Home & Garden Blog » Bedding

The Art of the Perfect Night’s Sleep

brendan — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:25:45 +0000

Some rooms are just better to sleep in. Here are some key questions to answer to help you figure out how you can improve your bedroom and make it into a slumber paradise.

Is it dark enough? This may not seem like a big deal to you, but having your room dark enough makes a really big difference for how well you sleep. If your room has too much light in it, consider getting better curtains or window shades for your windows, and figure out how to block out light coming from under your door etc. The darker it is, the better you’ll sleep.

Is it quiet enough? If your room is too noisy, then think about installing soundproofing. If this is not an option, buy a white noise machine. I have found that waterfall machines are very soothing. These machines will not block out other sounds per se, but they will give you another sound to focus on, and the really do help.

Is it warm enough? This may be an odd question coming into spring, but having your body temperature sufficiently high can really help you fall asleep. Pay attention to your extremities–keeping your neck and head warm, you hands warm, and your feet / ankles warm really pulls off the trick for me. Keeping your body warm enough without getting too hot is a delicate balancing act, but play around with it and you’ll figure it out.

Is your bed comfy? If you have an old, hard springy thing, it’s time to replace it. There are so many great mattresses out there, you really have no excuse. Some of the best ones are quite inexpensive. Consider a memory foam mattress, or to save even more money, a memory foam mattress topper, which start at about $150. You can’t beat them, and sleeping on one really is believing. You’ll never go back to the old system.

This is a little bit less about getting to sleep quickly, but have you gotten new comforters or sheets lately? Getting a high thread-count sheet can be pretty awesome; they are super comfortable and soft, and yes, I do think that they can help you get to sleep better.

One thing I hear a lot is that if you are serious about falling asleep right away in your bed, you should really only do sleep-related things in your bed. So that means no taking work home and doing it on your laptop in bed, no doing homework, don’t watch tv, etc. Personally, I think this is kind of harsh, so I would modify that to this: do things that are generally sleep-inducing in bed, if you can. But don’t make too big of a deal out of it. The perfect night’s sleep is an elusive art form. I have found these ideas to be helpful. What do you think? Get back to me! Be Well!

Image Source: farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2717771604_23a1204f17.jpg

Style and Comfort: Bedding for Every Season

colleen — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:48:46 +0000

Your bed is your nest. To avoid rhyming: it’s where you rest your body after a long day of stress, or boredom, or unanticipated conflicts. Your bed isn’t always your haven away from the bad; sometimes it’s where you cuddle with loved ones, or close your eyes after a happy and life-changing day. In between the ups and downs of life, our bodies and minds need a place to regroup and recharge. Building the perfect, comfortable, heartwarming bed takes investment, but you can do it by following a few selections.

1. Your bed is not a static element. As the seasons change, you are going to need to change the layers and landscape of your bed. You want your bedding colors to be bright and diverse at all seasons, but the layers are going to change. For winter, you are going to want at least a sheet, a fleece layer, and a down comforter, depending on how warm you like to sleep. During the summer, you may only need a sheet, but sometimes, a light airy quilt or thin blanket will make you feel secure.

2. Thread counts: have to love them. Not to be a snob, but thread counts are important for a soft and luxurious feel. The higher the thread count, the higher the expense, so often people skimp on this in order to buy a super comforter. Lousy choice: the sheet goes right against your skin, and that feeling can either be scratchy or heavenly. The down comforter, mediated by the sheets and fleece and lighter blankets, is only a heat trap and extra weight:you can get that from a sleeping bag.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/137052187

Cool Blankets, Toasty Nights

colleen — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:41:02 +0000

At this time of the year, I start to collect blankets like a mother bird collecting twigs to build a nest. I even call my bed “the nest” and talk about “nesting,” just like how my grandmother talks about “porching” during the summers as she sits in her rocking chair on our porch. “Nesting” is an active necessity during the winter, even with the heat turned up. It’s always more satisfying to keep the heat on low and snuggle under a pile of blankets of various fleeces and quilts.

