Did you know we spend one third of our lives in bed? And yet, conversely, have never felt more tired? According to the NHS, one third of us will experience episodes of insomnia at some stage in our lives, while the average Briton manages only 5.91 hours of sleep a night.

Irregular sleep patterns are linked to everything from poor work performance  to serious health conditions, so it’s little wonder that as a nation we are thoroughly obsessed. The ‘sleep wellness’ market is correspondingly flooded with SAD lamps, massaging eye masks, mood rings and white noise machines – but have you ever actually evaluated the bed you’re sleeping on? 

Anyone who’s sunken into an all-white, marshmallow-like hotel bed knows there’s no greater luxury than cosy, crisp bedding. Cue ‘bed maths’ by John Lewis, the retailer’s new concept to get the nation sleeping better. Not only does it offer free 45-minute consultations with its in-house sleep experts, you’ll also leave with a bespoke ‘sleep equation’ to help achieve your perfect night’s sleep. ‘Our bed math equation starts with the right foundations, so getting your mattress, bed and bedding right and working in harmony is really important. While it can feel like an investment up front, it’s certainly worth spending the money getting it right for you,’ says Nicola Waller, head of buying for furniture and sleep specialist at John Lewis. ‘To put that into context, we recommend you change your mattress every seven years, making cost per use 7p – far more cost effective than that £4 cup of coffee.’ Whether a side or back sleeper, allergy sufferer or pregnant, there’s a sleep solution for you. 

BEDDY BUYS
We move about 20 times a night during one sleep – chances are, if you’re sharing a bed, you’re having micro-awakenings each time your partner moves too. It goes without saying, then: buy the biggest bed your budget and room allow for. 

‘Are you sleeping better or worse than you did a year ago? Are you waking up feeling stiff and sore? Does your mattress have visible signs of wear and tear? If you answer yes to any of these, it’s time to upgrade your mattress,’ says Sarah Frederickson, marketing and creative director at Savoir. Commit to your mattress purchase: make several visits, take your time, shuffle around a bit from your side to stomach. If you’re looking to create an authentic hotel bed experience at home, try Devon-based Naturalmat’s Superb mattress – loved for its natural latex and organic wool, it’s used in The Hoxton and Six Senses hotels. (Plus, the brand offers a 45-day guarantee – no sleep, no keep.) Experts also recommend Vispring, the original brand to introduce pocket-spring mattresses back in 1901. ‘It is no surprise that we would vouch for a pocket-sprung mattress over a memory foam one,’ says Clare Schifano, global marketing director at Vispring. ‘Our pocket-sprung mattresses are handcrafted using individual calico pocket springs. Each spring moulds to your shape and follows your natural contours, which means less tossing and turning.’

PILLOW TALK
If you can’t justify a new mattress or bed frame, a fresh set of pillows is a great starting point. Side sleeper? Go for a firm pillow – it’ll provide sufficient support to the neck, back and shoulders, keeping the spine aligned and preventing hunching. For those who sleep on their back, or tend to flip through the night, a medium firmness pillow is best. It will provide enough support for the neck but won’t affect the alignment of your spine. Front sleepers should opt for soft and lower-profile pillows. Remember, everyone’s different so you and your partner may find that the same pillows don’t suit both your needs – a mishmash of different pillows might not be as aesthetically pleasing, but few things kill your libido quicker than a poor night’s sleep.

MATERIAL GIRL
Indi McCullough founded luxury bedding brand Shleep after years working in advertising, where ‘sleep was undervalued and overwork was glorified’. After relocating to Australia and re-assessing both her priorities and wellbeing, she understood that quality sleep was intricately linked to her long-term health and productivity. Fast forward to the launch of Shleep, a bedding line using Australian merino wool – a natural performance fibre that boasts breathability, temperature regulation and moisture-wicking properties, as well as hypoallergenic benefits. The likes of Harrods and Fortnum & Mason are backing the science – they’ve just become the brand’s first UK retailers. In short, look for breathable fabrics and moisture control. Thread counts, meanwhile, are a bit of a marketing scam – the quality of the thread and finish of the cotton are far more important than a very high count.

DOPAMINE DECOR
‘Your bedroom should be the most relaxing room in the house, conjuring a feeling of calm as soon as you walk through the door,’ says Jessica Hanley, founder and CEO of cult bedding company Piglet in Bed. ‘The main thing is that you want to look forward to relaxing in your room and cocooning yourself in your bedding after a long day.’ One of the brand’s top sellers is the pale blue Mist Chambray linen bedding. ‘We say it’s like a breath of salty sea air, and it instantly evokes a sense of calm’, says Hanley. ‘It’s also woven from a blend of sustainably sourced linen and cotton, so you get the best of both worlds.’ 

To headboard or not to headboard? While de rigueur among the interior cognoscenti, a feng shui expert will deter you from anything with bars. Go padded and decorative, while remembering that feeling zen is your desired pre-sleep state. Lastly, get rid of physical clutter so that your mind isn’t ruminating into the wee hours about things that aren’t done. In short, it’s time to move the home office out.