If you’ve ever been kept awake by a snoring sleep partner, then you’ll know exactly how disruptive this condition can be to a good night’s sleep.

Equally, if you are the snorer, you might be getting just as frustrated by a broken sleep that leaves you feeling tired and badly rested in the morning.

That’s why I asked three sleep experts for their top tips on how to stop snoring.

From the sleeping positions that reduce snoring to the best pillow type and height, this is their advice for reducing snoring and getting a better night’s sleep.

What is snoring

First up, what exactly is snoring, and why might we do it? ‘Snoring can be a natural process,’ explains Hannah Shore, head of sleep science at sleep retailer Mattress Online. ‘It’s caused when the muscles relax in the upper airway, just like the rest of our muscles relax whilst we are asleep.'

'The snoring is the sound of air being forced through this smaller, relaxed gap,’ says Hannah

However, natural or not, if your snoring is loud enough to wake either yourself or your sleep partner, it’s something you might prefer to avoid, and, luckily, our experts say there are some easy ways to do so.

How to stop snoring

1. Consider your sleeping position

First up when it comes to preventing snoring, consider your sleeping position.

‘For many people, sleeping on their side is one of the most effective ways to help reduce snoring,’ explains Sammy Margo, Chartered Physiotherapist and sleep expert at sleep retailer Dreams.

‘When you sleep on your back, gravity may cause the tongue and soft tissues in the throat to fall backwards, partially blocking the airway, which may increase the likelihood of snoring.’

In contrast, ‘side sleeping helps keep the airways more open,’ says Sammy, ‘making it particularly beneficial for those who experience mild snoring or disrupted sleep.’

‘When you lie on your back, gravity pulls the tongue and soft tissues backwards, narrowing the airway and causing the vibrations we hear as snoring,’ agrees Dave Gibson, sleep expert, Registered Osteopath, and founder of The Sleep Site.

‘As a result, many people find that their snoring is noticeably worse on their back and improves once they train themselves to stay on their side,’ shares Dave.

Although that does raise another question. It’s all very well saying ‘sleep on your side’, but our preferred sleeping position easily becomes ingrained.

If you’re a back sleeper who is struggling with snoring, how do our experts advise making the switch from back to side sleeping?

2. Sort your pillow setup

As Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, I know just how important choosing the right pillow is. The type of pillow we sleep on also has a significant effect on how comfortable we find various sleeping positions.

If your pillow is too low, you won’t find lying on your side that comfortable, so you’re much more likely to return to back sleeping. Therefore, investing in one of the best pillows for side sleepers can be crucial to this anti-snoring advice working.

‘With side sleeping being the ideal position to reduce snoring, the aim for any pillow setup is to support you in this position throughout the night,’ agrees Dave.

‘For side sleeping, a medium-to-high loft pillow that fills the gap between the shoulder and head works well. This prevents the head from tilting back or the chin tucking into the chest, both of which can restrict airflow,’ Dave advises.

‘Some people find that a slight elevation helps if nasal congestion contributes to their snoring,’ adds Dave, ‘but it should not be too high. The goal for the overall pillow setup should be comfort as well as reduced noise, without forcing the neck into an unnatural position.’

‘The right pillow can make a significant difference when it comes to reducing snoring,’ agrees Sammy. ‘The aim is to keep your head, neck and spine properly aligned while helping to maintain an open airway throughout the night.’

I’ve included three of my tried-and-tested top pillows for side sleeping below.

3. Invest in a body pillow

Our sleep experts also point out that it’s not only the pillow under your head that can help with snoring. You might also want to consider using a body pillow.

‘Body pillows can be a useful option for people looking to reduce snoring, especially if they find it difficult to stay on their side throughout the night,’ says Sammy. ‘They make side sleeping more comfortable and may help you stay in that position for longer, reducing the chances of rolling onto your back or front while you sleep.’

‘Body pillows are particularly useful for people who start the night on their side but tend to roll onto their back, or front, as they sleep,’ agrees Dave.

‘If you tend to roll onto your back, you would position the pillow behind you to stop yourself from falling backwards. If you want to prevent rolling forward, you could hug the body pillow and place part of it between your knees.’

‘Body pillows don’t directly stop snoring, but because they help you maintain a side-sleeping position throughout the night, they can reduce snoring in people whose symptoms are typically worse when lying on their back,’ summarises Dave.

All this said, although changing your sleeping position can definitely help to prevent snoring – as can choosing the right pillows to support you in that process – our experts make sure to point out this isn’t the only fix that may be needed.

As well as considering your sleep setup, ‘you need to find out what is *causing* your snoring,’ says Hannah. That’s because not all snoring is the same.

Hannah offers the following ‘cheatsheet’ to help you dig into the nitty-gritty of what’s keeping you (or your partner) awake at night.

Common causes of snoring

• Do you only snore on your back? 'If so, some of the pillows discussed previously may help,' says Hannah.
• Do you only snore after alcohol? 'This is due to the relaxation effect alcohol has on our muscles,' explains Hannah. 'Alcohol relaxes the upper airway muscles more than normal, reducing the space for free-flowing air. You may find that reducing the amount of alcohol you drink improves your snoring.'
• Do you only snore in the summer months? 'This could be allergies causing inflammation in the upper airway and reducing the space further than normal,'' advises Hannah. 'Try antihistamines or anti-inflammatory remedies.'
• Are you overweight? 'Sometimes, when we gain a little extra weight, it can sit around our necks and (weirdly) our tongues,' says Hannah. 'This can reduce the space in the upper airway when we sleep. You might find that losing a little weight can improve your snoring.'
• Is your snoring loud and irregular? Do you have long pauses? 'If so, this could be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), and you may want to go seek medical help for your snoring,' warns Hannah.

‘If your snoring is loud or frequent, or is associated with pauses in breathing, choking or gasping during sleep, morning headaches, or excessive daytime sleepiness, it is worth speaking to your GP about an assessment for obstructive sleep apnoea,’ agrees Dave. 'This common sleep disorder is associated with increased cardiovascular risk if left untreated.’

So, before elbowing your partner in the side because they’re snoring for the umpteenth time this week, or deciding on a sleep divorce and shutting the door on the noise, encourage the snorer in your life to seek a GP appointment, just in case.

If the doctor offers a clean bill of health, adopting the sleep setup changes our experts advise can make a big difference to snoring.

Invest in a pillow the right height for comfortable side sleeping, along with a body pillow – or simply a spare pillow that can be tucked between the knees, wedged behind the back, or hugged at the front to prevent rolling onto the back – and you’re well on your way to stopping the snoring and creating a more peaceful night's sleep for all involved.

I put the M&S Stay Cool 10cm Depth Mattress Topper to the test to see how it compares to the best cooling mattress toppers on the market.

In a nutshell

As a sleep-product reviewer, I’ve tested some of the best mattress toppers out there, including two of my favourites for hot weather or hot sleepers: the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper and the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper.

So when I heard about Marks & Spencer’s latest cooling mattress topper – the relatively inexpensive M&S Stay Cool Mattress Topper, which is £75 for a single – I was keen to give it a test run.

Overall, I was fairly impressed. This topper doesn't offer much support, but if you like a soft, sink-in sleep surface, I found its 10cm deep polyester fill was comfortable.

I’m also a fairly hot sleeper, who, like Goldilocks, struggles to sleep unless my temperature is “just right”, and whilst I didn't find this topper actively cool, it also didn't make me overheat (even when testing it during a heatwave).

The main downsides (for me) are the fact it can't be washed, needs regular shaking to 'refluff' it, and I do prefer a bit of a more supportive sleep surface.

However, the M&S Stay Cool is good value for money, and, whilst some toppers do offer better cooling relief for hot sleepers (more on those below), if you're looking for a soft topper that can provide a 'breaker' layer between a sweat-inducing mattress and your body, it does the trick without breaking the bank.

Specifications

• RRP: £75 / £85 / £95 / £105
• Sizes: single / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 10cm
• Construction: polyester cover, polyester wadding fill
• Care instructions: do not wash, do not tumble dry, do not dry clean
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

The M&S Stay Cool mattress topper comes in a large fabric carry case. This might be handy if you need to pack it away often – if it’s for a sofa bed or a campervan, for example. The bag is definitely designed to be reused, with reasonably strong zips and reinforced edges.

The mattress topper itself was folded inside the bag, and was easy to pull out and slide onto my bed. There was no off-gassing smell or waiting for it to replump like you get with memory-foam mattress toppers.

When it comes to attaching it to your bed, there are thick elasticated straps at each corner. This easily slid over even my very thick Brook + Wilde mattress.

There is no anti-slip coating on the bottom of this topper, but this didn’t seem to matter as it stayed in place well.

Comfort

I took the Simba Cool Foam topper off my bed to test the M&S Stay Cool topper. The Cool Foam is a medium-feel topper, and the M&S Stay Cool is noticeably softer still. This topper is definitely designed to soften a mattress rather than to boost support.

This stacks up when you look at what the fillings are in the M&S Stay Cool topper. It’s made from 100 per cent polyester. This tends to be much squishier than fillings such as memory foam and the micro springs you find in hybrid mattress toppers.

I found that when I lay on it, it gave an immediate feeling of comfort – like being wrapped in a duvet. However, it lacks much responsiveness. Responsiveness is the term sleep experts use when we’re talking about how a sleep surface bounces back and how easy it therefore is to move on your mattress.

If you’re a combination sleeper – ie. you move from back to side to front while you’re sleeping – you’ll appreciate a more responsive sleep surface.

I am a combination sleeper (side and back, if you’re wondering), and found that moving around was fine for me but it wasn’t as smooth as it is on a spring mattress/mattress topper. If you have mobility issues, its sink-in softness may mean it's not the topper for you.

During testing, I used the Stay Cool mattress topper on an already very comfortable mattress so I wasn’t using the topper to improve the feel of my sleep surface.

However, I do think it would work brilliantly to soften up a too-firm mattress, or add an extra layer of gentle comfort. It would be ideal to give a bit of cushioning to those dreaded university student mattresses for example, or to offer a little extra “ahhh” feeling to a mattress or sofa bed in a spare room.

Temperature regulation

Because of its 'Stay Cool' name, the temperature regulation on this mattress topper is one of things I was really interested in. Especially seeing as this topper is made of 100% polyester, and synthetic fibres are often prone to *causing* overheating in bed, not preventing it.

However, while there are no active cooling gels, or cooling fibres, in this topper, it is lofty at 10cm. This means that there should be space between the polyester wadding, which potentially allows for good air flow through the topper, removing hot air and replacing it with cooler air under the body.

I tested this mattress topper during an absolutely scorching British heatwave – record-breaking, in fact. I found that I didn’t overheat on the topper, but I wasn’t completely convinced that it was any more cooling than a decent mattress or a natural-fibre mattress topper.

However – and this is important – I didn’t wake up in a sweaty mess on this mattress topper. Did it make me actively feel cool? No, but it didn't make me feel hotter either. And this can't be said of many of the toppers I've tested.

I do wonder if its breathability might be impacted over time as the wadding compresses under my body weight and those 'air pockets' are lost, but I’m a fairly hot sleeper, and as I say, my sleep wasn’t disturbed when I tested the Stay Cool mattress topper.

Overall, I found the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper, Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper, and Simba Cool Foam Mattress Topper cooler to sleep on. But although I found they did a better job of offering relief in hot weather, they are more expensive.

Care instructions

Caring for this mattress topper is, I guess, very simple, in that you can’t really care for it. The care instructions say that you can’t machine wash or dry clean it.

Considering it's made from polyester (which is usually a fabric that can be bunged in the washing machine on a high temperature), I found this quite surprising. The Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper we recently tested uses very similar materials, and that can be washed at 40C and tumble dried.

However, whilst this might put off some, you could get around the issue by using a good mattress protector over the topper to maintain a clean sleep environment. You might just want to opt for an extra-deep protector as the loft on this topper is quite high.

I also found that after a week of sleeping on the topper, it needed a bit of a shake-out and fluffing when I changed my bed sheets. This wasn’t a big job, but if you have a larger bed, it does require a bit of upper-body strength. It is box-baffle stitched, which helps keep the fillings in place.

Sleep trial

M&S doesn't offer sleep trials on any of its bedding, which, considering competitors such as Simba, Panda, and Woolroom do, I always think is a bit of a shame.

A sleep trial does help you to assess whether a piece of bedding works for your sleep setup before you commit to keeping it, so without a trial available, it does come down to making your best guess about whether the Stay Cool topper is for you.

Value for money

At £75 for a single and £85 for a double, this topper is pretty reasonably priced.

It's certainly a lot cheaper than some of the best cooling mattress toppers we've tested. For instance, the highly breathable Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper costs £289.99 for a double, and the cooling graphite-infused Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper costs £349 for a double.

However, I didn't feel the M&S Stay Cool's cooling powers were quite as good as those more expensive options, and, when you compare it to other toppers of a similar construction, it's actually a little expensive.

For instance, the Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper is also 10cm deep, offers a similar polyester construction, can be machine washed, and the Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper currently costs £39.99 at Amazon, or it's £59.99 for a double of the Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper at Argos.

How I tested

Usual sleep position: side
Tension preference: medium-firm
Sleep problems: hip pain

I tested a king-size version of the Stay Cool mattress topper over the course of a week in a record-breaking British heatwave. During this time I slept on the topper, paying attention to comfort levels and how it affected my sleep. I also pondered how hot I felt sleeping on the topper – this is after all a cooling mattress topper. Lastly, I considered how easy it was to attach to the bed, ease of care, and value for money.

I love linen bedding. As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the past five years testing the best bedding on the market, and, as a hot sleeper, I've learnt that I definitely sleep best under a cool and breathable linen bedding set.

However, I know that not everyone feels the same way. If you prefer the look of crisp, crease-free cotton sheets, then even the best linen bedding can feel a little *too* laidback and crumpled.

However, Marks and Spencer has just changed all that. In my opinion, the new M&S Pure Linen Bedding Set is the ideal solution if you want to benefit from a cooler sleep whilst still retaining elevated hotel-luxe vibes in your boudoir.

Why is this bedding set so different? Two things. First, this 190gsm fabric has a more structured feel than most linen bedding. That means that it drapes a little more smoothly when it's on the bed, which results in a more refined look.

And secondly, those smart piped edges. It may seem like a small detail, but when it comes to bedding that delivers hotel-luxe vibes and brings a more 'expensive' and elevated feel to the bedroom, it is *all* about the detail.

Piped edges frequently feature on high-end cotton bedding, but it's a detail I haven't seen incorporated into a linen bedding set before. And, to my mind at least, it adds a whole new look to this timeless fabric.

Plus, you still get to benefit from linen's *fantastic* breathability. Something especially important in this increasingly long run of hot weather we've been experiencing in many parts of the country.

That's because good breathability equals good airflow, and bedding that allows good airflow enables the body to regulate its temperature better, which in turn results in a deeper and more restorative sleep.

Little wonder then that I'm not alone in being impressed by M&S' new launch. 'Beautiful quality linen,' says one 5-star review on the M&S website. 'Smart piping elevates the look.'

'Great quality,' raves another owner. 'The piping on duvet cover and pillowcases is a nice addition... so far best linen bedding I have purchased. Highly recommended.'

'Cool to sleep in and washes well,' says another happy M&S shopper.

When it comes to where to buy bedding that offers both cool sleep and hotel-luxe design, M&S is clearly the place to shop.

Plus, Marks and Spencer is one of the best places to snap up affordable linen bedding; its non-piped bedding set is the most budget-friendly I've tested. I've rounded up a few more of the brand's most cooling sleep solutions below.

I put the Bedsure Cooling Duvet to the test in a heatwave, and I'm impressed. This cooling cover definitely gave the best duvets on the market a run for their money in the cooling stakes.

In a nutshell

It’s generally accepted that it’s very difficult to sleep in a heatwave. Duvets are probably the last thing you want to think about when you’re in the midst of another record-breaking run of hot days. But if, like me, you're eager for a cooler sleep, I was really pleasantly surprised by the Bedsure Cooling Duvet, which is currently fairly reasonably priced at under £50 for a double on Amazon.

I’m a sleep-product reviewer, and I’ve made a career out of finding the best duvets on the market to suit all preferences and budgets. This Bedsure Cooling Duvet is hard to beat. The cool-to-touch casing is complemented by rayon and bamboo filling. These weighty fillings actually help you stay cool by regulating your temperature and wicking away sweat.

I found sleeping under the Bedsure duvet a genuine pleasure. I found the combination of the cooling sleep surface, plus the comforting gentle weight and silky drape of its fabric and filling helped me sleep better and for longer than I usually do during a heatwave.

Specifications

• RRP: £40.99 / £51.99 / £61.99 / £65.99
• Sizes: single / double / king / super king
• Tog rating: n/a
• Materials: outer: nylon, elastane, rayon, bamboo
• Care: machine wash on cool, delicate cycle, tumble dry on low
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Feel

On unpacking, what I immediately noticed about this duvet was how cool to the touch it felt (more on that in a bit), and also how pleasantly weighty it felt in my hands.

When it’s hot, I often struggle to sleep without a duvet, because I find the weight of a duvet helps me to relax. However, as temperatures soar, I’m torn between wanting the heft of a duvet and the fact it overheats me. So I was delighted by this duvet, which offers a gentle weight and drapes really nicely over my body but also keeps me cool.

The outer casing of the duvet is silky and soft, meaning you can use it as a coverless duvet if you want. It feels quite similar to a sleeping bag, in that it’s slippery – but thankfully not as sweaty.

