Create a Cosy Retreat

Create a

Cosy Retreat

Warm and quiet, dark and comfortable – ensure your bedroom has all the ingredients for a great night’s sleep.

Lack of sleep has a profound effect on our physical Lack of sleep affects our physical and mental health, and as many as one in three of us suffer from poor sleep. So, make your bedroom sleep-friendly: dark, quiet, tidy and comfortably warm.

Start with the mattress

First, decide whether you would prefer a sprung or non-sprung mattress. Sprung mattresses are filled with lots of springs and the best are individually ‘pocket’ sprung to adjust to the body and eliminate ‘roll-together’. An option is a sprung mattress ‘zoned’ across the middle to give extra support for heavier hips and shoulders, or made ‘half and half’, to provide different tensions on each side of the bed. Another solution for sleeping partners of very different weights is a ‘zip and lock’ system of two different mattresses fastened together. Sprung mattresses can be filled with a variety of materials and tufted construction is generally considered better than quilting. In cheaper mattresses, fillings usually come in compact pads, while in better quality mattresses there will be layers of loose fillings in greater volumes. Look for a highquality mattress cover with hand stitching on the sides and sturdy handles to help with turning. Non-traditionalists might consider a non-sprung mattress where the choice of materials includes latex, memory foam, polyurethane foam and gel. These mattresses mould to the sleeper’s shape and are often warmer than sprung mattresses. Alternatively, ‘hybrid’ mattresses provide the traditional support and comfort of springs with a pressurerelieving, non-sprung top layer.

A handmade bed frame with an entirely natural, organic mattress. Eva bed with storage, from £1,470 for a small single, Naturalmat: 01392 877 247; naturalmat.co.uk.

A soft, curving headboard could help your bed feel enclosed and cosy. Matilda Dove Grey bed, from £549; Amazonia Toile duvet cover set, £28; Farrah Palm Leaf ceiling fitting, £65; all Dunelm: 0845 165 65 65, dunelm.com.

What about the windows?

Windows can be a source of earlymorning light, and noise, heat loss and draughts at any time. For regularly opened single-glazed sash windows, specialist seals fitted into a rebate will improve draughtproofing, while secondary glazing is ideal for seldom-used windows. Well-fitting timber shutters can be at least as effective as double glazing. The traditional solution is a thick, floor-to-ceiling curtain with a thermal or blackout lining. Extend the curtain pole beyond the window edges so that light cannot creep in. If using blinds, thick, blackout versions fitted close to the wall are best.

Don’t forget about the floor

A fitted carpet with thermal underlay deadens sound and prevents draughts from suspended timber floors. If you prefer original timber floorboards, seal any gaps at the base of the skirting boards and add thick bedside rugs for extra comfort. Insulation added below the boards is also effective.