Improve Your Sleep By Changing Your Bedding

Tiredness, lack of sleep, or poor sleep quality are not uncommon problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans are affected by sleep-related problems. If this sounds familiar regarding a parent, partner, your children, or even yourself, there are many small and manageable steps you can take to improve your sleep without heading to a sleep specialist.

Why Is It So Important To Get Enough Sleep?

Most adults need a set schedule of 7 or 8 hours of good quality sleep per night in order to maintain proper health. Getting enough sleep keeps your immune system in tip-top shape, helps you to maintain a healthy weight, and improves your mood. It also lowers your risk for heart disease and diabetes.

What’s Preventing Me From Getting Good Sleep?

There are many reasons that you may not be getting good quality sleep at night. Some people find it hard to fall asleep, while others wake up throughout the night. Stress, anxiety, alcohol, or caffeine around bedtime can prevent us from sleeping deeply. Physical pain or untreated sleep disorders can also be the cause of poor sleep. Lifestyle changes, such as staying away from caffeine late in the day or avoiding computers or smartphones around bedtime, can improve your sleep hygiene greatly.

How Can Bedding Affect Your Sleep?

Yet one factor that is often neglected is your bedding, meaning your mattress, sheets, comforters, and pillows. An uncomfortable mattress will inevitably lead to bad sleep and poor posture. Too stiff or too soft, and your sleep will be negatively impacted. If you find that you wake up with back pain, chances are you should invest in a new mattress. The same goes for your pillows. If you wake up with neck pain, you might want to consider a new pillow, preferably one that is softer and less high.

What Changes Can Be Made To Bedding To Improve Your Sleep?

Rough duvet covers can irritate your skin and leave you uncomfortable and itchy all night. In order to create a soothing and peaceful sleep atmosphere to improve your sleep quality, a softer duvet cover may be the first step for you. If you currently use a down duvet, a lower quality duvet cover may allow irritating down feathers to poke through and disrupt your sleep. A good duvet cover will be made of tightly knit fabric, with a high thread count  above 200. A classic cotton duvet cover is not only soft, but will also hold up in the wash.

If you prefer fabrics that are smooth to the touch, you can also invest in a silk duvet, which is both elegant and comfortable. As a word of warning, however, silk duvets require dry-cleaning and are easily wrinkled and stained.

In addition to changing your duvet cover, you can also consider switching out your comforter or duvet itself. Comforters that are overly warm will leave you overheated, while those with inadequate insulation will leave you shivering. Goose down, which is more fluffy, is a preferred fill over duck down. Down cluster, which is the fluffiest part of duck or goose feather, will provide greater warmth. Keep an eye out for a label with the down cluster percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher quality the comforter is. Also keep an eye out for the fill power of a comforter. A higher fill power indicates a greater level of insulation. We recommend a fill power between 600 to 800. Having a high-quality comforter that optimizes temperature regulation may just improve your sleep.

Your duvet covers and comforters do not need to be disintegrating for you to replace them. When it comes to sleep, it’s important to maximize both the quantity and quality of the sleep that you and your loved ones are getting. A simple switch of your bedding can create a comfortable sleep environment that will allow you to unwind and relax better. For luxurious and high-quality comforters, duvet covers, and custom-made options to help improve your sleep, you can visit Howard’s Upholstery for the best of the best.

Written by hrosenthal-admin