Clocked a solid eight hours in bed last night but still woke up feeling tired and restless today? Although we spend one-third of our lives sleeping, not all of it equates to quality slumber. Poor sleep quality can lead to many side effects such as a lack of concentration or simply having a nasty mood. Break this unhealthy cycle by building yourself a cosy bed! Read on to learn how to improve sleep quality by using the right bedding accessories such as a weighted blanket or mattress protector in Singapore. Trust us, these small improvements add up to make a huge difference during bedtime!
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Building a good bed can help with insomnia
Many of us struggle not only with falling asleep but also staying asleep throughout the night. These are the telltale signs of insomnia, a sleep disorder which may lead to dire problems such as excessive grogginess, inability to focus, increase in stress levels and even obesity. Causes of insomnia include high stress levels as well as caffeine and alcohol consumption close to bedtime. Stimulating the brain late in the evening through games or the use of electronic devices may also keep your brain from resting when it’s bedtime. However, with the help of the right bedding accessories, you may be able to ditch insomnia once and for all!
Tips on how to improve sleep quality
1. A suitable mattress makes a huge difference
When it comes to learning how to improve sleep quality, one of the main determining factors is the suitability of your mattress. Choosing the right type of mattress for your sleeping habits can greatly improve your quality of sleep quality. If you experience disruptive sleep, the Woosa Mattress (available on Woosa Official Store) may just be the solution you need. The Woosa Mattress is a memory foam mattress which is popular in Singapore for its conforming comfortability and low pressure on the body. Those who use it describe it as being cradled to sleep when they rest on memory foam mattresses, and this makes it less likely for them to toss around in bed. Additionally, you need not worry about waking your partner up as memory foam mattresses have excellent motion separation properties.
Often experience back pains when you wake up from your sleep? Chances are that your mattress is too soft and not providing enough back support. Choose a firm, yet supportive mattress like the Somnuz Comfy 10 Inch Pocketed Spring Mattress (available on Megafurniture Official Store). Pocket spring mattresses are made up of hundreds of individual springs standing in pockets which help to hold your body up better than other types of mattresses. It will keep your back supported throughout the night and relieve tension.
2. Your bed sheet matters
Your bed sheet is more than just a decorative bed accessory. The material actually plays a big part in how well you sleep at night. Avoid synthetic bed sheet fabrics as those can trap heat and leave you tossing about feeling warm and icky at night. Instead, go for cotton bed sheets which are better for our tropical climate. The Jean Perry 100% Combed Cotton Sateen Fitted Sheet Set (available on Jean Perry Official Store.SG) is an excellent choice as it’s made of 100% quality cotton sateen that is soft to the touch, and will leave you feeling cool at night!
Think the colour of your bed sheets are for pure aesthetic purpose? There’s actually science involved behind picking the best palette for your sheets! Avoid loud neon colours and busy patterns that will leave your mind feeling ‘agitated’. Instead, keep to simple designs with softer hues such as white, cream, grey, baby blue or light purple shades to create a more relaxing bedroom atmosphere. We especially adore the Epitex New Silkysoft 900TC Solid SS8032 Series Fitted Sheet (available on Epitex Official Store) which comes in beautiful and inviting shades like mauve and deep purple. Plus, the bed sheets are made of a sustainable and antibacterial fabric with moisture wicking properties!
3. Pick a suitable pillow
One of the main factors to consider when you’re looking for ways on how to improve sleep quality is your pillow type. Is your pillow too soft and lacks support or too rigid and strains your neck? If you said yes to any of the above, you need a pillow change!
As a general rule of thumb, back sleepers should go for thinner pillows. This keeps the head levelled with the shoulders. Likewise, stomach sleepers will need a thinner pillow that leans on the softer side. This prevents the head from being lifted too far from the shoulders which may cause back strain. If you’re prone to allergies, an ideal pillow for you will be something like the Jean Perry UltraLux Micro Fiber Pillow (available on Jean Perry Official Store.SG). This pillow is antibacterial, hypoallergenic and anti dust mites — the safest choice for allergies.
Meanwhile, those sleeping without an air cooler will appreciate the subtle coolness emitted by the Epitex Arctic Cooling Memory Pillow (available on Epitex Official Store). This special pillow is designed with a high density memory foam that has a breathable netting allowing better pillow ventilation by quickly dispersing the heat. It keeps you cool throughout the night while reducing pressure on your neck. As a slightly firmer pillow, it also helps to keep your neck resting at its most optimal position. Say goodbye to neck aches!