Everyone wants and needs a blanket, and you can never have to many: the most popular gift among my family and friends this winter was the Snuggie (whether the gift was intended for warmth or entertainment is debatable). The point is, everyone can use an extra blanket, and everyone will adore a really fleecy and warm new one.

When purchasing a blanket, you want to consider where and how the blanket will be used: if you want a blanket to cuddle up with in front of the television, maybe consider the colors of your couch or rug to get a blanket that enhances your living room. If the blanket is going to be used on your bed, think about whether or not you want a decorative blanket to put on top of your plain comforter, or if the new blanket is going under your comforter, the color or print doesn’t need to be so bold. The weight of the blanket is important to consider, too. If you want to wrap the blanket around Grandma’s legs when you take her out in the wheelchair for a walk around the block, you probably want a lighter fleece that won’t be bulky and get stuck in the wheels of the wheelchair. But if you have a drafty sun room but want to read out there from time to time, you might need a thicker blanket, even an electric one.

With all of this in mind, let’s look at the four basic categories of blankets, and see what fits best for your home: electric, wool, fleece, and down.

Image Source: babygadget.net

Bedding for the Holidays

colleen — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:25:44 +0000

When I was little, my grandmother hand-sewed me a holiday quilt. It is a little short for me, now, but it is my absolute favorite blanket. She has sewn a blanket for every child in our family (and that’s a lot, I promise!), each one unique in fabric and design. They are personalized, too, with the name of the child and the Christmas the blanket was given to them. I absolutely love it, I want to be that type of grandmother, the one who takes the time to give personalized, hand-sewn blankets to her loved ones.

But not everyone has the time, I know, to hand-sew blankets for 10 grandkids that take at least a month to make, each. Even if you can’t make the time investment, you can make the financial one: think about buying holiday quilts for your family or loved ones as a gift this holiday season. You can go funny or whimsical, with Santa Clause’s tap-dancing across a lime-green quilt, or stately and refined, with holly branches sprinkled on a satin comforter. There are plenty of options, for plenty of people in your life- take a look a couple I’ve found online:

Noel Bed-in-a-Bag : $59.99-69.99

Holiday Ribbon Bed-in-A-Bag from Domestications.com: $19.99

Shop for more holiday bedding at Smarter.com.

Seasonal Spotlight: Electric Blankets

colleen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:51:48 +0000

Oh dear, this morning was quite a brisk one. And my roommate was kind enough to turn the heat OFF (I’m kidding–it was horrible. I couldn’t get out of bed to change the heat back to something bearable!) What an awful way to wake up this morning! While I grumbled my way over to the computer and started to search on Craigslist for a new roommate…. (just kidding!). I actually started searching for ways to warm up my room. Everything from space heaters to electric blankets. I need to get over my fear of leaving heated, electric objects on in my room when I fall asleep and am particularly vulnerable. So for my own sake, I want to use a space heater and an electric blanket to heat up the room right before going to sleep, unplugging them and then being within reach of the plug in the morning.

Sorry for the long rant about my personal heat issues! But I know we’re all having problems, it’s December, and autumn doesn’t stick around forever. So to be prepared, get your space heaters and candles and electric blankets before the heat goes out and you’re really in trouble.

Delightful Nights Electric Blanket: $49.99-99.99

Sealey Diamond Electric Blanket : $59.99-119.99

Shop for affordable electric blankets at Smarter.com.

Snuggle Up with Fleece Throws this Winter

colleen — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:57:16 +0000

Nothing’s better than waking up in the morning and wrapping yourself in something fleece to start the day. May it be your luxurious bathrobe or your comforter, mornings need a little extra padding to get you from the bed to the shower, at least for me. I think there should be fleece mittens for when you have to reach out and turn off the alarm clock–maybe that will give me more incentive to listen to it!

Fleece blankets are one in a million, so make sure you get one that’s worth it’s salt. Here are some of the top fleece blankets to keep you warm and cozy as the weather gets a little bit frigid!

Supreme Heavyweight Fleece Blanket : This day only, $29.99

Available in so many different colors, you can outfit the whole family!

