A guide to buying the best bedding

Sleep is a crucial contributing factor to our health and general sense of wellbeing and yet it receives less attention than other key determinants such as diet and exercise. And while we are normally very conscious about what we put in our bodies (our diet); what we put on our bodies, particularly our bedding, receives even less attention.

To choose the best bedding for a healthy and sound sleep here are three important factors to consider:

(1) Your bedding should be made with 100% natural fibres. Natural fibres (e.g. cotton, linen, wool) are more breathable than synthetic ones and yet still offer great insulation. For softness, breathability and durability it’s hard to top cotton for bedding and sleepware. Wool is ideal for duvets and pillows as it combines great insulating capability with breathability and due to its wicking properties moisture rapidly evaporates which is just the ticket on those sticky summer nights.

(2) Be sure to look for GOTS-certified organic bedding which is free from the harsh chemicals, fixatives and pesticides used in ‘conventional’, i.e. non-organic bedding. The chemical residues in the latter, although present at relatively low levels, are absorbed by the skin. Given we spend a third of our lives in bed there’s plenty of time for these nasties to enter our system. Research suggests such residues, over time, can contribute to chronic inflammation, so the importance of organic (read non-toxic) bedding cannot be overemphasised. That’s why at Sleep Organic we exclusively use finest quality GOTS-certified organic (and Fairtrade) fabric.

(3) Natural simplicity is the key to relaxation and a good night’s sleep. It’s a common enough experience that we feel more relaxed and calm in an uncluttered environment and the same principle applies to our bedroom and our bedding. At Sleep Organic we work with a unique combination of artists and sleep therapists in the design of our bedding with the aim of creating a feeling of elegant simplicity. A very busy or overly complex and/or colourful pattern or very dark colours are less conducive to the winding down and relaxation needed prior to a good night’s sleep. Such busy patterns and colours tend to stimulate our brain which significantly delays sleep onset. The best colour to sleep in is white. It’s no surprise therefore that white is the most popular colour in bed linen. Perhaps it might be a completely unconscious but intuitively right choice in service of our natural basic need – a good night’s sleep.

Dr Chris Murphy, co-founder Sleep Organic

← Older Post Newer Post →