Do you ever sleep better in a hotel than you do at home, but you’re not exactly sure why? While it could just be the fact that you’re in a different space, experts in sleep, design and health say there’s a science behind a good night’s sleep.
It turns out, everything from the clutter in your bedroom to the size of your bed can make a difference in how well you snooze. To get the best night’s sleep at home, this is what the experts recommend.
- Find the temperature sweet spot - The Hilton hotel chain has hired Dr Rebecca Robbins, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, to help improve the sleep of their guests. She advises that the ideal temperature for snoozing is between 64 and 68-degrees.
- Size matters - Hotel beds are comfy and their generous size is one reason for that. Upgrading to a larger bed can help you have more space and sleep better.
- Dim the lights - Ditch the bright overhead lights and go with soft lighting to channel calm and relaxation in your room.
- Layer up your windows - Hotels have curtains to block light, muffle sound and help your room feel like an escape from the outside world. You can replicate this at home by adding layers to your windows, interior designer Ali Childs recommends a sheer curtain for privacy, a roman blind to block light and a pair of full-length curtains on top.
- Go with Egyptian cotton, if you can afford it - The fibers are longer, which creates a softer piece of linen. For soft hotel-style bedding, experts recommend 400-thread count sheets with a sateen finish.
- Try a fabric headboard - They help muffle sound and can make you “feel cocooned” and cozy.
- Cut back on clutter - Research shows that a cluttered bedroom can negatively impact sleep quality, so getting rid of as much as you can in your room can create a more restful sleep environment. Ideally, there should be nothing in your sightline that could distract you as you drift off. Some of you won’t want to hear this, but that includes TVs in the bedroom.
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