Creating the perfect bed - Bedding, duvets and mattresses
Good quality sleep allows our bodies to repair themselves, reduces the risk of disease and is essential for mental wellbeing. We should therefore take any measures possible to ensure a quality sleep, which may include a change of bedding, duvet or mattress.
To create the perfect bed a number of factors must be considered:
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 in style, featuring eye-catching aubergine and lime colours to really stand out, whereas Prato offers more muted aqua and stone colours and a striped design. Both Harlequin duvet covers feature a piped edge in one of the design’s main colours, demonstrating the quality of these designs. The quality fabric in these designs, and Harlequins other bedding, feels fresh, crisp and allows the skin to breathe. Its thread count keeps temperatures at an optimum level, warm yet breathable.
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 include feather, wool and silk, and are less likely to withstand washing.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.
The most common type of spring mattress is open spring, where springs set within the mattress, with rods or wire giving the mattress a firm edge and helping it retain its shape. These tend to be the cheapest, yet least durable form of common mattress.
Pocket spring mattresses are also spring-based, but these are sewn into separate fabric 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. They are therefore ideal for people with muscular and spinal conditions, and can also be hypo-allergenic.
But whatever mattress, duvet or pillows you choose, don’t forget the importance of choosing quality bedding. Choosing a good quality bed linen is a simple and affordable way to ensure a good night’s sleep.
