How to get a good night’s sleep

When looking for the best mattress, the experts at Vispring advise several visits to the shop: “Take your time to decide what works for you. Go back and visit a few times. Don’t be embarrassed. Lay on your side, on your stomach – shuffle around a bit. We move in our sleep about twenty times per night, so see how that feels.” Pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses are the most popular choices, but interior designer Sarah Stewart-Smith likes “a good old-fashioned mattress filled with silk and cashmere.”

Alistair Hughes stresses the importance of personalisation: “Consider your sleep posture and how your body reacts with the mattress. If the mattress is too hard, the hip and shoulder can be pushed up. Ideally you are looking to be as straight as possible so make sure the mattress is soft enough for you. If you are a back sleeper, push your hand under your back to see if the mattress is meeting the lower back, if not then there isn’t enough support. Personally, I sleep on a Savoir No2 bed (the same mattress type as first used in The Savoy in 1905), which was custom made to suit my preferences.”

Naturalmat are one of our preferred mattress brands. Why? For their unique, longstanding, sustainable approach to their products. Since 1999, they eschewed the trend for stuffing mattresses with man-made, non-biodegradable products and instead created a mattress filled with natural fibres, for better support when sleeping. What’s more, they’re all made right here in the UK and since they started the company, the team has expanded into toppers, headboards, linens and more.

Emma NextGen Premium Mattress

Pillows, duvets and toppers

Alexander James

If you want support but still like the feeling of sinking into something soft when you get into bed, a mattress topper is the perfect solution. Anne Barnes, Deputy Director of Housekeeping at Claridge’s, tells us that “every guest at Claridge’s sleeps with one and appreciates that extra depth to sink into.” Alistair Hughes emphasises that whatever your preference here, the material is important: “While mattress toppers raise your feet a little, which is good for your blood pressure and circulation, make sure it is made from breathable materials such as horse tail and wool, as one of the worst things you can do for your sleep is overheat.”

On the subject of pillows, support is key. Our columnist Rita Konig says, “I always like to have at least two pillows. It’s nice to have a square one because it’s nice to sit up in bed with a big pillow behind you. The square pillow can be slightly firmer than others, but the standard pillow that you sleep on should be the best you can afford. I think that Siberian goose down is the best.” Nina Campbell agrees on the importance of not over-pillowing: “I once stayed somewhere that had 24 pillows and cushions on the bed, which was such a nightmare. A firm regular pillow, a goose-down pillow and a big square pillow for reading are perfectly sufficient.”

Luxury Hungarian Goose Down Pillow

For duvets, duck or goose down is the best choice. As for weight and feel, at Claridge’s, personal preference is key: “The perfect duvet is down to preference – personally, I like a fluffy duvet for ultimate comfort. We tuck the bottom of every duvet under the mattress for style, but leave the sides loose for ventilation and ease. You don’t want to feel restricted when you’re trying to sleep.”

The Simba Hybrid Duvet, Double

4.5 Tog Hungarian Goose Down Duvet, double

Paul Massey