The stitching on the duvet is in curves. This looks nice, yes, but in practical terms, it will also keep the filling from slipping around.

The Bedsure Cooling Duvet comes in four solid colourways: grey, blue, green and white. There are also tabs on each corner in case you prefer to tie it to the inside of a duvet cover.

Overall, I was really impressed by the premium feel and smart design of this duvet.

Temperature regulation

In the summer, I usually sleep under the 4.5 tog Scooms Hungarian Goose Feather and Down Duvet. However, I tested the Bedsure Cooling Duvet during a record-breaking heatwave in June, and it was definitely too hot for my usual 4.5 tog duvet. I’d been resorting to sleeping under a Piglet in Bed linen flat sheet – but I was finding even that was too hot.

All this is to say, I wasn’t sure I was up for testing a duvet in the current circumstances. It was only the lure of that 'cooling' promise that got me to consider slipping under any form of cover, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting to be that impressed by those cooling claims. However, I was wrong.

I unpacked the Bedsure Cooling Duvet as interior temperatures in my house were around 30ºC. Bedsure claims that this duvet will instantly cool your body by 4º – for fact fans, this means it’s Q-Max > 0.4. I was intrigued by this idea, and not just because I desperately needed to rescue my sleep quality in the heatwave.

As a sleep-product reviewer, I know that a drop in core body temperature before bedtime sends a signal to the brain that it’s time for sleep. So this duvet could ultimately help me sleep better if its cooling claims worked.

The duvet itself is filled with rayon and bamboo, which are fabrics associated with good thermoregulation. They allow better airflow around your body, allowing cool air to circulate around you while also wicking away sweat. Although it sounds grim, having your sweat wicked away is essential to helping your body feel cool.

So in practice, did all of this stack up? I was surprisingly thrilled to report that yes – I found this duvet’s temperature regulation brilliant. I slipped under the duvet on a boiling-hot night in the hottest room in the house, and I felt actively cooled. It honestly felt like magic.

My husband initially mocked me for lying under a duvet during a heatwave, but I invited him to touch the duvet, and even he had to admit he was impressed by how cold it felt.

The one downside? Those cooling powers were less effective if I put a duvet cover on the duvet. It was the silky surface that really offered the most cooling against my hot skin. And that does mean you'd need to wash the entire duvet to freshen it up, rather than just a duvet cover.

Ease of care

The care label instructs that the Bedsure Cooling duvet can be machine washed at 40 on a gentle cycle. You can also tumble dry the duvet on low.

The duvet filling is quite flat and dense, but that means it doesn't require any shaking out or 'refluffling' like my usual feather and down duvet. However, this does mean it looked slightly flat on my bed, which might be a minus point for people who care about aesthetics.

Sleep trial

The one downside of this duvet is that there's no sleep trial available. That means that, unlike some duvets, you can't test it out on your bed and return it if it isn't suitable for your needs.

However, it is at least quite reasonable priced, which I think makes taking a punt on this cooling cover a lot less risky. More on its price point below.

Value for money

Although this is a mostly synthetic duvet (bamboo aside), I'm still impressed with its low price point. A single costs around £40 and a double £50.

According to my research, the Bedsure Cooling Duvet is also often reduced at Amazon, which makes its budget-friendly price tag even lower.

The quality of the Bedsure Cooling Duvet is outstanding - as good as duvets I’ve tested that are 10 times the price (this will be to do with the price of the fillings though). It feels durable and made to last.

I double-checked how it was rated by other owners online, and was pleased to note that they were also thrilled by how cooling this duvet was in a heatwave.

There were a few people who said it didn’t work for them long term through the night, but I do wonder if they used it with a duvet cover on, which I found did make the cooling experience a little less impactful.

How I tested

I tested the Bedsure Cooling Duvet for 10 days during a record-breakingly hot June. Temperatures reached around 30ºC in my bedroom, and at night it didn’t cool much.

I had the bedroom windows open and a fan on me constantly – my usual set-up during very hot nights – so I was able to compare the duvet side by side with both a linen sheet and my usual 4.5 tog feather and down duvet.

I monitored my sleep quality using an Oura Ring 4, which gives me an almost overwhelming amount of stats. It had been chastising me for the lack of sleep I was achieving in the run-up to the testing period, but my sleep under the Bedsure Cooling Duvet seemed to satisfy my Oura Ring somewhat.

Other things I factored into my testing were the feel and quality of the duvet, how easy it is to care for, and, of course, value for money is always part of the duvet testing process at Ideal Home. I compared this duvet to similar options on the market, and considered how its performance compares to its price point. I was impressed on all fronts by the Bedsure Cooling Duvet.

As a mum of two boys, aged 13 and 10, I know just how quickly household items can get destroyed by young, boisterous children.

Items in their bedrooms are no exception, and that's why I'm so pleased I came across this £7.99 Amazon buy. It may not be the most glamorous purchase, but it's protected one of the most expensive purchases we made for the boys' rooms.

Plus, having tested it on the beds in our house, I'm not surprised it has over 11,000 mostly 5-star reviews.

What is it? A humble waterproof mattress protector. And if you haven't yet invested in one for your child's bedroom, let me explain why this purchase could be the best thing you've ever bought for under a tenner.

We all know that the best mattresses don't come cheap, so this isn't an item you want to buy twice, and let me tell you, children’s mattresses really do take a beating!

Although my children only had the occasional bedwetting accident when they were small, there have been occasions over the years when guests came to stay, and an accident occurred, and I struggled to shift the stain afterwards.

More recently, the big problem is food and drink being spilled on the bed and seeping through onto the mattress. We’ve had a bowl of cereal tipped over, a bedtime drink of water sent flying onto the mattress, and even bright pink Calpol splodged everywhere.

Plus, I find one of the worst offenders for staining the mattress is when fake tan and sweat seeps through, leaving a horrible brown stain (and I confess I can’t blame that on the kids!).

Despite following all the top tips on how to clean a mattress, each time I do my best to scrub the liquid or stained patch off, but no amount of scrubbing and drying will completely remove the watermark and discoloured area.

It makes an expensive mattress look unsightly and means it needs replacing more often.

The answer, of course, is adding a good mattress protector to the bed. However, as a child of the 80's, I had vivid memories of scratchy waterproof mattress protectors which crackled more than a packet of crisps if you dared to roll over at night! That was enough to put me off for life.

Fast forward forty years, however, and it turns out waterproof mattress protectors have come on a lot in terms of effectiveness and comfort.

I took a punt, and convinced by the number of positive online reviews, I gave this £7.99 Amazon mattress protector a go.

There are more expensive options available, of course, and I've rounded up some of the best we've tested below, but I wanted to see how this budget buy compared.

Shop alternatives

In contrast to more expensive options, my £7.99 buy may have arrived in very no-frills packaging, but on opening it I was struck by how soft it is – a world away from the scratchy waterproof mattress covers of yesteryear!

The terry towelling top layer felt soft and thick, and it didn’t make a loud crackly noise when I pushed and scrunched it.

Fitting it onto the mattress, I was also impressed by how deep it is; it fitted easily over my thick mattress and even on a mattress with a topper on it.

The elasticated edge also keeps the cover in place well, so it doesn’t wriggle out of place in the night, and both my sons and I can report that there's barely any noise when moving or rolling over.

I put it to the test by pouring some water onto it and was impressed by how it completely prevented the water from seeping through to the mattress below, making it ideal to guard mattresses against spilled drinks or accidents, as well as unsightly fake-tan stains!

Plus, it's washable at 40 degrees and suitable for being tumble-dried at a low temperature.

The only downside I found is that the ‘skirt’ around the sides is quite thin and not much thicker than a pair of tights. I do worry a little that it will get easily snagged or laddered, but with a fitted sheet over the top, we didn't have any issues.

And it seems I'm not alone in being a fan of this budget buy. As one 5-star Amazon review says, 'I have to say I'm so impressed with this product, I immediately purchased another.'

'The toweling side is soft, and the waterproof side makes no annoying crinkling sound,' shares the happy owner. 'The main bonus is the fact you can tumble dry it! Something I've never been able to do with these types of sheets before.'

'I've bought several of these mattress protectors over the years,' says another reviewer. 'They work so well and really are waterproof. They definitely help to preserve your mattress. They wash really nicely and can be tumble dried, which is so convenient. Fantastic value for money.'

Clearly I’m not alone in thinking that this budget buy is a lifesaver when it comes to protecting the most expensive thing in my children’s bedrooms! For our needs, this budget buy does the job perfectly.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say ironing my bedding isn't at the top of my to-do list, so much so that I'll avoid it at all costs. If, like me, you're looking for clever ways to get creases and wrinkles out of bedding without reaching for the best steam iron, the good news is that not only is it possible, but you probably don't need to iron it at all.

In fact, laundry experts say most wrinkles form long before sheets reach the bed. A few simple tweaks to how you wash, dry, and make the bed can make all the difference. Better yet, if you're investing in new sheets, it's worth knowing where to buy bedding that looks great and requires minimal upkeep.

While there's no shortage of opinions when it comes to whether you should iron your bedding, the truth is a perfectly pressed finish isn't the only way to make your bed look and feel fresh. These expert-approved tips will help you get smoother-looking sheets with minimal effort. And if you really can't be bothered, linen offers that intentionally relaxed, crumpled-on-purpose look.

1. Stop creases forming in the wash

'The biggest mistake people make is trying to tackle creases once the bedding is already dry,' says Martin Seeley, CEO at MattressNextDay. 'In reality, most wrinkles form much earlier, either in the washing machine or while the bedding is sitting in the dryer after the cycle has finished.'

Chloe Baker from specialist laundry experts, Dr Beckmann, explains why you shouldn't just rely on ironing your bedding afterwards. 'Overloading the washing machine is one of the most common culprits,' she explains. 'Sheets need space to move freely during the cycle to avoid creasing.'

It's also worth choosing a lower spin speed, as very high spins tend to press creases deeper into the fabric.

2. Remove bedding from the dryer before it's completely dry

How you dry your bedding can make as much difference to how you wash it. Rather than leaving sheets in the tumble dryer, Kriti Mawij, head of procurement at bedding brand Belledorm, recommends taking them out while they're still slightly warm.

'The single biggest improvement is to take bedding out of the tumble dryer while it's still slightly warm and make the bed straight away,' she says. 'The residual warmth lets the fabric relax and settle smooth.'

Kriti also advises drying on a low-to-medium heat rather than a hot cycle, and giving everything a firm shake before it goes on the bed. 'If you line-dry, hang sheets promptly and fold them while barely damp, which does much the same job,' she adds.

3. Use a steamer or mister for stubborn creases

If wrinkles are still visible once the bed's made, there's no need to get the ironing board out. This is where some of the best handheld steamers come in, quickly relaxing the fibres in your bedding to smooth away stubborn creases. If you'd prefer not to use another appliance, a light mist of water can work surprisingly well, too.

'If you notice a few wrinkles once the bed is made, lightly mist the duvet cover with clean water before smoothing it over with your hands,' says Martin. 'Some luxury hotels use this trick when dressing beds, as the moisture helps relax the fibres as it evaporates, leaving the bedding looking noticeably smoother within minutes.'

And while a steam iron will always have a place for when you want a truly crisp finish, it doesn't need to be the first port of call every time you wash your bedding. A crease-release spray can work in much the same way, with the added bonus of leaving your bed smelling fresh.

However, as Chloe explains, 'Simple washing and drying habits have the biggest impact on preventing creases in the first place. Finishing products come into their own once the basics are covered.'

For most cotton and linen bedding, Dr. Beckmann Starch & Easy Iron Spray is a quick way to help bedding hold a smoother, sharper finish for longer.

4. Let your fitted sheet - and your bed - breathe

As much as your laundry routine does play a part in reducing creases in your bedding, sometimes it boils down to how you make your bed afterwards.

'I’d recommend spending an extra minute pulling your fitted sheet nice and taut,' says Martin. 'A lot of people don’t realise that a fitted sheet that’s too shallow for the mattress will constantly bunch up and crease throughout the day, no matter how well it’s been washed.'

Martin also says it's worth letting your bed air for around 30 to 60 minutes before making it each morning, as it allows moisture and heat that build up overnight to escape rather than becoming trapped in your bedding.

5. Choose linen bedding

Still determined to banish ironing from your routine altogether? Linen bedding could be the answer - just not for the reason you might think.

'Linen actually creases more than most fabrics, not less,' says Kriti. 'What makes it perfect for iron-avoiders is that it's never meant to look pressed. Its relaxed, gently crumpled texture is part of the appeal, so you can take it off the line, put it on the bed and enjoy it exactly as it is.'

If you prefer crisp, hotel-inspired finish, Kriti suggests choosing an easy-care polycotton blend, which naturally springs back into shape after washing.

Shop linen bedding

I'm off to put these tips to decrease bedding into practice - starting by remembering not to leave my washing sitting in the machine for hours! Will you be giving any of these hacks a try?

Considering we’re in the midst of a second heatwave, and it’s only the start of July, it’s about time you invested in a lightweight summer duvet (if you haven’t done so already). If you’re a hot sleeper who hates not having a cover, IKEA’s £50 BLÅNEPETA duvet has you covered - at just 2.5 tog, it’s ideal for sweaty nights.

If you’re too hot to sleep, there are plenty of duvet alternatives we recommend to ensure you get your beauty sleep on sticky, humid nights. When the best duvets feel too hot, opting for bedding such as a flat cotton sheet or using a Dohar is a far cooler option.

The IKEA BLÅNEPETA duvet is one of the lowest togs you can buy and promises to help keep you cool this summer. Here’s how it shapes up.

IKEA states this duvet is perfect for ‘warm nights when you want to cosy up but remain cool.’ It uses blue lyocell material, which it states feels cool to the touch and wicks away moisture, keeping your sleep environment dry and dry.

‘IKEA's BLÅNEPETA duvet looks like a good choice for hot weather. Lyocell is smooth, silky, and cool to the touch, and the 2.5 tog rating is one of the lowest warmth levels you can get. Duvet tog does go down to just 1 tog, but many of us like something a little weightier to sleep under, even when the temperatures are hot,’ adds Amy Lockwood, Ideal Home’s sleep editor.

However, due to its synthetic material, some experts say it won’t offer the same cooling experience as a lightweight natural fibre or bamboo duvet.

‘2.5 tog is a sensible weight for summer and will suit most people who find an empty bed uncomfortable. The BLÅNEPETA uses a lyocell filling, which is a form of recycled polyester, and that is where I would flag a consideration,’ says Richard Lord, founder of bedding company Lost Loom.

‘Synthetic fillings, however lightweight, do not breathe in the same way natural fibres do. They tend to trap moisture against the body rather than wicking it away, which means you can feel warm and clammy even if the tog rating itself is low.’

Instead, Richard recommends an option for a lightweight duvet filled with natural fibres or bamboo. For example, John Lewis' 2.5 tog cotton duvet (£85 for a double). However, IKEA’s BLÅNEPETA is a great choice for smaller budgets, and the reviews do highlight its suitability for summer nights.

‘It's not magical, but it is very good. I love having a coverlet that's got more weight than a sheet but is still light. I've seen reviews that complain about the colour showing through duvet covers, but honestly, why use a duvet cover? I'd love it if it came in more colours, but the blue is really pretty. As a perimenopausal woman who wants to keep the bed as cool as possible, this is what I'm going to be sleeping with all summer,’ said one reviewer.

‘After going through several down comforters, I finally found my perfect weight and warmth level for S. Florida. And love the price,’ said another.

Alternatively, I’ve found a few more affordable options you can shop online.

Don’t let the heat necessarily disrupt your sleep. As summers are set to heat up in the coming years, it’s a good idea to invest in a lightweight summer duvet now.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, and a self-certified very-hot-sleeper at the best of times, I've tested a *lot* of cooling bedding over the past five years.

And, as many parts of the UK prepare to navigate a sweltering heatwave for the third time this year, there's one product I recommend time and time again to anyone looking for a cooler sleep.

The Silentnight Restore Cooling Gel Mattress Pad costs £30, and (as long as you have space for it in the fridge), it offers almost glacial cooling compared to pretty much every other bedtime cooling hack I've tried.

When temperatures are this high, even the best mattresses need some extra help to stay cool, so it's little wonder the smaller version of this cooling pad, Silentnight's Cooling Gel Pillow Pad, sold out pretty much everywhere during the June heatwave.

The larger mattress pad is exactly the same design, just longer, measuring 60 x 90cm. It's only a few millimetres thick and constructed of three compartments, each of which holds cooling gel within a thick PVC cover.

Now, it's worth pointing out that, depending on which retailer you look at, this cooling pad has mixed reviews.

The Cooling Gel Body Pad is marketed as being cooling straight out of the box. And it is; I was really surprised by how cool to the touch I found this product upon first handling.

However, I also agree with many reviewers who say that that coolness soon wears off after you've been lying on the pad for a while. Body heat causes the gel to slowly warm, and in a heatwave, that happens pretty quickly.

But where I think the cooling pad really comes into its own is if you pop it in the fridge before bed.

Admittedly, you will need enough space in your fridge to fold the pad up and chill it for an hour or so before bed. But, if you can, the pad then becomes *really* cold.

After doing this, I actually find it *too* cold to use next to my skin, so I pop it under a fitted sheet to lie on, or simply slide it into bed to cool down the sheets and then remove it before I get in.