Woven Alpaca Fleece from LocalHarvest.org: $229.00

A bit of an investment, but Alpaca Fleece is worth it. It’s beautiful texture and luxurious feel will make you feel like a princess!

SuperSoft Andes Alpaca Fleece Blanket from Peru, from AlpacaWear.com: $62.99, marked down from $155!

Find discount fleece throw blankets at Smarter.com.

Going Green: Organic Comforters

colleen — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:04:36 +0000

The weather is getting chillier, especially at night. What can you do to protect your family, and the environment? Think about investing in some organic wool or knit blankets and comforters. Ecosleepshop.kushtush.com has a wonderful selection of organic, eco-friendly comforters and fleece items, check out some of their top selling blankets to make your family warm and snug this season!

Why organic blankets are good:

The animals that the wool is taken from are well taken care of, you are getting a natural product without the polyester or machine processed fabric which may itch or irritate your family’s skin, also a lot of the synthetic blankets are forms of plastic, which make it “meltable” and flammable when placed up against a heater. Talking from experience here, unfortunately.

Top organic comforters on the market:

Organic Merino Wool Comforter from EcoSleep.KushTush.com: $108

Organic Duvet Cover from EcoSleep.KushTush.com: $65.00

Hotel Collection Organic Reversible Duvet Covers from EcoSleep.KushTush.com: $18.00

Shop for more organic bedding at Smarter.com.

Discount Afghans and Throws for Cozy Fall and Winter Days

colleen — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:15:36 +0000

It’s cold and dreary, at least here in New England, and the only thing I want to do at 3:00 on a blistery afternoon is go back to sleep. Unfortunately, heat costs break my back and blankets become the heat entity du jour. Cuddle up in an afghan throw so you survive the wintery months.

Top afghans & throws found on Smarter.com:

Silk Fleece Throw : $98.00

Aurora Olive Throw: $399.40

Animal Printed Throw : $17.9

Shop for though a variety of affordable afghans & throws at Smarter.com.

Style Spotlight: Victorian New Age

colleen — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:38:56 +0000

If Jane Austen makes you swoon and The Frog Prince is still in your top-five stories of all time, then you need a home that reflects your inner princess/damsel-matron of the house. Before we go too medieval and musty, let’s look at the fresh and fabulous styles of the Victorian-era that are being re-interpreted today, as shown in the NYTimes.com photo gallery spread on a family home in Connecticut.

How to emulate this look: think wood, majesty, and patterned silks. Wood ball-and-claw tables and chairs for the dining room and a grandfather clock for the living room to chime the midnight hour. Special details should be paid to the floor and wall papers–no carpets, though rugs can be tolerated. Wood floors and light wood chair-runner panels on the wall give a classic look. Buying big show-stopping Victorian pieces is a pricey endeavor that often requires a few loots of the local antique store. You can find the Victorian look for less by checking out Smarter.com’s featured selection.

Top picks of Victorian-inspired furniture and home decor:

Victorian Strip Console-Butler : $910.25

Victorian Crochet Bedding : $24.93-99.93

Victorian Floral Petit Pillow : $105.00

Shop for more Victorian style decor.

Comfy Comforters for Fall

colleen — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:31:55 +0000

As the weather gets brisker (I feel like I start every monologue this way now!) all I want to do is make my bed the perfect personal haven. I’ve got the memory foam, the jersey sheets, the extra pillows ranging in hardness and height and color-coordinated to match the sheets, the fuzzy blanket that I sleep with no matter how breathable or not breathable, it becomes in the summer, or insufficient in the winter. While the fuzzy blanket may have been just enough of a top layer for summertime (there were some nights where I was pushing it!) now that it’s fall and the weather is brisk, the fuzzy blanket built for comfort is not enough. I need shelter. Large, depth-defying comforters that can brave the cold and fit several small children in their bulbous pockets of fluffy goodness. Here are some of my top picks:

Down Comforter 1101: $39.99 for a twin size

Laura Comforter Twin: $134.99, marked down from $146.00

Milano White Goose Down Comforter: $156.99