foam or a Serta Perfect Sleeper Euro-top mattress in the right size.

How to Pick the Right Bedding

Of course, you don’t sleep directly on your mattress. The sheets that you choose can make a surprising difference in how well and comfortably you sleep. It may be tempting to spring for the cheapest polyester sheets that you can find, especially if they have a pretty print, but you’ll find yourself regretting that within just a few washes. Instead, buy the highest quality sheets that you can afford. The difference between sleeping on cheap 400 thread count sheets and 800 thread count sheets of Egyptian cotton is marked and amazing. Higher thread count sheets of 100% natural cotton are less likely to wrinkle and crease, and help wick moisture and heat away from your body.

A set of “luxury” cotton sheets like 800-count Egyptian Cotton Jacquard sheets are not really a luxury. They will pay for themselves quickly in durability, comfort and better sleep.

Feather Beds and Mattress Toppers

Firm support is important, but without extra padding for comfort, that firm support can end up putting pressure on your muscles and joints. Make your bed more comfortable by using a mattress topper of memory foam or with a thick featherbed to add extra padding. Featherbeds stuffed with down and cotton can add up to four inches of padding to your mattress, reducing the pressure on hips, knees and shoulders. Memory foam toppers serve the same purpose, and are hypoallergenic to boot.

Imagine the extra comfort you’ll feel when you top your mattress with a 3” thick supportive mattress topper filled with gel and cotton fiber. Made by Serta, it’s designed to fit over a mattress, and is held in place by elastic straps to keep it from shifting while you sleep.

How to Pick Bedroom Décor

Once you’ve got the basics of comfort in place, think about decoration. Choose colors that are relaxing and soothing, or conversely, choose colors that make you feel energized and cool. A coordinated bedroom set that includes sheets, comforter and window treatments can contribute to a sense of calm and organization that will make you feel at home and soothed whenever you spend time in your bedroom.

By following these simple guidelines, you can make your bedroom a tranquil escape and sleep better every single night.