If you choose to keep it in bed with you, then it will still warm up gradually over time, but that cool blast as you get into bed can really help you to drop off to sleep during a heatwave, as our temperature dropping a few degrees is what triggers the sleep cycle to begin.

'I needed this so that I could get to sleep in this heat,' says one reviewer of the Silentnight Restore Cooling Gel Mattress Pad at M&S. 'It helped enormously, even though it was warm to the touch by morning.'

Pair the cooling mattress pad with the cool-against-the-skin M&S Stay Cool Lyocell Rich Fitted Sheet I just tested, and a lightweight dohar over you for the ultimate breathability in bed, or some of the best linen bedding for hot weather, and you'll have a sleep setup that's as hot-weather ready as it will ever be.

Although be warned: as the mercury continues to climb, I think this Cooling Pad might go the way of Silentnight's smaller version, and start selling out fast. So, I've popped three stockists below to ensure you have more chance of snapping up stock.

And, of course, if all else fails, you could also use the classic (and free) cooling hack of popping your fitted sheet into the fridge before bed.

In my experience, the cooling effect doesn't last as long as when using a cool pack or cooling pad, but in these temperatures, every degree cooler counts!

FatFace has just quietly dropped its first-ever bedding collection, and with prices beginning at £15, I'm not surprised shoppers are already snapping up these stylish and affordable designs.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I thought I knew everything there was to know about where to buy bedding, but the fashion retailer certainly wasn't on my radar.

That is, until this month. Because the new FatFace bedding collection just launched with a bang, and I think these super summery designs should definitely be on your radar.

The new range includes four duvet sets, starting at £35 for a single, £45 for a double, £55 for a king, and £65 for a super king.

My favourite has to be the bold striped pink and ochre set, which couldn't be more summery if it tried. However, there are also pretty floral designs, on-trend gingham checks, and travel-inspired prints.

I think all the sets are great value for money, more so because each design is reversible, featuring stripes, florals, or checks on the reverse for two looks in one.

And I'm not the only one who's impressed. The bedding collection has only been in store and online for a few weeks, but it's already amassing a growing number of positive five-star reviews from shoppers.

In particular, many happy owners mention how impressed they are with the attention to detail and quality of FatFace's new range.

'A really beautiful duvet cover,' says one reviewer. 'Bright colour and a very summery design. The quality is amazing and so soft and cool. Washed well and keeps its shape. Definitely worth the money and great value compared to other big-name brands.'

'Love, love, love this!', writes another reviewer, 'the quality of the material makes it really comfortable to sleep in. I especially like the ties on the pillowcases... cute feature.'

If you're thinking of refreshing your bedroom for summer, I think this new FatFace range should definitely be a contender.

Plus, the coordinating sunshine yellow-striped £25 fitted sheet and matching £15 pillowcase certainly seal the deal for me.

M&S shoppers are raving about this £20 cooling sheet, and with another July heatwave predicted to begin soon, I can see why it's selling out fast.

I slept on the M&S Stay Cool Lyocell Rich Fitted Sheet last night, and I can confirm it definitely feels cooler than any other sheet I've trialed during these past few *very* hot weeks.

When it comes to where to buy bedding to cool down in the heatwave, it seems M&S is the place to shop right now.

Even when the UK *isn't* experiencing extreme temperatures, overheating in bed is a problem many of us struggle with.

That's in no small part due to the petroleum-based polyesters that so much bedding is made from – experts often dub these fibres a hidden sleep thief because they lack breathability and reflect body heat back towards the sleeper rather than letting it dissipate. This causes our body temperature to rise and often wakes us from our slumber.

Manufacturers know how to market to these struggles, so it's little wonder the bedding world is filled with products containing 'cool' and 'ice' in their product names.

However, as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've tested a *lot* of cooling bedding in the past five years, and, unfortunately, I've often been underwhelmed by the claims.

During my team's and my testing of mattresses, duvets, and pillows, we've repeatedly found that, at best, cooling claims can be short-lived cool-to-the-touch surfaces that soon heat up after a few minutes, and, at worst, those claims can be downright misleading.

So when I saw that M&S is selling 'Stay Cool' bedding, I had to admit that despite my faith in the retailer, I was a little cynical at first. But then, I saw the product reviews. Over 600 of them already, and over 400 of those have given this sheet 5 out of 5 stars.

I know that M&S shoppers don't mince their words with their likes and dislikes, so when they say something works, I believe them.

Plus, when reviews sound like: 'It's like slipping into a cool bath without the water,' and, 'These sheets are so cool and comfortable. Highly recommend them, especially for menopausal women, they are a delight,' plus, 'Highly recommend these sheets. Lovely and cool. I have tried Dunelm and John Lewis, but nothing compares. I suffer from hot flushes all year round. These make such a difference,' then my ears definitely perk up.

As a hot sleeper, I had to try the M&S Stay Cool Lyocell Rich Fitted Sheet for myself, and when I popped this sheet onto my bed last night, I soon realised those M&S reviews were right. That's because, reader, it's actually cool.

Like really cool. Not just cool for the two minutes you put your hand on it in the store and then hotter than the sun once you're lying on it at home. (Can you tell this hot sleeper is still holding onto some bedding-related 'cooling promise' trauma?).

As I write this, I'm lying on my bed, on the sheet (in the name of research, promise). I've been lying here for 30 minutes, and the sheet still feels cool.

Now don't get me wrong. This sheet isn't fridge-like. If you're someone who's currently trying to find an in-stock portable air conditioner, then, unfortunately, this sheet isn't going to deliver quite the same icy chill. But it is far cooler than any other sheet I have in my (by now extremely crammed) bedding closet.

As you'll see from the picture below, I laid my coolest fitted sheets side by side and, in a very non-scientific way, rolled from one side of the bed to the other to see which side felt the coolest.

(Don't judge me for the wrinkled bedding, it's still too hot here to iron right now, although it may be worth noting that some of those M&S reviews do mention these sheets creasing badly – personally, I'm not too fussed by that, but you may be).

The blue sheet below is the M&S Stay Cool fitted sheet; the other is a 100% bamboo sheet. The M&S Stay Cool won in my at-home cooling competition. By some margin. In fact, as I lie here, it feels like the sheet is very gently sucking the heat from my body. Which is quite an odd sensation, but as someone who's pretty much always warm in summer, it's also very welcome.

I tested the M&S Stay Cool against bamboo sheets, which are silky soft and cool to the touch, and 100% lyocell sheets, which are a little less silky but similarly cool to the touch compared to regular cotton or linen.

The M&S Stay Cool sheet is 78% lyocell (which, according to my research, is a semi-synthetic, plant-based fabric that's commonly made from the dissolved wood pulp of eucalyptus or birch trees) and 22% cotton.

According to the care label, the packaging, and the M&S website description, nothing else is added. Which is why I'm a little confused as to how it can actually be this cool. But it certainly outperforms everything else I've tested when it comes to cooling.

Did the M&S Stay Cool Lyocell Rich Fitted Sheet keep me cool all night long? No, the area of the sheet that my body was laid on did eventually warm up during the night – but it didn't get warmer than any other sheet I tested.

The difference with this M&S sheet was that I never had to move a limb too far to find an instant hit of chill again, so this sheet definitely helped me stay cooler in bed than any other.

There's some voodoo at work here, to be sure. But with another heatwave predicted for early July and still a lot of summer to go, it's voodoo I'll happily accept for a cooler sleep.

I know exactly which sheets I'll be putting on my bed when the temperatures soar next week. Thank you, M&S.

I'm a hot sleeper at the best of times, and, like many of us, I really struggle to get a good night's rest during heatwaves, especially living in the UK.

In Britain, high temperatures don't just mean heat; they also mean humidity, and high evening humidity makes it hard for the body to cool down enough for sleep.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've tracked down all the best duvets for summer, but when the mercury soars to above 30°C, even they can be Far. Too. Hot.

However, I do have one secret weapon up my sleeve when temperatures skyrocket, and that's Shades of Cool London's Dohar.

What is a dohar? It's a piece of bedding that's very uncommon in the UK. Probably because, up until recently, British bedding concerns have been far more focused on staying warm in bed, not dealing with extreme heat.

But things are changing, and if last week was anything to go by, we may all soon be looking for duvet alternatives and cool bedding materials to see us through the summer nights.

Temperatures of 30°C plus have been rare in the UK, but other parts of the world have been navigating daily life in hot temperatures for millennia, and there's a lot we can learn.

The dohar is a much-prized cooling solution in South Asia, most notably in India and Bangladesh, where it's credited as first being woven.

This was the bedding that Indian royalty – the Maharaji – used in their palaces, and according to Shades of Cool London's founder, Angel Skillman, it's a fabric dubbed 'woven wind' in its country of origin.

It's a poetic title, and having now tested this fabric through two years of British heatwaves, I can testify that it's also a very accurate description.

Essentially, the dohar is a lightweight summer blanket. But it's not anything like your average British blanket. Instead, it's made from super-fine mulmul cotton, which is a little like muslin, but *far* softer, smoother, and airier than any muslin I've encountered in the UK.

Mulmul fabric is then triple-layered to create the dohar, and this layering is the key to how well it handles hot, humid British heatwaves. Not surprisingly, because it was originally the Indian go-to for sleeping well in monsoon season – a time when the moisture content in the air is extremely high.

I've found that the mulmul layer next to the skin is perfect for wicking away moisture and stickiness, whilst the other two layers create air pockets that are brilliant at regulating temperature. That means there's no going to sleep boiling, but then waking up at 3 am feeling a chill.

And as someone who always sleeps with the powerful Meaco Sefte Fan circulating air during a heatwave, I've found a dohar also handles a fan's breeze well. The airflow can still penetrate the open weave fabric, but without the breeze feeling *too* cold against the skin.

I've tested numerous options for sleeping cooler on hot nights, from sleeping without covers to bedding down under just a flat linen sheet, such as this Piglet in Bed option, and testing cooling blankets, such as this Bedsure design. And although all have their time and place, the dohar remains the one sleep solution I find myself reaching for again and again.

It's definitely the option I sleep coolest under, as well as the option that keeps my temperature the most stable throughout the night, and that temperature regulation results in a deeper sleep, with less waking up because I'm too hot or too cold.

As of writing, the dohar is still difficult to source in the UK. Shades of Cool London and a few Etsy sellers that have in-stock dohars are the only places I've found to shop. However, as British summers look set to get hotter, I think this is a heatwave must-have that's going to catapult in popularity.

The irony is that, as Angel points out, 'production of mulmul cotton and the dohar suffered under British colonial rule, with efforts to suppress local weaving due to competition with industrially manufactured fabrics.' However, thankfully, skilled makers have kept this ancient fabric alive, and I, for one, am very grateful for that.

And not just for heatwave navigation. If you're a menopausal woman experiencing hot flushes, this is a fabric you *need* in your life. Shades of Cool London also stocks kids dohars, which are perfect for keeping little ones cool in the heat.

Ultimately, I think the dohar is the perfect example of how sustainable, indigenous knowledge is going to be central in helping us all navigate the climate changes we have ahead. We have a lot to learn about cooling things down, but that knowledge is out there and waiting to be applied.

As a 46-year-old perimenopausal woman who's already prone to overheating in bed, I put the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Mattress Topper to the test during a heatwave to see how it compares to the best mattress toppers and best cooling mattress toppers on the market.

In a nutshell

As I mentioned, as a woman in her mid-forties, I'm increasingly prone to overheating in bed, so according to Silentnight's product description, I'm the exact audience the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper is aimed at.

The main USP of this product is its cooling powers. Silentnight says it's 'ideal for overheaters', and that its 'cool sensation fabric helps to banish night sweats and hot flushes'. That's paired with its eye-catching copper-infused yarn, which the brand says is 'naturally anti-bacterial, kind to sensitive skin, and keeps sheets fresh and hygenic'.

It promises a lot, and I found it *almost* delivers on those promises. I certainly agree with the 'cool sensation fabric' part. This topper felt instantly cool to the touch when I lay down on it – even through a fitted sheet – and it certainly made getting into bed a lot more appealing when my family and I tested it during a heatwave when temperatures in my part of the UK reached 35C plus.

Did it stay cool all night? I still felt hot and clammy when I woke up in the morning, so I'd say not. However, I was still impressed by how cool it felt as I drifted off to sleep, as were my hot-blooded husband and two sons when they were given a go.

It's also fairly reasonably priced, at approximately £49.99 for a double, depending on where you shop, and it can be machine-washed (as long as you have a drum big enough for the size you purchase).

At 2.5cm deep, it's thin, so it doesn't offer much cushioning or support, but if you have the space to store it ready for the next summer heatwave, its instant blast of coolness did bring some welcome relief to this hot sleeper.

Specifications

• RRP: Single £44.99 / Double £49.99 /Kingsize £54.99 / Super-king £59.99
• Sizes: single / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 2.5cm
• Construction: cover 38% Polyethylene, 62% Polyester. The percentage of copper in the topper is 17% copper-infused yarn. Filling 100% polyester
• Care instructions: machine washable at 40 degrees and can be tumble dried on a cool heat
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

I tested the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper in a super king-size, and unlike some of the heavier memory foam toppers I've tested recently, this mostly polyester topper was light enough to carry upstairs easily.

Fortunately, there wasn’t an off-gassing smell as many foam toppers have, and because it's simply folded into its packaging rather than vacuum-packed, it was ready to get onto the bed straight away.

To attach it to the mattress, I found that there were four fairly thick elastic corner straps in each corner.

Although it was a bit awkward to lift the corner of my mattress to hook them under, I found these really useful because they meant the topper didn’t move around when I was making the bed or when my husband and I were getting in and out of bed.

Comfort

The first thing that struck me about this topper was how stylish it looked. The orange and white patterned cover with orange piped edge made it look more like a well-designed quilted throw than a mattress toppers. It was almost a shame to cover it up under a sheet!

The surface of the fabric feels smooth and shiny to the touch, and once my fitted sheet was in place, I did discover that this was a bit of a downside. I found the fitted sheet kept sliding around on top of the topper and on some occasions slipping off. It may be more a reflection of my sheet than the topper, but it hasn’t happened before with any of the previous toppers I've tested.

Measuring just 2.5cm deep and filled with soft polyester rather than a denser foam or memory foam, this topper is considerably less deep than most mattress toppers I’ve tested, which tend to start at around 5cm in depth.

It also didn't offer that much support or cushioning. Instead it felt a little like adding a thin duvet to the top of our bed. However, it did deliver some gentle cushioning for my joints, something which I felt the benefits of on my shoulder and hip as I predominately sleep on my side.

Temperature regulation

However, what this topper doesn't deliver in cushioning, it aims to make up for in temperature regulation.

Silentnight says that the Restore Cooling Copper Mattress Topper is 'perfect for over-heaters and restless sleepers,' offering 'cooling relief and all the natural health benefits of copper'. 'Made with innovative cool fabrics,' the brand says it's 'the perfect solution for menopausal night sweats'.

As a 46-year-old woman, I'm no stranger to overheating in bed, and as I've mentioned, I also tested this topper during a heatwave, so I was eager to see if it could help me to stay cool in bed.

Silentnight says that the topper is constructed with 17% copper-infused yarn, which, according to my research, should keep me cool by utilising the metal’s natural properties to wick away excess body heat.

The impact of this was immediately clear when I touched the topper, as it felt cool to the touch when I placed my hands on it and when I lay on it.

My hot-blooded husband and sons all loved how cool it felt to lay on too, especially during the heatwave when it provided an instant feeling of coolness. So much so that I struggled to drag them off of it! I was surprised that even with a cotton bedsheet on the coolness of the topper could still be felt.

This feeling of coolness when I first got into bed was extremely beneficial when getting to sleep. When my youngest son slept on it during a heatwave, he also fell asleep quickly.

However, I still woke up in the morning feeling hot and clammy, which does make me question how long-term the cooling impact is.

I tended to find that instant coolness wore off during the night and the topper gradually warmed up to match my body temperature. But, the cooling effects when I first got into bed were still welcome, and definitely helped me to drift off quicker on hot nights.

Care instructions

You can machine wash this topper at 40 degrees, and it’s also compatible with being tumble dried on cool.

However, the ease with which you'll be able to do this depends on the size of the topper you own, because it is quite bulky. As the care label mentions: ‘for best results we recommend the use of a large capacity washing machine’.

This advice is spot on because when I tried to fit the super king-size topper into my standard washing machine, I couldn’t. A single or double would have fitted, but it's worth bearing in mind if, like me, you opt for a larger size.

Sleep trial

Unlike a lot of other mattress toppers we've tested, Silentnight doesn't offer a sleep trial on its bedding products.

That's a shame, because it can be tricky to know how bedding performs without the opportunity to test it out at home.

In contrast, Simba offers a generous 200-night sleep trial on all of its toppers, and brands such as Woolroom and Panda offer 30 nights.

Value for money

Whilst there's no sleep trial to test out this topper before you commit to keeping it, the one plus point is that it is very competitively priced.

As of writing, the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper costs £44.99 for a single and £49.99 for a double, which, in the world of mattress toppers, is very reasonably priced.

For comparison, the best memory foam topper we've tested (which is also one of the most affordable) – Panda's Bamboo Mattress Topper – costs £99.95 for a single.

It also did the job in cooling my family and me down when we first got into bed, and although I didn't find that cooling lasted throughout the night, I still appreciated the help in drifting off to sleep in the first place.

