The Importance of Bedding

So much is written about how to ensure you have the most supportive bed and mattress for your needs that the way you dress your bed is often forgotten. We take a look at what you should consider when buying the all-important bedding.

Mattress Protectors

A common misconception is that mattress protectors are only for children who may have accidents overnight. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Firstly it’s worth bearing in mind that if you’ve just spent your hard-earned cash on a new mattress, you may well invalidate any warranty that covers the mattress if you aren’t using a mattress protector.

Even the most well-kept and cared for mattress is likely to harbour dust mites as they feed on dead skin cells. A mattress protector provides a barrier between you and these allergens which will help to ensure you have the best night’s sleep possible, particularly for allergy-sufferers. Check out our Anti-Allergy Mattress Protector.

Our bodies secrete sweat, oil and skin cells whilst we sleep which, over time, will be absorbed into our mattress and will eventually contribute to it losing support and breaking down. Using a removable mattress protector which you can regularly remove and wash will therefore actually increase the life of your mattress.

Duvets

A duvet’s tog rating is based on its ability to trap warm air so the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. If you have the space, having a lighter-weight duvet for Spring and Summer (up to 7 tog) and a heavier one for Winter (up to 13.5 tog) is a great choice.

There are also ‘His and Hers’ duvets available on the market which allow each partner to choose their preferred tog rating.

Whether you choose natural or synthetic filling is largely a personal and financial choice. Natural fillings such as feathers/down traditionally have better thermal properties than synthetic fibres and are often lighter in weight but are more expensive and may not suit allergy sufferers.

Synthetic fibres generally retain more moisture so a cotton cover on our duvet is a good choice. It will feel drier and fresher and will ultimately help you achieve a great night’s sleep.

Pillows

Your pillow is vitally important to getting a good night’s sleep. It supports your head (which, for an average adult, weighs an impressive 11lb) and aligns your neck with your spine. Anyone who has ever fallen asleep upright and woken up with a crick in their neck will know how incredibly important this is. Some experts say that if you can fold your pillow in half without it flipping back into shape, it has lost its support and needs to be replaced.

A worn out pillow can’t do its job properly – it can lead to neck pain caused by a lack of proper support but it is also a common cause of allergic reactions in allergy sufferers.

Our top pillow advice:

• Allergy sufferers should opt for memory foam pillows.
• No pillow is 100% dust mite free, so all pillows should be fitted on day one with washable, anti-allergen covers. Wash the covers frequently.
• If you have a machine washable pillow, kill dust mites by washing it regularly at 60C. If you don’t, put it in the freezer for 24 hours.
• Front or back sleepers should pick slimmer pillows than side sleepers.
• Look for a pillow that fills the gap between your head and shoulders when you lie down.
• Don’t rush to buy the first pillow you see. Quality memory foam pillows offer superb support and benefits – they are worth the investment.

If you want more information about the different types of pillows, we have a guide to picking your perfect pillow. We stock a wide range of pillows to suit every type of sleeper.

Dormeo has a great range of mattresses, bedsteads and divans to suit every bedroom and every budget.

If you have any questions or queries, we are on hand any time to answer them, free, on 0800 625 0134.