Create your PERFECT BED

If you have the ideal resting place, a healthy night’s sleep will follow...

When you slide between the sheets at night, how do you feel? Cosy, comfy and content in the knowledge that you’ll drift off very soon? If the answer is no, your bed may be partly to blame.

According to new research* more than 13% of people find an uncomfortable bed regularly disturbs their sleep. ‘A great bed should offer comfort and support and it really can make a big difference to life,’ says The Sleep Council’s Lisa Artis.

And a better sleeping environment doesn’t just promote restorative sleep, it can also help your health. So, if you’re keen to upgrade your nest, here’s what you need to know.

Perfectly framed

First things first, size matters. There are six standard bed sizes in the UK (including two single sizes) and choosing the right one for you is dependent on several factors. How tall and heavy are you? Do you sleep alone? And consider your favourite position in bed – it goes without saying that a 6ft starfish sleeper will need room to spread out. ‘As a nation we come bottom of the league for bed sizes as we commonly buy the narrowest and shortest beds in the world,’ says Lisa. Considering that two people sharing a standard double bed have just 68cm of space each – which is only slightly wider than a baby’s cot – it’s worth asking why we sell ourselves short on size. The general rule is this: for a better night’s sleep, pick the largest bed that will comfortably fit into your room.

Good support