Would I buy it again? If I had the space to store it when the weather was colder (I probably won't appreciate that chill-factor when I get into bed in the winter!), then yes, I do think it's worth the money for helping me to fall asleep quicker.

But if I were looking for cushioning as well as cooling properties, I'd probably up my budget and consider the highly breathable (yet equally cosy in winter) Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper or the more supportive Simba Hybrid Topper instead.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

• Sleep position: back or side
• Tension preference: firm
• Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
• Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In order to test out this mattress topper, my husband and I slept on it for two weeks in our own home on top of our usual mattress. I assessed how easy the Silentnight Restore Cooling Copper Topper was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer, as well as its value for money.

As a perimenopausal 46-year-old mum, I struggle with overheating in bed at the best of times, let alone during a heatwave that's seen temperatures in my area reach 30C plus.

Our home doesn’t have air-con, so my kids are often too hot to sleep during the summer, too. As such, staying cool in bed becomes a real battle during hot weather.

As a result, when I came across the Silentnight Restore Cooling Lightweight Blanket for under £40 on Amazon, I hoped it would be the solution I needed to keep us all cool.

Described by Silentnight as ‘cool to the touch for instant heat relief' and helping 'to regulate body temperature’, it sounded like *exactly* what I needed to beat overheating once and for all.

And, unlike many cooling bedding products I've tested in the past few years, I wasn't disappointed when I unpacked it.

The first thing I noticed when I picked up this blanket was how cold it felt to the touch. One side in particular felt noticeably colder than any other bedding in our house, and its coolness was something that both of my sons immediately commented on.

Sleeping under it the first night of warm weather, I felt instantly cooler. Initially, I missed the weight of my regular duvet, but if, like me and my children, you don’t like the idea of sleeping with no covers at all, this hot-weather duvet alternative offers a perfect in-between solution.

I fell asleep quickly, and I didn’t wake up in the night due to overheating. Plus, in the morning, I didn’t feel sweaty or clammy at all like I sometimes do.

Whether that’s down to the innovative composition of the blanket or the fact that it’s thinner than my usual duvet, I can’t be sure, but my children both noticed that when they slept under this blanket, they felt cooler than when they slept under an empty duvet cover like they usually do when it’s hot.

Possibly the biggest test came from my youngest son, who is the clammiest sleeper I know and always wakes up sweaty! He loved falling asleep under this and slept soundly. When he woke up in the morning, he felt a lot cooler and less clammy than usual.

In fact, the one night I tested this blanket pre-heatwave I had to swap it for my usual quilt because I felt too cold!

And it seems I'm not alone in being impressed by the blanket's cooling powers. One reviewer of the Silentnight Restore Cooling Blanket on the Argos website says, 'what is this wizardry? I bought this for the summer, and I literally can't believe the difference it made to my sleep. How it works, I have no idea, but it remains cool constantly – it's literally like magic. I can definitely recommend this cooling blanket.'

'Surprised how effective this lightweight cooling blanket was,' says another owner. 'I’m at “that age” where I get so hot in the night... my duvet is too hot, but I still need something on me to sleep; this blanket really helped and really worked! It’s lightweight but feels enough weight on you; it’s definitely cooling and quite cool to the touch. I slept so much better.'

Another big bonus is that the Restore blanket is machine washable at 40C, and I've found it fits in the washing machine easily and dries quickly on the line (the care label says it can be tumble dried on low, but I haven't needed to test that in this heat!). It looks as good as new after being washed and didn’t lose its shape at all.

The only downside is that it only comes in one size. On a double bed, it was just big enough to cover two people, although there wasn’t much extra space at the edges if either of us moved around.

Personally, I'd definitely recommend The Silentnight Restore Cooling Blanket for keeping cool on warm nights, as well as for anyone who struggles with hormonal temperature changes during the night.

That said, it's not the only option out there. I've rounded up a few alternatives below, all of which can help you beat the heat on hot, hot summer nights.

It's hot outside and predicted to get hotter, and whilst many of us might enjoy the sunshine during the day, most of us are less keen on the sticky, humid nights that go hand-in-hand with a UK heatwave.

I sleep warm anyway, and, whilst I've already invested in one of the best duvets for hot sleepers, on nights like these, even the most breathable duvet can still be far too warm.

Personally, I think there's nothing worse than tossing and turning in a sweaty bed when the mercury soars, which is why I've made it my mission to track down the best duvet alternatives for hot weather.

As I've learned during the past five years as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, when it comes to how to stay cool in bed, it's all about choosing cooling bedding materials, and the experts agree that these are your best bets if you're looking to swap out your duvet for a cooler sleep this summer.

1. Cotton throw

First up, cotton. Whether you opt to sleep under a simple flat cotton sheet during the sky-high temperatures, or a slightly thicker cotton throw, this natural fabric is the ideal duvet alternative for hot summer nights.

'A cotton throw is such a good swap for a duvet when the nights get warm,' agrees Molly Freshwater, co-founder of bedding brand Secret Linen Store. 'Cotton is breathable, soft, and naturally good at soaking up any overnight warmth or moisture.' And that's exactly what we need in the UK, when high temperatures tend to mean sticky, humid, moisture-filled nights.

'Because most cotton throws have a looser weave than a duvet cover, they let air move around you rather than trapping it,' explains Molly. 'You still get that comforting “I’m covered” feeling, just without the heat. Bliss when the temperature doesn’t drop outside and the open window doesn’t help one bit.'

'A cotton throw or even a flat cotton sheet is an excellent alternative to a duvet in hot weather,' agrees Charlotte Hill, technical manager for homeware at Marks & Spencer.

'Cotton is naturally breathable and lightweight, helping air to circulate and preventing heat from becoming trapped overnight. For many customers, it offers just enough coverage without the weight or warmth of a traditional duvet.'

2. Flat linen sheet

Next up, and probably one of the most breathable options I've tried, is linen. Again, either in the form of a flat linen sheet or a more weighty linen throw.

'A linen throw or flat linen sheet is my personal favourite for hot weather,' agrees Molly. 'it's the fabric I always come back to, and for good reason. The fibres are super clever, so they wick moisture away quickly and let air flow beautifully.'

'Linen feels cool the moment you get into bed and stays that way,' explains Molly. 'A flat sheet is the lightest option; a linen throw gives a little more weight without adding warmth. Linen also has the bonus of looking amazing. If someone asks me what I use at home in summer, it’s always always 100% linen.'

'Linen is a particularly strong choice for warmer nights,' agrees Charlotte at M&S. 'Its fibres are highly breathable and naturally temperature-regulating, meaning it feels cool against the skin while helping to dissipate heat. Linen is also very effective at wicking away moisture, making it ideal for those who tend to overheat. A linen throw or flat sheet can provide a relaxed, airy layer that still feels premium and comfortable.'

After testing every bedding material under the sun during the past five years, it's certainly now become the only fabric I choose for hot nights. And it's genius fibres somehow also work brilliantly to keep me cosy without overheating in winter, so although the best linen bedding is expensive to buy, I do think it's a great long-term investment, as it isn't a material that's just for hot weather.

3. Muslin throw

Muslin is another useful warm-weather option. 'A muslin throw is a great option for hot weather, especially for those looking for something ultra-lightweight,' agrees Charlotte at M&S.

'Typically made from loosely woven cotton, muslin allows for maximum airflow and creates a soft, lightweight feel,' explains Charlotte. 'It’s ideal for the warmest nights where a customer still wants a light layer for comfort, without adding any noticeable warmth.'

'Muslin's open-weave structure promotes continuous ventilation and heat dissipation during sleep, making it a great alternative to duvets during hot weather,' agrees Dony Wang, senior director of product development at bedding brand Bedsure.

'A muslin throw can be a lovely, very lightweight option because muslin is loosely woven and airy, agrees Molly, 'soft, breathable, and great if you want the lightest possible layer.'

In fact, muslin is increasingly growing in popularity as a summer bedding fabric, with brands such as Simba launching muslin bedding sets, and even a muslin dressing gown that's perfect for hot weather.

4. Cooling blanket

Whilst all of our experts suggestions so far have been for natural fibres, such as cotton or linen, there are also synthetic options which have been designed to offer a cooler sleep, such as cooling blankets.

'Unlike a traditional duvet, which is designed to trap warmth, a cooling blanket helps draw excess heat away from the body, creating a cooler and more comfortable sleep environment,' explains Dony. They're designed with 'fibres that feel cool to the touch, and help transfer body heat away from the skin more efficiently than many conventional bedding materials.'

These can be a good option if you're someone who struggles to sleep without a certain amount of weight on top of them, as all the options we've tested at Ideal Home tend to be more weighty than a cotton, linen, or muslin throw.

'Delivering a noticeably cooler sensation on contact, a cooling blanket also helps wick moisture away from the skin,' says Dony, 'promoting a drier, fresher sleep environment throughout the night.'

Whichever duvet alternative you opt for, all of these options will deliver a cool and breathable sleep compared to your standard duvet, which is exactly what's needed in this hot weather.

My Simba Cool Foam Mattress Topper review puts the brand's latest launch, and its most affordable topper yet, to the test.

The Cool Foam claims to allow five times more airflow than standard memory foam mattress toppers, and as someone who has spent four years testing the best mattress toppers and best cooling mattress toppers on the market, I wanted to put that claim to the test.

In a nutshell

After sleeping on top of the Simba Cool Foam Mattress Topper for the past three weeks, I think this topper is a brilliant option if you want to add some extra cushioning to your bed.

My husband and I also appreciated the improved motion isolation it added to our bed. We couldn't feel each other toss or turn at night, and when our kids jumped into bed, I wasn't bounced awake as I usually am.

However, I did find it fairly soft – if you crave a more solid sleep surface, this might not be the mattress topper for you. In terms of the name “Cool Foam”, I’m also not totally sold that this is more cooling than most other mattress toppers I’ve tried.

However, it didn’t cook me while I slept as some memory foam toppers have in the past, so although it wasn't as cool as the natural materials in the Woolroom Deluxe Mattress Topper I usually sleep on, if you're not a hot sleeper this likely won't be an issue, and even if you are, this topper still didn't actively cause me to overheat.

Overall, I think the generous 200-night sleep trial, Simba's excellent customer service, and this topper's cushioning comfort and excellent motion isolation will make it a good buy for many.

Simba Hybrid Essential Topper review

Specifications

• RRP: £149 / £199 / £199 / £249 / £299
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 6.5cm
• Construction: foam
• Care instructions: removable cover is machine-washable at 40ºC, do not tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

Attaching the topper to the bed

When the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper arrived on my doorstep, it was in a tiny box. As a seasoned mattress-topper reviewer, I was genuinely mystified as to how a king-size topper could fit in such a small box. But it did – probably because this mattress is pure foam, rather than hybrid, so it can squash down a lot smaller.

Inside the box, the topper was vacuum-packed in plastic, which was easy to remove. Just be careful not to cut into your topper while executing this move. The mattress topper then unfurled. I would suggest unboxing your topper as far in advance of sleeping on it as you can – a day or so. This is because the topper slowly reshaped and expanded over time.

It also allows time for off-gassing – the release of VOCs from the manufacturing process. The off-gassing smell from this topper was quite strong – I left the room well ventilated, but it still took a while to dissipate.

There are thick elasticated straps on the corners of the topper to attach it around the mattress. Plus, there is an anti-slip underside of this topper, but I found this to be almost imperceptible. However, the elasticated straps were generous enough to fit around my extra-thick Brook + Wilde mattress underneath with ease, so it should fit most mattresses.

Comfort

The main difference between the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper and Simba's other toppers is that it's made from three core layers rather than four, and that 'missing' layer is the microsprings the other toppers use. Instead, the Cool Foam is a foam-only topper.

The uppermost layer is Simbatex – this is Simba’s own comfort-engineered memory foam. This foam is infused with graphite particles. The idea is that the graphite will draw heat away from the body, while the open-cell structure will allow fresh air to flow into the topper to keep you cool.

We’ll dive into temperature regulation in the next section, but in terms of comfort, Simbatex is meant to be bouncier and more elastic than regular memory foam. This layer is the cushioning element of the mattress, offering pressure relief on hips and joints so you feel gently supported without that sinking feeling you get from a lot of old-style memory foams.

Underneath this layer is a foam base. This section is doing the heavy lifting in the topper – it should distribute your weight evenly over the mattress topper so no spots get overloaded. This means you feel supported and your spine stays in good alignment (the holy grail in terms of minimising discomfort while sleeping).

This topper is 6.5cm deep, and Simba says that it's medium-firm, although I found it fairly soft.

However, despite usually preferring a firmer mattress, I really enjoyed sleeping on the Simba Cool Foam topper. I found it responded well to my body, cocooning me and contouring around my body. I woke without an ache or pain – many soft mattresses leave me with lower-back pain.

During testing, I also really appreciated the motion isolation it added to our bed. Even when my children bounced into bed in the morning, I found that I remained asleep – we call that in the parenting trade “an absolute win”. But it shows that the topper does a good job at limiting the transfer of movement across the bed. This is also essential if you’re disturbed by your partner fidgeting next to you.

I have tested many other mattress toppers – including the Simba Hybrid Essential Topper, which costs £299 for a double, and the premium £349 Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper, both of which incorporate supportive springs. In comparison, I would say this £199 all-foam topper does feel a little less robust and a little less supportive.

However, if you're simply looking to add an extra layer of comfort and cushioning to a mattress, or to mask the movements of a fidgety partner, the Cool Foam topper did a great job.

Temperature regulation

I err on the side of being a hot sleeper and often find myself overheating in bed, which then disturbs my sleep. I usually find memory foam is a particular problem for this.

As previously explained, the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper has a layer of Simbatex foam on the upper part of the topper. This foam is designed to draw heat away from your body via the graphite particles and then allow fresh air to circulate underneath you.

I slept on this topper under my usual Woolroom wool duvet during some fairly temperate nights. I did find that I felt warmer sleeping on this topper than I do on my usual Woolroom deluxe mattress topper. I think it would be hard for a synthetic foam to outdo natural materials, especially temperature-regulating wool, when it comes to breathability.

However, by no means was it intolerable heatwise, and there was no overheating that kept me awake. I was aware I was slightly warmer than I was used to, but I do think this topper slept cooler than other non-graphite-infused memory foam toppers I've slept on.

Care instructions

Looking after this mattress topper is fairly easy. There’s a zip-off cover that is machine washable cover at 40ºC on a reduced spin cycle. You shouldn’t tumble dry it though, so pick a sunny day when you can dry it on the washing line.

If you want a deeper clean, you can spot clean the foam using a soft damp cloth. You should make sure the foam is absolutely dry before sleeping on it though.

However, it is worth noting that 40ºC isn’t always hot enough to kill those pesky dust mites that cause a lot of allergies to flare up. Personally, I'd always recommend using one of the best mattress protectors over the top.

Sleep trial

Simba offer a 200-night sleep trial on this topper. This is more than enough time to figure out if the topper is right for you.

It’s worth noting that this sleep trial kick starts as soon as your topper is delivered. So if you don’t try it for 199 nights and find out that it’s not for you on night 201, you’re out of luck. And, of course, you will need to actively notify Simba of your plans to return the topper if you’re not keen on it.

If you’re buying through a third party, double check that this offer extends to you. Not all retailers will have the same offers in place.

Value for money

The Cool Foam is now Simba’s most affordable topper. A double of this topper costs £199, while Simba's Hybrid Essential Mattress Topper costs £299 and the premium Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper is £349 for a double.

In order to achieve that lower price point, this mattress topper has been “streamlined” by Simba, so it’s foam only. The brand's other toppers are hybrid and include springs.

I found that meant this topper is a little softer than the brand's two sprung options, but I still found it very comfortable, and it added some welcome cushioning and motion isolation to our bed.

That said, I do think its £199 price point is still quite expensive. This is a pretty thick topper, at 6.5cm, but the 5cm deep Panda Topper is only a tad thinner, and the Panda Topper costs £134.95 for a double. Similarly, the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper costs £135 for the 6cm deep option and £175 for the 10cm deep option.

We've reviewed both the Panda Topper and the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper and found both similar in terms of temperature regulation and comfort. The main difference is that the Dunelm option doesn't come with a sleep trial, whereas the Simba and Panda options both offer 200 nights to test out on your own bed.

Overall, do I think the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper is good value for money? I think it's still a little on the expensive side. Personally, I'd wait for some Simba deals to drop and hope there's a discount before I shopped.

How I tested

Usual sleep position: side
Tension preference: medium-firm
Sleep problems: hip pain

In order to test out this mattress topper, I slept on it for three weeks in my own home on top of a hybrid mattress. I assessed how easy it was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer.

My Sealy Side Sleeper pillow review puts this affordable option through its paces to see how it measures up to the best pillows on the market.

In a nutshell

As a side sleeper, I found this the perfect pillow. And I've tested a fair few, so that's really saying something.

I found the supportive foam centre cushioned my head and neck at just the right height, enabling my spine to remain in a straight and neutral position when I lay on my side.

And because that foam core is wrapped in hollow fibre polyester strands, it also has a nice degree of softness. Not a firm block like many side sleeping pillows I've tested.

What's more, this pillow is very reasonably priced. Sealy advertises it as £59.99 on its own website, but I've found the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow sold at Argos for just £25.

The downsides are that there's no sleep trial to test it out before you commit to keeping it, plus, it's only available in one height, and the filling isn't adjustable. That means that, although it suited me perfectly, smaller or larger body frames may find it doesn't fit the gap between their ear and the mattress quite as perfectly as it did me.

