From eye masks to magnesium stacks – everything you need to upgrade your sleep setup
Sleep used to be simple. But in an age when constant connectivity and late-night scrolling are the norm, sleepmaxxing, (ie optimising your bedroom set up for peak sleep hours) has become a necessary act of self-care. Experts agree that sleep is a cornerstone of health, improving memory, mood, and immunity, yet nearly one in three adults don’t get enough of it.
So many things can affect sleep, from room temperature and light pollution, to phone overuse and drinking (guilty!), that it can feel like a bit of a minefield trying to zero in on causes if you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep. Lifestyle factors aside, there are certain basics you want to get right, like having a decent mattress and bedding as a bare minimum and then building out what feels right for you from there.
We’ve gone all in, testing everything from hotel-level mattresses and cloud-like wool toppers to calming teas, supplements and sleep-tracking tech, to see what actually makes a difference. Because if you’re going to spend a third of your life doing something, you might as well do it properly.
The Mattress
Sealy Anniversary Firm Mattress
The foundation of the whole sleep operation. The Sealy Anniversary Firm sits squarely in that sweet spot between supportive and forgiving, the kind of mattress that makes you immediately realise how bad your old one was. It’s properly sturdy, but still comfortable enough that you don’t feel like you’re sleeping on a board. Back and side sleepers, in particular, will notice the upgrade immediately.
The Sheets
There’s a reason why sinking into a luxurious hotel bed always feels so good: hotels never scrimp on the sheets and covers. These high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and duvet cover from Belledrom are crisp without being stiff, soft without going limp – proper hotel energy in other words. The 600 sateen weave gives a slightly silky finish, while the deep fitted sheet actually stays put. If your current bedding situation is looking a little threadbare, this is an easy upgrade.
The Pillow
Memory foam gets all the attention, but wool is where it’s at. Naturally breathable and temperature-regulating, this wool pillow from Woolroom is made from 100% British wool and keeps things cool without losing that plush feel. It’s also hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites, and washable, so it’s easy to keep it super fresh.
The Mattress Topper
If a new mattress isn’t on the cards, getting a new mattress topper is a good alternative. It adds that extra layer of softness and insulation without overheating, effectively upgrading whatever you’ve already got underneath. It’s a simple switch that can make all the difference. Again we can recommend going for wool instead of memory foam or synthetics, and if you’re on the fence, Woolroom offers a 30 day money back trial.
The Teas
Whether it’s placebo or not, the act of making a cuppa and slowing things down is half the point, a signal to your brain that it’s time to log off. We used to neck loads of green tea in the evening, on the premise that it wasn’t that much caffeine, but eventually had to concede defeat. A couple of special nighttime numbers we like include the Newby Night Calm Tea (chamomile, lemongrass and lavender) and the Pukka Night Time Tea (chamomile, oatflower and valerian).
The Sleep Mask
Blackout blinds, but for your face. This is peak sleepmaxxing indulgence, Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask a 22-momme mulberry silk, cloud-like padding, and a wrap-around design that blocks out light and softens noise. Once you get used to it, going back to a basic eye mask feels like a total downgrade.
The Supplements
Search for night time supplements and you will be bombarded with an endless array of pills promising to aid a good night’s sleep. It’s hard to know what to believe but we do like the combination of Nutravita’s magnesium and ashwagandha pills. Magnesium works on the physical side, helping muscles relax, while ashwagandha tackles stress and cortisol levels. Together, they’re designed as a kind of two-step reset. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a one-pill solution, Rheal’s Night Reset is a blend of magnesium, L-Theanine, zinc and soothing botanicals like saffron and chamomile.
The Tech
On the one hand you might think encouraging any more tech use is counterproductive. But having some insight into what’s going on in your body can be very useful when trying to optimise your sleep routine. Sensors in the ring track heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature and movement, building a detailed picture of how you actually sleep, not just how long you’re in bed. That means insights into sleep stages, efficiency, how long it takes you to drop off, and how well your body is recovering. All of that feeds into its AI-led system, which looks at patterns over time, such as your circadian rhythm, stress levels, even how your body responds to things like late meals or bad habits, and translates it into a daily sleep score. The Luna Smart Ring 2.0 is your sleep buddy for life.
The Alarm
The Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150 replaces harsh alarms with a gradual sunrise simulation, slowly brightening your room to wake you up more naturally – particularly useful during London’s darker months when it’s still pitch black at 7am. There’s a sunset mode too, which gently dims the light as you wind down, helping signal to your body that it’s time to switch off. It’s also Quiet Mark Certified (but don’t worry, it’ll still wake you up).