4. Tuck yourself in with a blanket
Your body temperature gradually drops as you sleep and you’ll eventually find yourself feeling too cold without a blanket. Thus, having a nice blanket to curl up under can significantly improve your sleep quality even on the hottest nights. Furthermore, being tucked snugly into a blanket helps your body release serotonin. This is a body chemical that induces a sense of calmness and relaxation for a restful night. If you sleep without the air conditioning on, a cotton blanket like the Alshone Cotton Comforter (available on Alshone Home Official Store) will be more suitable as it is lightweight and doesn’t retain too much heat.
Meanwhile, down blankets such as the Jean Perry Pluffy Down Quilt (available on Jean Perry Official Store.SG) are great for those who love turning up the air conditioning to mimic Arctic conditions.
Those who seek a little more comfort from their blanket will adore the Weavve Weighted Blanket (available on Weavve Home). As its name suggests, a weighted blanket is a blanket filled with plastic pellets to provide an additional weight of about one to 12kg. Can’t imagine how a weighted blanket will feel like on the bed? Many people describe it as the feeling of being hugged by someone or wearing the X-ray apron. The deep pressure stimulation may take some time to get used to. But it is effective at calming both adults and kids who suffer from sleep anxiety and insomnia.
5. Use a mattress and pillow protector
Think that mattress protectors in Singapore are optional when it comes to looking for how to improve your sleep quality? Think again! Mattress protectors are some of the most important bedding accessories as they are made of water-resistant material. A good mattress protector in Singapore will help to prevent dirt and sweat from seeping into your mattress. This can result in a nasty odour that‘ll affect your sleep.
This is especially important for ladies during that time of the month! Rest without stress when you buy waterproof mattress protectors such as the Epitex Waterproof Fitted Mattress Protector (available on Epitex Official Store) which prevents any overnight leaks from staining your mattress. Even if an accident occurs, all you need to do is to throw your mattress protector into the washer and voila, your bed is as good as new again!
Similarly, quality pillow protectors such as the Novelle Pillow Protector (available on Jean Perry Official Store.SG) also prevents dust mite allergies from acting up — the main culprit behind runny nose and shortness of breath which may keep you awake all night long.
6. Cushion with a mattress topper
Buying a mattress can be quite an investment as some of them are very costly. This is why many people continue to sleep on beds that are unsuitable for them, even if it means sacrificing sleep quality. Wondering how to improve sleep quality without throwing out your current mattress? You can do so simply by using a mattress topper! Mattress toppers are different from mattress protectors and bed sheets as they are stuffed and have a thickness of up to eight inches.
Mattress toppers such as the Jean Perry Fitted Mattress Topper (available on Jean Perry Official Store.SG) is a godsend when you have a hard mattress. It instantly transforms your bed into a soft cushy bliss, saving you the hassle of buying a brand new bed! Plus, it’s easy to install — simply loop the bands around the corners of your bed and lay your bed sheet over the mattress topper and mattress to complete your cosy setup! A mattress topper also doubles as a mattress protector to prevent dirt and gunk from sinking into your bed.
7. Keep your sheets in place
Bed sheet clips — so small, yet so significant when you’re wondering how to improve sleep quality. With regular washing, you may notice that your bed sheets start to expand or that the elastic at the sides becomes loose. What happens when you sleep on an ill-fitting bed sheet is that it may crease or bundle up as you toss and turn in bed. If you’re looking for alternative methods on how to improve sleep quality without tugging the bed sheets out, we suggest turning to bed sheet clips for help!
If you’re using a mattress with grooves on the side, then these Supo Depot bed sheet clips (available on SUPO Depot Official Store) will work for you. Lay on your bed sheet and secure it around the edges of your mattress using the bed sheet secure clips. The clips are safe to use as they come with no sharp corners. They can be easily installed as and when needed.
Alternatively, you can use these sheet fixing bands (available on Dansunreve Official Store) which can be clipped onto the four corners of your bed sheet. They keep the bed sheet taut and crease-free all night!
Learn how to improve your sleep quality with these bedding accessories
We hope you’ll start to catch more Z’s now that you’ve learnt how to improve sleep quality with bedding accessories that you can get at great prices during our Shopee Home Furniture Sale! For more bedding recommendations, check out our mattress guide and list of best bedsheets in Singapore so that your sleep will be even more peaceful. If you’re constantly experiencing neck pains, be sure to get some of the best pillows that’s ideal for your sleep position. Otherwise, find out how to choose the best blankets in Singapore that works with our sunny weather!
This article was updated on 7 March 2022. Additional research done by Gabriel Choo.