Still, if you can snap it up at its £25 price point, I think this pillow certainly gives the best pillows for side sleepers a run for their money, and it's definitely the best value side sleeping pillow we've tested at Ideal Home.

Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow review

Specifications

• RRP: £59.99
• Best for: side sleepers
• Materials: inner: hollowfibre polyester with polyurethane foam core, cover: cotton
• Dimensions: H19 x W50 x L78cm
• Care instructions: cover is removable and machine washable at 40°C (on a delicate cycle) and can be cool tumble dried
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Comfort

The Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow has a foam centre, which the brand says is designed to cushion and support the neck and spine in an optimal position for side-sleeping.

That foam core is then surrounded by hollow fibre polyester fibres and a quilted cotton cover. When I unzipped the pillow outer and looked inside, these fibres looked like candy floss and felt as soft, but were bouncier to the touch.

The effect is that I found this pillow had a softer, bouncier feel than most memory foam pillows I've tested, which can tend to feel a bit block-like under the head.

I’m a very fussy pillow person, fuelled by years of testing them! And, personally, I don’t like a pillow to feel too hard, so a lot of the dense memory foam pillows are too rigid for me. However, as a side (and occasionally a back) sleeper, I also like a pillow that isn’t too soft, otherwise, my head and neck dip too low, and the neck and spine lose their alignment.

According to Sealy, this pillow offers a medium level of firmness – ideal for people who side-sleep. And overall, I'd agree.

When I lay on this pillow for the first time, my overriding impression was how soft and comfortable it felt, whilst also being supportive enough to keep my neck and spine aligned (thanks to the foam centre).

One of my sons described it as like a piece of giant sponge wrapped in cotton wool, because the outside was so springy and light, but the inside was firmer and more supportive!

My head sank into the pillow a bit and didn’t sit on top of it as it has with other side-sleeping pillows I’ve tested. Overall, I found it offered the perfect combination of comfort and support for side sleeping, and it didn’t let my head sink too far down towards the mattress - just enough to feel comfortable whilst also keeping my neck and spine in alignment.

I often wake up in the morning with neck and shoulder aches, but when I slept on this pillow, I didn’t notice any pain in the morning.

The only downside is that, unlike pillows such as the firmer Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow, or softer Simba Hybrid Pillow or Cloudpillo Original Pillow, this pillow isn't adjustable. So, although its height suited me perfectly when side sleeping, sleepers with different body frames may find it a little too low or too high, and there's no option to tweak its height to suit individual users.

Temperature regulation

The Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow does have a cotton cover, but the rest of the pillow is synthetic, so I wasn't sure how warm it would get under my head.

However, the foam comfort layer inside the pillow is ventilated to encourage air to move around the pillow to keep you fresh and comfortable, and the hollow fibre outer has air pockets to add some breathability too.

I often wake up in the night feeling hot and clammy around my neck and head but when I slept on this pillow I noticed that I didn’t wake up during the night, and my head and neck area didn’t feel as hot and clammy as usual.

Whether that breathability will change over time as the fibres become a little more compressed, I'll have to keep you updated on, but during my testing period this pillow offered decent temperature regulation. It's not as cool as a feather and down or wool-filled pillow, but I didn't overheat, either.

Ease of care

The foam core of the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow can't be washed, but it does have a removable cover that is machine washable at 40 degrees. The cover can also be tumble dried on cool.

The zip is so well concealed and discreetly tucked under the edge of the piping on one side that I initially struggled to find it but once I did it was easy to remove.

The fact that the cover can go in the washing machine makes it very easy to care for, and will definitely help to extend its life in terms of keeping it fresh and clean. It came up well after washing and looked as good as it did before. It was easy to put the cover back on too.

Sleep trial

The one downside of this pillow is that unlike a lot of its competition, there is no sleep trial offered.

It can be hard to gauge whether a pillow is right for you before you actually sleep on it, so it is a shame there isn't the option to test it out before you commit to keeping it, especially because its £59.99 retail price – although not the most expensive pillow I've tested – is still a significant outlay.

This said, as we'll come onto below, I have found it on sale for significantly less at a few retailers, in which case you may be more willing to take a punt and see how it works for you.

Value for money

As I mentioned, the Sealy website lists the retail price of this pillow as £59.99. However, I've found the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow sold at Argos for just £25, and the Sealy Side Sleeper Pillow is currently available at Dreams for £35.

Compared to most side sleeping pillows I've tested, this is very reasonable. For comparison, Panda's Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow costs £44.95, the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow costs £113.99, and the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow retails at £80.

Overall, I think it's a very good buy. It's certainly one of the best pillows I've found for comfortable side sleeping, and although it isn't adjustable (so may not suit everyone height-wise), if you can snap it up at £25 then I think it's a good all-rounder that's well worth a try.

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort and temperature regulation. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offers good value for money.

This week, Aldi relaunches its cooling bedding range in-store, and after a week where Britain saw temperatures soar to over 30C, I don't think there could be any better timing.

Whilst many of us are probably only too happy to enjoy the sunshine during the daytime, the hot and humid nights can be a very different story.

Most people are eager to find ways to stay cool in bed during hot weather, and with prices starting from just £3.99, Aldi's cooling bedding collection aims to be an affordable way to do so.

The Aldi collection features numerous cooling solutions. There are breathable and lightweight muslin duvet covers priced at £24.99 and available in three colourways of white, sage and beige.

And then there's the £7.99 Cooling Fitted & Flat Sheet and £3.99 Cooling Pillowcase 2 Pack that Aldi says are 'designed to draw moisture away from the body for a fresh and restful night'.

The budget-friendly retailer is also stocking a £12.99 Silentnight Thermal Regulating Pillow. This features 'heat sensor technology that helps to regulate temperature, by absorbing extra body heat, wicking away any moisture, and keeping bodies at the optimal temperature so shoppers can sleep soundly'.

That certainly sounds like exactly what I've needed these past few nights when I've been using every trick in the book for how to keep a bedroom cool.

I already have the space-saving Silentnight Cooling Gel Pillow Pad and the larger Silentnight Cooling Gel Body Pad, which I pop in the fridge before bed on the unbearably hot nights so it can cool down my sheets before I get in.

But when it comes to how to sleep better in hot weather, it's your whole sleep setup that needs thinking about.

Thankfully, there are lots of bedding materials that can help you sleep cooler, from breathable linen duvet covers, to temperature-regulating wool-filled duvets and cooling mattress toppers that can save the day if you have a synthetic or memory foam mattress that's causing you to overheat.

That said, whilst opting for bedding made from natural fibres has been game-changing for me as a hot sleeper, they are an investment. Although, to my mind, it's an investment worth making, as temperature plays *such* a big part in how well we sleep.

And, like most women, my temperature fluctuates throughout the month much more than most men's, so having bedding that supports the way my body operates has resulted in far deeper and less disrupted sleep.

That's also been the case for every woman I know who's switched to wool bedding and natural-fibre bedlinen, such as cotton or linen sheets.

By the looks of it, Aldi's cooling bedding range fixes a mix of natural fibres and synthetic fibres.

Many sleep experts do warn that synthetic fibres, such as polyester, can become 'sleep thieves' due to their less breathable make-up, but the bonus is they are very easy to care for (you can usually wash and dry polyester bedding in the same day) and they are *much* more affordable.

So if you're headed to Aldi to stock up on cooler bedding, simply check the care label to see which fibres it contains and if it delivers what you're looking for from your sleep setup.

And if you can't get into an Aldi store any time soon, I've rounded up some alternatives below that can help create a sweat-free sleep space that's ideal for hot and sticky heatwave nights.

Shop alternatives

This week, temperatures in Britain hit 30°C, as we basked in the first heatwave of the summer. And, whilst we might enjoy soaking up the sunshine during the day, most of us are probably less enthusiastic about facing restless nights as hot, humid weather makes sleep increasingly difficult.

I'm a hot sleeper at the best of times, and with a south-facing bedroom, I certainly don't enjoy tossing and turning on sticky summer nights.

Luckily, as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the last five years testing every type of bedding under the sun – from the best duvets for hot sleepers to the best cooling mattress toppers – and one thing I've learned is that the bedding materials we sleep in and on can make a *huge* difference to our overnight temperature.

Alongside various sleep experts, I'm here to share everything you need to know to set yourself up for a cooler sleep this summer.

But firstly, why is cooler sleep so important? Well, according to a recent survey by bedding brand Secret Linen Store, the average British sleeper is already getting just six hours and 56 minutes of sleep per night. This already falls short of the recommended eight to nine hours, and things only get worse in warmer weather.

63% of Brits say their sleep is affected by hot weather, and, according to Secret Linen Store's data, during the summer months, Brits lose more than 30 minutes of sleep per night. That adds up to at least 46 hours of lost sleep across the season, as rising temperatures make it harder to fall and stay asleep.

And science backs up what sleepers are experiencing firsthand. As Natalie Pennicotte-Collier, clinical sleep therapist and resident sleep expert at MattressNextDay, explains, 'Good sleep starts before your head hits the pillow, and one of the key triggers is your body cooling down by around one to two degrees in the evening. That drop in temperature is what allows you to fall asleep and move into deeper, more restorative sleep.'

'If that cooling doesn’t happen, or heat gets trapped, sleep becomes lighter, more restless, and people tend to wake more during the night,' says Natalie, 'that’s why your bedding choices aren’t just about comfort. They either support that cooling process or work against it. I often describe bedding as ‘sleep medicine in fabric form’, because it directly supports your body’s temperature regulation.'

'A lot of this comes down to heat and moisture around the body while you sleep. If that builds up, you’re much more likely to overheat and wake,' shares Natalie, and that's why choosing breathable bedding materials, like the ones listed below is *so* important for a cooler sleep.

1. Wool

Sleep experts unanimously agree that wool is a game-changing fibre when it comes to a cooler sleep, and, as a hot sleeper, it's definitely a material that has revolutionised my sleep setup and delivered a better night's rest.

'Wool is one of the most underrated sleep materials we have,' says sleep therapist Natalie. 'It’s one of the most responsive options for keeping temperature balanced through the night, particularly if your sleep tends to run hot or fluctuate.'

'What makes it different is how wool handles moisture,' says Natalie. 'Wool fibres can absorb and release moisture vapour as your body heats up and cools down, so instead of dampness sitting against your skin, it’s drawn away. That helps keep your sleep environment more stable.'

'It’s also to do with the structure of the fibre. Wool naturally creates small air pockets, which help retain warmth when needed, but also allow heat to escape when your body temperature rises. So you don’t get that build-up of heat that can wake you.'

'It may seem counterintuitive, but for hot sleepers, wool is one of the most effective bedding fibres you can choose,' agrees Chris Tattersall, sleep expert and managing director of Woolroom.

'It naturally regulates temperature while managing moisture, drawing heat and humidity away from the body to create a drier, more comfortable microclimate in your sleep environment.'

There are many ways to incorporate wool into your sleep setup, and I certainly swear by a wool duvet, which I sleep under all year round, plus a wool topper or mattress protector if you don't have a natural-fill mattress.

2. Linen

Next up, in our round up of cooling bedding materials, is linen. 'Linen is often the first material I recommend for hot sleepers,' says Natalie.

'It’s very effective at pulling heat away from the body, so when your temperature rises during the night, it helps you cool down more quickly rather than holding onto that heat.'

'It also handles moisture really well, says Natalie. 'Linen can absorb significantly more moisture than cotton before it feels damp, which means you’re less likely to wake up feeling clammy or uncomfortable.'

'It has a slightly textured feel at first,' says Natalie, 'and it will crease, but it softens beautifully over time and is incredibly durable.'

'Linen bedding is one of the most breathable fabrics available, allowing air to circulate freely,' agrees Molly Freshwater, co-founder of Secret Linen Store. 'Its natural fibres help release heat and moisture, making it ideal for hot, humid nights.'

3. Hemp

And whilst linen bedding is usually the easiest fabric to get your hands on, it's not the only material that offers good cooling properties.

'Hemp also works in a similar way to linen,' says Natalie. 'The fibre structure allows heat and moisture to move away from the body, rather than building up, which helps keep your sleep environment more balanced through the night.'

'Because of how those fibres are formed, hemp can also adapt to changes in temperature, keeping you comfortable if you get too warm, but not feeling cold if your temperature drops.'

'It’s also one of the more durable natural fibres,' shares Natalie, 'and it softens over time with washing, which improves how it feels against the skin and helps your body relax into sleep.'

'Hemp is a great, often overlooked option,' agrees Jack Davies, category lead at sleep brand Dreams. 'It’s naturally breathable, durable, and very effective at wicking away moisture. Like linen, it softens over time while still maintaining airflow, which makes it a good choice for maintaining a consistently cool sleep environment.'

4. Bamboo

This said, both linen and hemp have a textured feel that can take a little getting used to. If you prefer something (a lot) smoother, then silky and cool-to-the-touch bamboo is another cooling favourite amongst sleep experts.

'Bamboo is probably one of my favourite bedding materials to recommend,' says Hannah Shore, head of sleep science at Mattress Online. 'It's a natural material that has great breathability and wicks moisture away from the skin, but it also dries out very quickly, too. This makes it perfect for hot (and sweaty) sleepers.'

But Hannah does add a warning that it's important to consider which parts of your sleep setup incorporate bamboo.

'The closer to the skin, the more you feel the benefits,' says Hannah, 'so look for bamboo bed linen or pyjamas. Often, when bamboo is in a mattress, it is turned into foam, which may be more breathable and refreshing than normal memory foam, but not as much as any fibres.'

And that leads us on to our last wonder fibre, because ensuring your bedding materials are made of the most breathable fibres possible definitely results in a cooler sleep, but what's underneath you, in your mattress, matters too.

5. Latex

All of the materials mentioned above can help to create a cooler mattress, so looking for a mattress that incorporates wool, or natural fibres like hemp, cotton, or flax (which becomes linen when woven into fabric) can result in a more breathable, and therefore, cooler sleep.

And in addition to these, there's one more material our sleep experts recommend, and it's definitely become a favourite of mine, too.

'Natural latex is a good option if you’re looking for something supportive but still breathable,' explains Jack. 'It allows for better airflow than many synthetic foams and doesn’t trap heat in the same way. It’s also durable and hypoallergenic, making it a practical choice for both comfort and health.'

'Latex is a fantastic material,' agrees Hannah, although, like Jack, she points out this is only the case when it is in its most natural form. 'Unfortunately, a lot of latex on the market is synthetic,' Hannah explains, 'which reduces its natural antibacterial and temperature-regulating properties. So, natural latex is great; synthetic latex may have the same feel, but not all the same wonderful properties.'

All in all, 'natural, breathable materials are always a safe and effective choice for keeping cool at night, sums up Jack. 'Cotton, linen, and even silk all allow for good airflow and help wick moisture away from the body, which is key for maintaining a comfortable sleep temperature.'

'I would suggest sleeping with bedding made from natural fibres to anyone,' agrees Chris, 'but it’s especially important for those who tend to overheat at night or during warmer weather.'

'Ultimately, creating a cooler sleep environment is about layering the right materials, from your mattress and protector through to your duvet and sheets, so everything works together to keep you comfortable throughout the night,' says Jack.

One of the many perks of working in this job is being surrounded by style savvy editors who know how to sniff out a good deal. And when it comes to where to buy the best bedding sets, they never disappoint.

Like all homeware and accessories, bedding is personal. What has someone longing for five more minutes in bed might keep another person tossing and turning throughout the night. However, there is one brand that our editors keep coming back to for good quality bedding at budget-friendly prices: Dusk.

The online brand is known for its stunning pieces and generous prices and is right at the top of our editors’ little black book of bedroom secrets. From beautiful bedding to trendy bedside lamps, the under-the-radar brand has it all.

And right now, there’s even more reason to love Dusk, as the brand’s latest sale has slashed the prices of some of its best bedding sets. So, if you’re looking for a sign to give your bedroom a summer reset, this is it.

One of the pieces that immediately caught my eye in the Dusk bedding sale is this 200-thread count set.

With subtle geometric shapes woven into the crisp white cotton, the duvet is perfect for creating a scandi-style sleep sanctuary. Plus, with its breathable qualities and soft finish, cotton is one of the best sheet materials for a good night’s sleep.

Typically, duvets made with natural materials like cotton come with the price tag to match. But, this set from Dusk is currently over 50% off in the sale, at a bargain price of £23 for a double. What’s not to love?

And that’s not all. The brand has many more sets to choose from if you want to give your bedroom a champagne look on lemonade budget. Here are some of my favourite picks.

More affordable bedding

If you missed out on the Dusk sale, or just prefer to buy your bedding elsewhere, here are some more budget-friendly sets to shop.

My Dunelm Hotel Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle Pillow review puts this unusual-looking pillow through its paces to see if it can really deliver a wrinkle-free sleep, and to see how it compares to the best pillows Ideal Home has tested.

In a nutshell

The first thing you're likely to notice about this pillow is its *very* unusual shape. This is not a traditional rectangular pillow in any sense, but there’s a reason for this.

Dunelm says that its unconventional shape is intended to ‘cradle your face without creasing skin to help minimise sleep lines’. The brand also claims that it ‘keeps creams and oils on your face and not on your pillowcase’ and helps to ‘protect hair and lashes.’

Pair its odd shape with a silky soft bamboo-viscose cover that Dunelm says is ‘smooth and gentle on your skin and hair,’ and you have a pillow that boasts of its 'anti-wrinkle' properties.

As a 46-year-old mother of two, I’m very familiar with a bit of face creasing, and not just at nighttime! So I was intrigued to find out if this innovative shaped pillow would not only feel gentle on my skin and hair but also offer anti-wrinkle benefits, and feel comfortable to sleep on.

Overall, I was fairly impressed. Whilst I haven’t seen an immediate impact on my wrinkles, it’s reduced the usual creasing that I often wake up with on my face. It also keeps my hair smoother than my usual pillow, and I wake up without looking like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards!

The main downside was that I found it tricky to keep my head within the 'cradle' of the pillows' arms throughout the night, but if you're a less wriggly sleeper than me, you might have more success!

Specifications

• Best for: anti-wrinkling
• Materials: cover: 100% viscose derived from bamboo, inner: 100% polyester
• Dimensions: 45cm x 35cm x 25cm
• Care instructions: outer cover can be washed at 40 degrees
• Manufacturer sleep trial: n/a

Comfort

As I've mentioned, the first thing you're likely to notice about this pillow is its unusual shape. It resembles a starfish of sorts (minus a few limbs), and it's certainly the most oddly shaped pillow I've tested.

This unconventional shape is intended to ‘cradle your face without creasing skin to help minimise sleep lines.’ And, luckily, it comes with a pillowcase included, as there's no chance you'd get a normal rectangular pillowcase onto this pillow!

The pillowcase itself also contributes to the anti-wrinkle mission. It's made from 100% viscose ‘derived from bamboo’, and I found it felt incredibly soft to the touch, almost like silk.

Inside the cover, the pillow itself feels soft and springy, with good bounce back when squashed or pushed.

I’m a fussy pillow person; my pillow can’t be too hard, so some of the brick-like memory foam ones I’ve tested previously are too rigid for my preference, and they can’t be so soft that they don’t offer enough support for my neck and spine.

Overall, I'd say this pillow has a medium-firm feel that I felt comfortable with, but otherwise this pillow is like nothing I’ve ever tried before!

I’m usually a side sleeper, although I sometimes sleep on my back, and I usually prefer a mid-height pillow with a medium level of firmness.

When I first lay on this pillow, my initial thoughts were that the cover felt incredibly soft and smooth on my skin, but it definitely took me a moment to work out exactly how I should be lying on it!

On my back, it felt very different from my usual pillow; higher and also with a smaller surface area. I could feel the ‘arms’ on either side of my head, too, which I didn't mind, but I think could be a red flag if you suffer from any level of claustrophobia!

When I rolled onto my side, I found the unusual shape cupped my head nicely, allowing my face to fit through the gaps in the arms and my arm to nestle under what I’m going to call the arms of the pillow. This also meant that my nightly moisturiser wasn’t rubbed off.

Overall, I found it offered me enough support to keep my neck and spine in alignment when I went to sleep on my side, with the added benefit of making sure my face wasn’t squashed.

However, I could feel the ‘arms’ pressing against my chin and forehead, though when lying on my side, which I didn’t love. Plus, on some of the nights that I slept on this pillow, I woke up to find that my face had moved from the original position, and I was either off the pillow completely or had my face squashed into it like my normal pillow. Whether that’s a reflection of me being a wriggly sleeper or the pillow itself, I’m not sure!

Overall, though, I found this pillow offered a good combination of comfort and support, and it didn’t let my head sink too far down towards the mattress.

Anti-wrinkle powers

One of the unique selling points of this pillow is that Dunelm describes it as an ‘anti-wrinkle’ pillow. Apparently, this is achieved by a combination of factors, such as the ‘ergonomic’ design which ‘cradles your face without creasing skin to help minimise sleep lines,’ and helps to ‘keep creams and oils on your face and not on your pillowcase’, plus the silky pillowcase that ‘helps protect hair and lashes’.

This pillow definitely felt softer and smoother on my face than my existing embossed cotton pillowcase, from which I often wake up with an imprint on my skin! And, on the mornings that I woke up on my side with my face still in the correct position between the ‘arms’ of the pillow, I did notice that my face didn’t have as many sleep lines and indents as it usually does.

However, I couldn't guarantee my head would remain in the 'right' position all night long, so on those nights I moved in my sleep, I still had a smushed face the pillow couldn't help.

Overall, my existing wrinkles definitely didn’t vanish overnight, but at 46, I wasn’t expecting miracles! However, I think that over a longer period of time, this reduction in ‘sleep lines’ and skin creasing when sleeping on it might well be more beneficial to my skin than my usual pillow.

I also liked that I could apply moisturiser before bed without it being absorbed by the pillow. The 'hole' in the pillow meant my creams absorbed into my face instead of the fabric. And as far as I’m concerned, that's definitely a good thing!

Temperature regulation

Although the pillowcase of the Dunelm Hotel Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle Pillow is made of silky viscose bamboo, which is cool to the touch, the inside of the pillow is filled with polyester, so I was a bit concerned it might make me feel hot during the night.

However, during testing, I found this pillow felt instantly cool and refreshing when I lay on it, and I didn’t wake up in the night with a sweaty neck and head like I sometimes do on my usual pillow.

My hair wasn’t damp or tangled when I woke up, like it sometimes is on my normal cotton pillowcase, either, suggesting that the fabric may, as Dunelm says, be ‘smooth and gentle on your skin and hair.’

My sons, who regularly turn their pillow over to find the cool side when getting to sleep, also loved the temperature regulation of this pillow and said it felt very cool to the touch. That said, after the initial novelty of testing it out, neither of them wanted to spend the whole night sleeping on it.

Ease of care

The Dunelm Hotel Touch of Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle pillowcase is machine washable but not suitable for ironing. It can be tumble-dried on a low heat.

The cover has a zip down the back, which makes it easy to remove, and I found it washed and dried well in my washing machine.

The only downside is that the unusual shape of the pillow and pillowcase makes it a bit fiddly and time-consuming to get the pillowcase back on after washing, so you’ll need to allow additional time for this.

Sleep trial

There's no sleep trial available on this pillow, so that does mean that once you've unboxed it it's non-returnable.

However, most of us aren't too far away from a Dunelm store, so there is the option to go test it out in person before you shop.

Value for money

Costing just £25, the Dunelm Hotel Touch of Bamboo Anti-Wrinkle Pillow is very affordable and much cheaper than many other pillows I’ve tested.

In fact, I was surprised by how affordable it is, considering how much more work must go into manufacturing its unusual shape than a standard rectangular pillow, and I thought its silky bamboo viscose cover also looked simple but luxurious.

Would I buy it again? I'm not sure. I thought its arms were clever, and the theory was good, but in practice, I found it hard to keep my head aligned in its 'cradle' all night to get the benefit of 'uncreased' skin.

It has definitely convinced me to invest in one of the best silk pillowcases, so I continue to enjoy the smoothing benefits of a non-cotton pillowcase, though!

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort, temperature regulation, and those anti-wrinkle claims. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offered good value for money.

I'm already a fully signed-up member to the temperature-regulating benefits of wool bedding as someone who feels the cold when they first get into bed, but often wakes up a sweaty mess. I was delighted to put Soak & Sleep's New Zealand Mitchell Wool Mattress Topper to the test to see if it could compete with the best mattress toppers and elevate my own sleep, while also making my sofa bed more comfortable for guests.

In a nutshell

The Soak & Sleep wool mattress topper is a strong contender for the best cooling mattress topper. Made out of 100% New Zealand Wool, it is designed to regulate your body temperature and even help with allergies. The biggest improvement I noticed in my sleep was that I was no longer waking up sweating or needing to stick a leg out of the bed to cool down.

However, the topper is slim at 2.5cm deep, and only offers a little extra soft cushioning on top of a mattress. Its limitations in the comfort department became most clear when I tested it on my sofa bed, where it didn't feel that different to just laying an extra duvet under the bottom sheet.

It isn't expensive for a mattress topper at £130 for the double size, but it does feel like a big spend on something so thin that it feels more in keeping with an extra-thick mattress protector. Still, it is well-made and comes with a 5-year guarantee. I also have to commend the elastic straps; this topper does not budge an inch when on a bed.

Specifications

• RRP: £130, £150, £170
• Sizes: Double, King, Super King
• Depth: 2.5cm
• Construction: 233TC Cotton Casting, 100% New Zealand Wool filling
• Care instructions: Machine washable, but professional wash and dry recommended
• Manufacturer sleep trial: No
• Guarantee: 5 years

Who tested

Unboxing and first impressions

The Soak & Sleep New Zealand wool mattress topper arrived in a square plastic and fabric zip bag with handles. The topper is only 2.5cm deep, so it could be folded up to fit in the bag again if you wanted to store it away at a later date.

The topper didn't require any expansion time like other deep mattress toppers that arrive vacuum-packed. It just needed to be shaken out and could go straight onto the bed.

The thinness made the topper appear more like a generous mattress protector than a traditional mattress topper. It felt like handling a winter duvet, but a bit springier thanks to the 100% wool filling. The topper has an even flat profile thanks to its quilted design that was undetectable once a bed sheet was on top.

My favourite feature (aside from the wool filling) was the thick elastic straps that hold the topper in place around the corners of the mattress. I have had many bad experiences with slipping mattress protectors and toppers with flimsy straps. These straps do not budge. For the first time in months, my bottom sheet stayed firmly in place, helped by this new topper.

In the four months I've been testing it, the straps still feel secure and strong with no signs of stretching, despite being moved back and forth onto a sofa bed when guests have visited.

I was warned that a wool mattress topper can give off a 'sheep' smell rather than the off-gassing smell other toppers have. However, when I unpacked it, I noted no particular smell at all, which meant I didn't need to air it out before sleeping on it.

Comfort

Soak & Sleep refer to the New Zealand Mitchell Mattress Topper as offering a 'fine layer of comfort'. This is the best way to put it. My mattress certainly felt more comfortable with a topper on it; it added a soft, springy top layer. However, the 2.5cm depth isn't deep enough to offer the additional pillowy softness that you get with something like the Woolroom Deluxe mattress topper, which is also made out of 100% wool, but is a little deeper at 4-5cm.

This became even clearer when I tested it out on my Haru sofa bed from Made.com. This sofa bed has a very uncomfortable bar running along the middle that hits most guests in the back. The topper eased this discomfort by offering additional padding on the bed; however, if you are looking for a mattress topper to make a sofa bed more comfortable, I'd go for something thicker, like the Panda mattress topper, which has memory foam and is 5cm deep and comes in a wide range of sizes, or the Emma Flip mattress topper, which is 6cm deep.

The Soak & Sleep mattress topper is about half the depth of many other luxury mattress toppers on the market, so it struggles to compete with the level of cushioning other toppers can provide, and it offers zero motion isolation.

But it delivers comfort in other areas. Its quilted surface stops the wool from bunching up in any way, creating a lovely, smooth and even sleep surface. The wool filling also offered me just enough cushioning for my knees, hips and lower back, which helped ease any aches and pains I had.

Temperature regulation

This is the main USP of the New Zealand wool mattress topper, wool is not only naturally hypoallergenic (great news if you suffer from allergies). But it also has natural temperature-regulating properties. The wool absorbs and releases humidity to help you sleep at the perfect temperature.

I had already switched to an almost entirely wool bedding set up a few years ago as a sleeper who often overheats and suffers from night sweats. I honestly can't recommend wool enough as a sleep material. I no longer switch between summer and winter bedding as the wool bedding keeps me warm in winter (without night sweats) and cool in summer.

The topper was the missing piece of the puzzle, as I was also still suffering the occasional sweaty night with my old wool bedding set-up, but since adding this topper to my bed, I haven't woken up a single time from overheating.

At one point, I naively hoped I'd just outgrown my night sweats. However, a few stays in different posh hotels and at friends' houses, where I immediately started to overheat in bed, were enough to convince me this was not the case. In fact, it was just a testament to how effective the Soak & Sleep mattress topper was at keeping me cool at night.

Care instructions

Soak and Sleep recommends that you use a mattress protector on top of the topper to protect it from any spills or stains. They also suggest shaking it out once a week or every time you change the sheets to redistribute the filling and turn it regularly.

The wool topper does require regular washing - about every 6 months. However, while it is machine washable, you need a tumble dryer to ensure the topper is bone dry after washing, as Soak and Sleep warns that even the slightest bit of moisture can cause the filling to clump. It is for this reason and due to the size of the topper, which has to be washed in its entirety, that they recommend getting it professionally washed and dried.

I don't have a tumble dryer at home so was unable to machine wash the topper myself. Most mattress toppers we've tested either require dry cleaning or can only have the cover washed. So even though it will require professional washing, it's one of the easier to care for toppers we've tested at Ideal Home.

Value for money

While this mattress topper might be called 'luxury' with prices starting at £130 for a double, it's actually quite an affordable cooling mattress topper. In comparison, the Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper will set you back £314, and the Woolroom mattress topper will cost you £269 for a double.

However, both of these toppers are about double the thickness of the Soak & Sleep wool mattress topper. Plus, both come with sleep trials, which allow you to test out whether the topper improves your sleep before committing to keeping it, which sadly, Soak & Sleep's topper does not.

The brand has worked out that the cost per use of this mattress topper should work out at 4p per sleep over the course of 2 years. That could well be worth it if you're simply looking for a cooler sleep, but I would consider this mattress topper more of a turbocharged mattress protector; so, for its thickness, I would say that it's expensive.

Should you buy the Soak & Sleep New Zealand wool mattress topper?

Overall, I have enjoyed sleeping on the Soak and Sleep mattress topper. It has put an end to my overheating in bed and adds a lovely extra layer of luxurious cushioning to my mattress. It is really well made and comes with a 5 year guarantee, so it is built to last. However, I wouldn't recommend this mattress topper if you're looking to add extra support to your current mattress or a sofa bed.

You should buy if:

• You overheat at night
• Only want a thin layer of extra cushioning
• You have a tumble dryer/access to a professional cleaner

You should not buy if:

• You need something more supportive
• You have a single or small double bed/sofa bed
• You need to be able to clean the cover regularly

Lovers of retro-style homeware will be pleased to know that the Habitat x Scion collection has just dropped for summer 2026 - and it’s perfect for giving your bedroom a refresh this season.

Ever since the two cult brands announced their partnership back in 2024, we’ve been blessed with stylish ’70s-inspired collections showcasing everything from Scandi-style homeware to stylish, colourful garden furniture.

Now you can add some of the best bedding on sale right now to the collaboration. Featuring patterns like the distinctive Kukkia floral motif to the softer Odette Bedding Set, here are my top picks from the Habitat x Scion collaboration.

Trust me, Habitat knows what it's doing when it comes to producing stylish bedding. Just take their William Morris Collection as a shining example of beautiful design. Now, take the Odette Bedding Set as your second example. It's my top pick from the latest Scion collaboration.

Fresh and contemporary, the Odette bedding set is perfect for brightening a bedroom. It has striking, reversible blue and green stripes on the underside, and playful green leaves and white blooms on a blue background on the upper side. It’s playfully proving that blue and green should be seen together.

If you’re someone who loves patterns but doesn’t want anything too bold in your bedroom, this print is a happy medium.

Please note, Habitat have reported a slight delay on the new bedding sets, with the sets expected to come into stock over the next couple of days.

Which bedding set is your favourite?

Marks & Spencer just quietly dropped its spring bedding collection, and with on-trend ginghams, florals, and striped bedding sets starting from £14, I'm not surprised these newly launched lines are already selling out fast.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I spend my days stalking new bedding collections, and in recent years, M&S has become one of my top recommendations for where to buy bedding.

Gone are the days when the brand offered great quality bedding that was a little... boring. In recent years, the brand's homeware has undergone something of a style revolution, with the homeware retailer now leading the way in translating the hottest design trends into affordable buys that work in real homes.

This season, the brand's bedding is a timeless take on the year's biggest bedding trends. It's pretty, practical, and all about the details.

Think muslin bedding sets with embroidered floral sprigs that echo the heirloom florals trend, jacquard detailing that brings understated luxe to the bedroom, woodblock prints, and stylish pencil stripes paired with frilled ginghams.

I've rounded up my top recommendations above. But, if you're on the hunt for some pretty spring bedding, you may need to move fast if you want to snap up your favourite looks.

As M&S becomes a firm favourite with savvy style hunters, its most popular lines don't stick around for long nowadays. Some of these sets began selling out almost as soon as they launched, with multiple colourways already running low on stock in several sizes.

Personally, I think this spring bedding is the perfect payday pick-me-up, so I'll certainly be 'adding to basket' asap.

Spring is when all the new-season bedding collections launch, and this year, there's one clear trend that's steadily gaining momentum.

Last year may have been the year of the stripe, but 2026 is the year of the 'woodblock floral'. Inspired by traditional printing processes in which a wooden block is carved, inked, and hand-printed on fabric, this new take on the spring floral brings an artisanal, handcrafted look to our beds.

However, there's a twist. Because instead of ditching last year's stripes, the woodblock floral trend embraces them. This look sees florals and stripes combined, whether that's via a handprinted woodblock quilt over a striped duvet cover, a reversible bedding set with a block print on one side and stripes on the other, or a floral duvet cover with a striped fitted sheet hiding below.

If you're looking to update and refresh your bed for the warmer weather, I think this is one bedding trend you'll definitely want on your radar.

When it comes to where to buy bedding, I think these twelve picks offer up some of the best woodblock floral designs on the high street.

However, many of these options are selling out fast, with multiple colourways already low on stock.

So, if you want to embrace one of this year's biggest spring bedding trends before the best pieces fly of the shelves, now is the time to shop.

I put the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper through its paces to see how it compares to the best mattress toppers on the market.

In a nutshell

Considering this is one of the most affordable memory foam toppers I've tested, I found the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper did a great job of adding comfort and support to our mattress.

It retails at around £68.99 for a single and £93.99 for a double. Although I've seen it sold for less at third-party stockists (more on that below). I think that's very good value for a memory foam topper that also offers gel-infused temperature regulation.

As a 46-year-old woman who often suffers from shoulder, back, and neck pain, this topper offered support and comfort, which enabled me to sleep better. And it didn't make me overheat as many memory foam sleep surfaces can do.

I'm a side and back sleeper who prefers a slightly firmer sleep surface, so I enjoyed the fact that this topper isn't too deep and didn't make me feel like I was sinking into the surface of the bed, never to be seen again!

I also appreciated how easy it was to roll over without it moulding around my body too excessively, and my husband and I both appreciated its motion isolation, which stopped the other person's movements from disturbing us too much.

Its only real downside is the lack of a sleep trial. That's why the Panda Memory Foam Topper, with its 30-night trial period, retains its crown as the best memory foam topper Ideal Home has tested.

However, this Slumberdown topper has still proved an extremely cost-effective way to upgrade our existing mattress. And I, for one, won't be taking it off our bed anytime soon!

Specifications

• RRP: Single £68.99, Small Double £86.99, Double £93.99, Kingsize £99.99, Super-king £112.99
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 5cm
• Construction: 2cm CertiPUR-approved 'Niva Gel' layer and 3cm 'Visco elastic memory-foam layer', encased in a removable knitted polyester cover
• Care instructions: the removable cover is machine washable at 40 degrees
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

The Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper arrived rolled and packed in thick, clear plastic with a Slumberdown label on. The packaging looked quite budget, but on the plus side, it meant that there was no excess packaging to dispose of.

Once the plastic was off, the mattress topper sprang to life and expanded to its full 5cm height.

Slumberdown recommends leaving the product to air for 24-48 hours after unpacking, and I did immediately notice an off-gassing smell once the plastic was removed. This is common with mattress toppers made from memory foam or polyurethane foam, and I found the smell lasted for over a week, but it did fade gradually.

Similar to many of the other mattress toppers that I’ve tested, the Slumberdown topper has four elastic corner straps to attach it to the mattress.

Although it can be a bit awkward to lift the corner of the mattress to hook the straps under, I find these really useful because it means the topper doesn’t move around. I tested a super king-size topper over my super king-size mattress and found it fitted perfectly.

Comfort

Measuring 5cm deep, I found the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper made an immediate and noticeable difference to my existing mattress. My preference is for a firmer sleeping surface without too much sinking, and this topper provided that.

As someone who predominantly sleeps on their side or back, I found it provided a good level of support and comfort for both sleeping positions, whilst also cushioning my hips and shoulder when I lie on my side. More so than that offered by Dunelm’s Gel Fusion Mattress Topper, which I'd just finished testing.

I also liked the fact that I didn’t sink too deeply into the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress topper, which meant that it was easier to roll over and get out of bed. At the same time, it kept my spine in alignment whilst cushioning my joints, so a number of nights when I went to bed with a sore shoulder, when I woke up, the pain had eased.

The edges of the topper also felt supportive, so there was no roll away when you got close to the edge. This made the mattress feel bigger. The texture of the foam itself was flat, rather than with ridges like the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper, and I preferred this flat foam surface for lying on.

Memory foam is known for its excellent motion isolation because its cushioning helps absorb and dampen movement, and I found this topper did a great job of masking the movement of the other person in the bed.

When my husband and I slept on this together, I wasn’t disturbed when he came to bed later than me or rolled over in the night. And when my very wriggly son slept on it with me, I wasn’t disturbed in the night by his fidgeting like I often am!

Temperature regulation

This topper is constructed with a 2cm top layer of 'Niva Gel'. Slumberdown says this material is designed to enhance both comfort and temperature regulation, preventing the excessive heat buildup often associated with traditional memory foam.

This is combined with breathable mesh panels around the side of the topper that are designed to allow for airflow.

In practice, when sleeping on the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper, I didn’t overheat or wake up feeling sweaty in the night like I often have on other memory foam sleep surfaces. In the morning, when I woke up with the heating on, I didn’t feel overheated either, so I'd say the claims regarding improved temperature regulation ring true.

Care instructions

The cover of the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper is removable, and the manufacturer advises washing it at 40 degrees. It’s also compatible with being tumble dried on cool.

I found that unzipping and removing the cover of the mattress topper was straightforward, and after it had been washed and dried, it retained its original shape well, so putting it back on again wasn’t too hard.

As a mum of two boys who often has friends and family to visit, I think it's a big plus point that the cover can be washed to keep the topper looking and smelling fresh, and therefore extending its lifespan.

Sleep trial

Unlike brnds such as Simba, Woolroom, or Panda, Slumberdown doesn't offer a sleep trial on its products. This is a shame because it can be extremely useful to test out a mattress topper to see if it improves your sleep comfort before you commit to keeping it.

However, based on my testing experience, I think you would be hard-pushed to find someone who didn’t find this topper comfortable to sleep on!

Value for money

Slumberdown prices this topper at £68.99 for a single and £93.99 for a double, although I've seen the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper sold at Argos for less at various points of the year, and Amazon is currently selling the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper at a reduced price too.

Personally, I think that's very reasonable for the comfort and support it offers. I recently tested the more affordable Silentnight Deep Sleep Ultimate 1000 Mattress Topper, which retails for around £59 for a double, but its polyester fill can't compare with the cushioning of Slumberdown's memory foam topper.

Compared to other memory foam toppers, this Slumberdown topper is also a good buy. We still rate Panda's 5cm deep Memory Foam Topper as one of the best in class, mainly because it comes with a sleep trial and a wider range of sizes than this Slumberdown model (making it very useful for adding to a firm sofa bed). However, Panda's option does cost £139.95 for a double.

I also recently tested the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper, which retails at £135 for the 6cm depth. If you're looking for a softer, deeper topper, this could be the better option, especially as there's also a super deep 10cm option. However, as someone who prefers a slightly firmer, more supportive sleep surface, I would choose the Slumberdown option out of the two.

Overall, I think the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper is affordable and effective. After putting it on our mattress to test it, I definitely won’t be taking it off in a hurry!

How I tested

My sleep stats:

• Sleep position: back or side
• Tension preference: firm
• Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
• Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In order to test out this mattress topper, my husband and I slept on it for two weeks in our own home on top of our usual mattress. I assessed how easy the Slumberdown Memory Foam Gel Mattress Topper was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer, as well as its value for money.

In my opinion, dressing the bed is the most fun part of any bedroom design. Whether you rent or own your own home, the bed is a blank canvas where you can express your individual style and personality.

However, bedscaping or dressing a bed can also be something of an art form. After all, as with any blank canvas, there are decisions to be made before that undressed bed turns into a work of art, and it can be easy to get a little lost amongst the nitty-gritty of all those bedroom design decisions.

As such, I asked three bedding experts for their top tips on what is perhaps one of the most contentious of bedscaping questions. Should pillowcases match your duvet cover, or... not? Here's what our bed styling experts had to say.

Should your pillowcases match your duvet cover?

So let's get into it. Should your pillowcases match your duvet cover? 'Good question,' says Molly Freshwater, co-founder of bedding brand Secret Linen Store, 'I say yes, and no. I’ve always loved a mix, and that’s how I dress every single bed I make.'

'My rule is that two pillowcases need to match the duvet cover, and the other four are for having some fun with,' says Molly. 'And yes, that does mean I have at least six pillows in all on my bed!'.

As Molly goes on to explain, her thinking is that 'a bed is a big space, so one colour will be a big block in the room.' Therefore, instead of playing it safe with bedding in all one colour, Molly suggests, 'be creative with it. Matching sets can feel a bit boring, whereas a mix feels full of life and adds interest too.'

Personally, I've also found that adding some tonal variations, prints or patterns to my bed makes it easier to blend my bedding into my bedroom's decor scheme.

As Molly says, sticking to one colour can easily make the bed stick out like a sore thumb. I've found that by mixing and matching my bedding, I can pick out more colours from around my bedroom to tie my bedding into my overall bedroom design scheme.

Jessica Hanley, founder and CEO of bedding brand Piglet in Bed, agrees. 'I actually think it’s more interesting when the pillowcases and duvet cover don’t match perfectly,' says Jess, 'as long as there’s cohesion with the colours and patterns between the two.'

'Mixing and matching can add so much depth and personality to your bedroom, and it gives you more freedom to have fun and experiment. I love to mix and match my bed linens and create an eye-catching spread. The right mix of patterns and colours can make a room feel curated yet comfortable.'

And it's another vote in favour of some mismatched pillowcases from Angel Skillman, founder of Shades of Cool London. 'Pillowcases definitely don’t need to match your duvet cover, says Angel, 'in fact, I often prefer when they don’t.'

'A slightly more relaxed, layered look feels much more personal, and allows you to introduce subtle contrast without overwhelming the space,' explains Angel. 'Matching sets can feel quite formal, whereas mixing tones and textures creates a bed that feels more inviting and lived-in.'

This said, nailing the mismatched look can take a little skill. As Jess pointed out, a bed will generally look better if there's some cohesion between the colours and patterns you choose for your duvet cover and pillowcases.

Luckily, our experts have shared their top tips for making your bed look like you *meant* it not to match (rather than like you just threw some random bedding on to it) below.

How to coordinate your pillowcases and duvet cover if they don’t match

'If your pillowcases and duvet cover don’t match, the easiest way to make the whole bed feel intentional is to anchor everything in a shared colour palette,' says Jess. 'Start by pulling out one or two core colours and then play with different shades within that family.'

'Working tonally keeps things cohesive even when the patterns or textures differ,' Jess explains. 'If you’re easing into mixing, try pairing a buttery yellow with a deeper green for a fresh, spring‑leaning look. Once you’re feeling braver, you can introduce pattern play with florals, with ginghams, or stripes with ditsy prints.'

'The trick is to make sure the tones complement each other,' shares Jess. 'Rich florals paired with romantic, muted hues, for example, always feel elevated.'

'The key is to keep a common thread, whether that’s colour, tone or texture,' agrees Angel. 'I like to start with a base palette, perhaps a soft neutral or a muted print, and then layer in complementary pillowcases in stripes, florals or block colours that sit comfortably within that scheme.'

'Varying scale and texture also helps,' says Angel, 'for example, pairing a patterned duvet with simpler, softer pillowcases creates balance, while a contrast piped edge or trim can tie everything together beautifully.'

Molly also has a playful approach to bedscaping. 'Think of your bed as a picture and colour it in,' she suggests. 'I always go for six pillows, in pairs, with two squares in front. Stripes are a favourite for one pair (they lift everything), then I’ll bring in plains for the others.'

So, 'choose a duvet cover and two pillowcases that match,' says Molly, then add 'two pillowcases with stripes, and two more plain that work with your colour palette. If you only want to go with four pillows, match two pillowcases to your duvet cover, and then add a pair in a different colour or pattern to that mix.'

'If you're using a patterned duvet cover, pick a subtle stripe or a plain pillowcase for your mismatched pair,' suggests Molly.

Personally, my favourite aspect of this approach is that it makes it much easier to update your bedding. Instead of needing to buy a whole new bedding set, simply adding a couple of new pillowcases can instantly switch up the look of your bedroom or allow you to change the look with the seasons.

I've rounded up some of my favourite mix-and-match pillowcases of this summer season below.

And of course, ultimately, your bed should look how *you* want it to. Whether you choose to get inspired by this year's bedding trends or adopt your birth month bedding colour for a hyperpersonalised look, your bedroom should look and feel like an expression of you.

As Molly sums up, 'the main thing is to have fun and create something that you love. This is your bed, it's all for you.'

There's a heatwave on the way, and if you share a bed, experts say adopting this unusual Scandinavian sleep hack can make all the difference in getting a better night's rest as the weather warms up.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the past five years uncovering how to sleep better, and in that time, every expert I've spoken to has told me how important the right body temperature is for a good night's sleep. Seasonal changes mean the mercury will be rising, and that's why choosing the best duvet for this time of year is so important.

However, if you share a bed with a partner, you'll likely know that finding the 'right' duvet is easier said than done, especially if you tend to roast whilst your partner shivers under the covers, or vice versa. And that's exactly why this clever Scandi sleep hack can make such a positive difference to your sleep quality.

What is this Scandi sleep hack? Two separate duvets on the same double (or king) sized bed. And whilst it might sound unusual to us Brits, experts say there's a lot of sense in this alternative approach to bedding.

As sleep clinician, Natalie Pennicotte-Collier, resident sleep expert at MattressNextDay, explains 'for anyone who hasn’t come across it before, the concept is very simple. Instead of sharing one duvet, the bed is made up of two single duvets placed side by side on the same bed, with each person having their own duvet that best suits their individual needs.'

How can this improve sleep quality? Because 'people regulate their body temperature differently while they sleep,' says Natalie. 'One partner might naturally run warm, while the other prefers a heavier duvet.'

So instead of compromising by choosing one double or king-sized duvet that doesn't *quite* nail either partner's preferences, adopting this Scandinavian approach of separate duvets means each partner can choose their own individual duvet that better matches their sleep needs.

Things like what tog duvet to choose and the best filling for a duvet can all be highly personal, so taking this individual approach can help to ensure a better night's sleep for both partners without any need to take more drastic measures, such as a 'sleep divorce'!

Separate duvets can also eliminate 'discussions' over when to switch to a summer duvet. And according to Natalie, that isn't the only benefit.

'In my sleep clinic, I regularly hear from couples who complain about their partner’s duvet hogging in the middle of the night,' says Natalie. 'One partner rolls over and pulls the covers with them, the other wakes up cold, and suddenly, both are wide awake.'

Two single duvets mean no one is pulling the covers off anyone else, and there's more fabric to tuck around your body to keep out any draughts. And of course, if you have a super king bed or larger, you could opt for two separate double duvets rather than singles.

'At first, it can look, and even feel, unusual if you’re used to sharing one cover, but most couples who try it quickly realise just how much more freeing and comfortable it feels,' says Natalie.

And Scandinavia isn't the only part of Europe to have adopted differing sleep setups from us Brits.

The German Doppelbett sleep hack involves going a step further and using two separate single mattresses in one larger bed frame, so *all* of our sleeping surfaces are bespoke to our needs.

However, some sleep experts do say we might not need to take such extreme measures in order to achieve a better night's sleep when we share a bed.

Chris Tattersall, sleep expert and managing director of bedding brand Woolroom, agrees with sleep clinician Natalie in that 'the most impactful change couples can make to create a better sleeping environment is to invest in bedding that regulates both sleepers' temperatures.'

'Temperature incompatibility is one of the most common causes of disturbed sleep between partners,' says Chris. 'One person finds themselves tossing and turning from overheating, while their partner snoozes away cocooned in their duvet, resulting in a regular battle of kicking off and pulling back the duvet throughout the night.'

But Chris says there is a solution that doesn't necessarily involve two separate duvets. 'Opting for a naturally temperature-regulating bedding fibre like a wool duvet will go a long way to solving those issues, as with wool’s unique, natural qualities, it can keep cold sleepers warm, and hot sleepers cool, all under one duvet and on one mattress.'

Having tested multiple wool duvets over the past five years, I can confirm this is absolutely true. Wool is a bit of a miracle fibre in my book, offering brilliant breathability that ensures I (a very hot sleeper) stay cool in the summer, whilst also keeping me cosy in winter.

In fact, I now choose to sleep under the same wool woolroom duvet all year round, something I wasn't able to do when I owned a polyester-filled duvet or a feather-and-down duvet.

And as Chris adds, 'for the age-old classic duvet tug-of-war, I’d recommend choosing your duvet a size larger than you need, to help keep everyone covered and catered for.'

Whether you opt for one large wool duvet that creates individual microclimates around you and your sleep partner, a split tog duvet, or the Scandi hack of completely separate duvets, the key is to get your temperature right.

That way you can enjoy the transition into warmer spring weather, without sacrificing any of your shuteye.

In this review, I put the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow to the test to see how it compares to the best pillows on the market.

In a nutshell

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the past five years testing out all kinds of pillows, and it's a testament to how tricky choosing the right pillow can be that in all of that time I *still* hadn't found the perfect pillow for me. A lot of options came close, but there was always a downside that meant they didn't quite fulfil my needs.

That was, until I spent the past two weeks sleeping on the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow. I think I've now *finally* found my dream pillow.

This pillow comes in two height options, a 15cm depth and an 18cm depth, and as a side sleeper, I've found the deepest of the two to be the absolute dream height for supporting my head and neck in good alignment during the night. And unlike pretty much every other pillow I've tested, I haven't had to compromise on comfort or overheating to achieve that.

Support-wise, nearly all of the best pillows for side sleepers are made from foam or memory foam, so whilst they've kept my head at the right height, I've found them very dense and 'block-like' under my head, and their synthetic fill pretty much always becomes uncomfortably warm during the night.

In contrast, this Woolroom pillow is made with a latex fill and a cotton and wool cover. That means brilliant temperature regulation – my head stayed cool and comfortable every night of testing – and also a completely different feel than foam or memory foam provides.

Sleeping on a latex pillow feels a little like resting my head on a firmly set jelly, and as it turns out, I find that *far* more comfortable than denser foam or memory foam. It means that the pillow surface offers brilliant support, but still has a slight give and bounce to it that feels really good under the head. Woolroom describes it as a 'weightless' sensation, and I agree.

The only downside is the price. This pillow costs £113.99, and that's a *lot* of money in my book. However, after struggling with neck pain caused by so many 'wrong' pillows, for me, that's money worth investing in a pain-free sleep, and Woolroom's 30-night sleep trial also makes that investment a little less risky.

Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow review

Specifications

• RRP: £113.99
• Best for: side or back sleepers
• Materials: inner: Talalay latex, cover: organic cotton and British wool
• Dimensions: H15 or H18 x L74 x W48cm
• Care instructions: cover machine washable at 40°C on a delicate/wool wash, line dry only
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30-night

Comfort

Like many of us, I'm a side sleeper, and that can mean finding the right pillow takes a little trial and error. This is because side sleepers need a pillow that fills the gap between their ear and the mattress surface perfectly.

The idea is that when we're lying on our side, our neck and spine should be in the same neutral alignment that they would be when we were standing up straight. So the best pillow for a side sleeper should be roughly the same depth as the length of one shoulder.

Where it gets tricky is that all of us have different shoulder widths. Plus, the tension of our mattress also plays a part. A softer or more cushioned mattress surface will mean your shoulder sinks in more, and you need a slightly lower pillow to keep the head, neck, and spine aligned, whereas a firmer mattress usually requires a deeper pillow.

The Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow turns out to be the absolute Goldilocks of pillows for me. It's not too low, and not too high. I'm 5'10" with fairly wide shoulders and I sleep on a medium-firm mattress. I tested the 18cm deep pillow (there is also a 15cm deep alternative) and found it fitted my shoulder width and mattress type perfectly.

Lying on my side, my head felt supported at just the right height, but what I particularly loved was the feel of the latex core. I've tested foam pillows for side sleeping, such as the Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow, which did a brilliant job of supporting my head at the right height but felt very firm and 'block-like' under my head.

I've also tested many of the best memory foam pillows – a filling often recommended for side sleepers as it keeps the head well supported. However, as this material slowly softens when exposed to body heat in order to 'mould' to the head, I often found the pillow would slowly sink during the night, putting strain on my neck.

Latex seems to solve both of these problems. The best way I can describe it is like resting my head on firm jelly. It has a lovely bit of give and 'jiggle', but it remains at one steady height all through the night. That means it's brilliantly supportive *and* still feels a lot softer and more luxurious than most other side sleeping pillows.

As I've mentioned, Woolroom describes the sensation of sleeping on latex as a feeling of 'weightlessness' for the head, and although it's difficult to explain without experiencing it, that is the effect it seems to achieve.

Temperature regulation

As a hot sleeper, I really value a pillow that offers good temperature regulation, and this is definitely one of the areas where the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow excels.

I've been sleeping on this pillow for the past two weeks, and I've never once had to flip it over to find the cool side. I've found it stays perfectly neutral in temperature all night long – hallelujah.

No doubt that's thanks to three main factors. First, latex is naturally more temperature-neutral than the filling most firmer side-sleeping pillows are filled with: memory foam.

Second, Woolroom has added small airholes to the latex core to increase air circulation and allow body heat to disperse.

And third, the brand has also wrapped this pillow in an organic cotton and British wool cover. Both of these materials are great for temperature regulation, with wool an especially useful material for helping hot sleepers sleep cooler.

Ease of care

Similar to foam and memory foam pillows, the inner latex core of this pillow can't be washed, but the quilted wool and cotton cover can be removed and freshened up on a delicate wool machine cycle.

This does mean it requires a little more TLC to look after than a synthetic polyester pillow – most of which can be shoved in the washing machine and washed fully without too much thought.

For me, this extra TLC is worth it for what the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow offers in terms of comfort and support. However, I probably wouldn't be choosing this pillow for a guest bed or kids' bed where I knew I'd want to wash the bedding more thoroughly.

Sleep trial

Where possible, I always recommend opting for a pillow that comes with a sleep trial, and Woolroom offers a 30-night sleep trial with the Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow.

As I've mentioned, it can be really tricky to tell whether a pillow will be right for your body before you've actually slept on it, and even though *I* love this pillow, it doesn't necessarily follow that it will be right for you.

That 30-night sleep trial makes this investment a lot less risky, as if it isn't the one for you, there is an opportunity to return it.

Value for money

There's no denying that £113.99 for a pillow is a lot of money. But when you think that you sleep on a pillow every single night, the cost per use does get put into perspective a little.

And, expensive as it is, that price is around average for a pillow of this quality and construction. For reference, Simba's bestselling pillow, the Simba Hybrid Pillow, costs £109, and a top-of-the-range feather-and-down pillow, such as the scooms Hungarian Goose Down Pillow, costs £100.

Compared to other latex pillows, Woolroom's latex pillow is also pretty reasonably priced. You could opt for the Relyon Superior Comfort Deep Latex Pillow (another great latex option for side sleepers) for £133 or the Hypnos High Profile Latex Pillow, which costs £140. However, as you'll notice, these competitors are more expensive, and few of these comparable latex options offer sleep trials.

For me at least, that makes the Woolroom Natural Latex Washable Wool Pillow one of the best value latex pillows on the market. And finding a pillow that's the right height, offers the right support to eliminate my neck pain, feels lovely to sleep on, sleeps cool, *and* is made from natural, chemical-free materials, for me, is pretty much priceless.

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort and temperature regulation. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offers good value for money.

The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper is the brand's newest mattress topper, and it combines cushioning bamboo-infused memory foam with micro-spring support.

As a sleep product tester, I’ve spent the past four years testing out the best mattress toppers on the market, and I've always been a huge fan of Panda's original topper, the Panda Bamboo Mattress Topper, which is a pure memory foam affair.

Now that the brand has launched a hybrid spring-and-foam version, I was keen to see how its latest innovation measures up.

In a nutshell

Overall, I was very impressed with the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper. So much so that I didn’t want to say goodbye to it after the testing period.

It has a lovely amount of 'bounce' and responsiveness, and made a noticeable positive difference to my fairly firm pocket-spring mattress. I felt supported and comfortable the whole time I slept on it. And despite it being made partially from memory foam, I found it was a great temperature regulator too. My husband and I are both hot sleepers, and we didn't wake up too hot once.

At 7.5cm deep, this topper is also a lot thicker than many toppers, which means it can mask an uncomfortable sleep surface well and should suit heavier-weight sleepers who need a little more depth and support. It's also well-made, with attention to detail in the robust zip, sturdy adjustable straps that secure it to the mattress, and the overall construction. I honestly struggled to find a flaw in this hybrid mattress topper during testing.

The only downside is its price. At £339.95 for a double, that firmly falls into the 'expensive' category in my head. However, having tested a lot of mattress toppers in my time, I would say it’s one of the best on the market.

Only you can decide if you can justify its expense, but Panda's 30-night sleep trial means I think this topper is definitely worth a try to see if it improves your sleep quality enough to justify its price tag.

Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper review

Specifications

• RRP: £249.95 / £319.95 / £339.95 / £359.95 / £399.95 /
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king / EU single / EU double / EU king
• Depth: 7.5cm
• Construction: bamboo-infused open-cell memory foam, micro-springs
• Care instructions: removable cover is machine-washable at 30ºC, air dry only
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30 nights

Attaching the topper to the bed

The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper arrived vacuum-packed, rolled, and in a box. I was dreading lugging upstairs to my bedroom, but actually, it’s pretty lightweight, and I could do it without any help.

I also found the topper easy to unpack. The cardboard box slides off easily, and I slipped the Swiss roll-esque topper onto my mattress. I then cut off the plastic. I recommend doing this very carefully with a pair of blunt-ended scissors so you don’t accidentally cut the topper.

Plastic off, the topper unfurled very quickly and came up to size within a matter of minutes. There was a definite smell of off-gassing when I first unpackaged the topper, but I opened the window to let air flow around the mattress topper, and this helped remove the smell from my bedroom.

And when it came to attaching the topper over my mattress, I was really impressed by the robust straps on each corner. The straps are adjustable, which means I could make sure they were nice and tight over each corner of my mattress. The removable cover also has a non-slip underside to stop any minor slippages.

I was also impressed by the topper's depth. At 7.5cm deep, it's thicker than many toppers on the market. Although you may need to invest in some extra deep fitted sheets as a result.

Comfort

Panda claims this mattress topper has five layers, although I’d say that is overstating it slightly; Panda is counting their washable cover twice in this. The maths isn’t quite mathsing for me there. Yes, I am here to split hairs.

The cover is the uppermost layer. This is an undulating top made from organic bamboo. Bamboo is an ideal fibre for a topper. It’s naturally antimicrobial, incredibly soft and is a great temperature regulator. The cover feels great quality – nice and thick. There are mesh sides on the cover to increase airflow through the topper. We’ll drill more on temperature regulation later in this review, but for now, just know this is a great feature.

The next layer is 'biocell foam'. This is Panda’s term for an open-cell structure memory foam, which the brand has infused with bamboo. This type of foam is less dense than traditional memory foam, again, to help air flow and stop overheating while offering cushioning.

Under this is a micro-spring layer. Springs offer a more structured, responsive support. This means that as you move in the night, the mattress should adapt to your body and keep your spine aligned. Ideally, this should translate as a more restful sleep and fewer aches and pains in the morning.

The last layer is another layer of memory foam, this time dubbed orthopaedic-grade by Panda. The brand says that this helps the mattress topper contour to your body

In practice, I was so impressed with the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper. I felt wonderfully supported whether I slept on my side or back. The 7.5cm depth of the topper truly offered some real bounciness and oomph to my sleep surface – something that many other toppers I've tested have failed to do. As I don’t really enjoy the cocooning sensation of memory foam, I was also pleased that it wasn't too cocooning and 'hugging'.

As I tested this mattress topper by sleeping alongside my husband, I was also able to test its motion isolation. Again, this is really decent. I couldn’t feel my husband tossing or turning at night. Although our mattress is a very well-made pocket-sprung Hypnos Origins 6 mattress, so its motion isolation is pretty good anyway.

If you’re struggling with being disturbed by your partner's movements at night, this topper can help, but I would say that Panda's more affordable topper, the Panda Bamboo Mattress Topper (which is minus the springs), could probably do the trick for cheaper if extra cushioning and motion isolation are your main goals.

What this new hybrid topper delivers is the whole package: cushioning, support, temperature regulation, and a nice amount of bounce.

Temperature regulation

I hate overheating at night. It can really disturb my sleep. My husband is a hot sleeper too, so together we are the fussiest of sleepers when it comes to temperature. However, we were both impressed by the temperature regulation we experienced while sleeping on the Panda Hybrid. Bamboo Mattress Topper.

Although it features foam (not always the coolest of materials), there’s lots “under the hood” of this topper to enhance the temperature regulation while you sleep. Firstly, the cover is made from bamboo, which is excellent at maintaining a consistent body temperature. It’s also highly absorbent, so it will wick sweat away from your body efficiently, helping you to keep cool.

Working in harmony with this cover is the 'bio cell memory foam', which is also infused with bamboo. The open-cell structure of this foam and the bamboo will help keep things cool. And the mesh sides on the cover allow hot air to escape and cool air to circulate under your body.

As a result, I found that I didn’t overheat at all on the Panda Hybrid. Bamboo Mattress Topper. I stayed perfectly warm all night without tipping over into sweaty. And I tested as the temperature was increasing slightly in spring, but I hadn’t yet taken my 13-tog duvet off – it’s a risky time in terms of overheating. The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper coped perfectly, rivaling the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper I usually sleep on for its excellent temperature-regulating properties.

Care instructions

When it comes to how to care for this mattress topper, its cover is removable, so it can be unzipped and the outer cover machine-washed at 30ºC. Although it is air-dry only, so don't be tempted to put it in the tumble dryer.

This said, I did find the topper cover to be very snug. So you’ll need to psyche yourself up for taking it off, and, crucially, getting it back on again after washing. Personally, I'd opt for investing in one of the best mattress protectors to pop over the topper and your mattress instead; they're far easier to remove and wash.

The foam underneath the topper is spot-clean only, but you can vacuum it. Not so long ago, I tested a mattress vacuum that's brilliant for this job – and the one I reviewed blasts the mattress or topper with UV light too, to kill germs and dust mites.

Sleep trial

Panda offers a 30-night sleep trial on this topper. Although it's valid on products bought directly through their website only.

This topper is an investment, so I'd certainly feel more confident testing it out knowing I could get my money back if it didn't improve my sleep comfort.

Value for money

Overall, this is a very comfortable mattress topper that I think can make a real difference if you have a mattress that’s slightly tired or too firm for you. That said, this topper certainly isn't cheap. As of writing, a double of the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper costs £339.95, and a king-size costs £359.95.

That's a significant investment, although it is on a par with products of a similar construction. For example, the Simba Hybrid Topper, which we've rated as one of the best mattress toppers overall for the past five years, costs £349 for a double and £399 for a king-size.

The new Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Topper definitely gives the Simba Hybrid Topper a run for its money. Both are hybrid toppers that combine breathable memory foam with micro-spring support, and both make a real difference to a sleep surface. The main difference is that the Simba Hybrid Topper comes with a 200-night sleep trial compared to Panda's 30-night sleep trial.

So are either of them worth the money? Yes, I think so. If you have a mattress that is otherwise in really good nick but just needs a little zhuzhing to give it a new lease of life, or you want to add better cushioning, support, and breathability to a mattress or sofa bed, this topper will do that.

However, if your mattress is on its last legs, I’d always recommend investing in a new mattress rather than hoping a mattress topper is going to transform things – even the best mattress topper (and this Panda topper is definitely up there as one of the best I've tested) can only do so much.

How I tested

Usual sleep position: side
Tension preference: medium-firm
Sleep problems: hip pain

In order to test out this mattress topper, I slept on it for two weeks in my own home on top of the fairly firm pocket-spring Hypnos Wool Origins 6 mattress. I assessed how easy it was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer.

I put the M&S Duck Feather & Down Duvet to the test to see how this affordable feather and down duvet performs.

In a nutshell

In Ideal Home's round-up of the best duvets money can buy, we rate scooms’ Hungarian Goose Down Duvet as one of the best feather and down duvets you can invest in, as well as the best all-seasons duvet.

I'm lucky enough to sleep with this scooms duvet on my bed every night, and I love it dearly. However, a single 4.5 tog option costs an eye-watering £175 thanks to its premium Hungarian goose down fill. In comparison, a single 4.5 tog in the M&S *duck* feather and down duvet costs just £39.50. So you better believe I was eager to see how they compared.

The good news for our bank balances is that this budget-friendly M&S option really impressed me. I tested the 3-in-1 M&S Duck Feather & Down Duvet 13.5 Tog All-Seasons Duvet, which includes 4.5 tog and 9 tog duvets, fastened together with very useful ties to create a snug 13.5 tog duvet. This means in this one product you’re set for a cosy night’s sleep, whatever the weather.

Admittedly, the duck feather and down fill doesn't feel as premium as the Hungarian goose down in my scooms duvet. The M&S option features a high ratio of feather to down (85% duck feather and 15% duck down to be exact), whereas the scooms option is almost pure fluffy down (90% Hungarian goose down & 10% Hungarian goose feather), and I could feel the difference. The M&S option felt a little clumpier and not as squishy and cloud-like as my beloved scooms bedding.

However, I was still pleased with the warmth and temperature-regulation this duvet delivered, and I stayed “just so” all night long during testing. It also felt far more luxurious than your average synthetic duvet. Overall, if you want a luxury hotel feel on a relatively small budget, I think this is a fantastic option.

M&S Duck Feather and Down Duvet review

Specifications

• RRP: £34.50-£115
• Sizes: single / double / king / super king
• Tog rating: 2.5 / 4.5 / 7.5 / 10.5 / 13.5 / 15 / all-seasons (4.5 + 9 = 13.5 tog)
• Materials: outer: cotton; filling: 85% duck feather, 15% duck down
• Care: machine wash at 40ºC, tumble dry on medium
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Feel

The M&S duck and feather down duvet comes in a smart, reusable storage bag with carry handles, but when I first unpacked it, I was slightly surprised by how little loft it has.

It seems I've gotten used to my super-cloud-like scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet, and this M&S version felt a little flat in comparison. In part, this is probably because the M&S version is filled with duck feathers and down rather than goose. Goose down has larger clusters and higher fill power than duck down.

However, despite its lower profile, I still found this M&S duvet did just what I love most about a feather and down duvet. And that's to offer a decent drape to tuck in around my body and cocoon me. It's also pretty lightweight. In comparison, my Scooms duvet is much heavier for the same tog rating.

I’ve also tested and own the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Duvet (yes, as a sleep product reviewer, I am spoilt in the bedding department). If I compare the M&S Duck Feather & Down Duvet to the Woolroom Deluxe, the M&S option has a much fluffier profile and more cosiness. On a made bed, it certainly looks inviting to jump into.

I also let out a little cheer when I unpackaged it, because there is a thoughtful and functional design touch here that so many duvets lack. As this is an all-seasons duvet, it comes in two parts: a 4.5 tog duvet and a 9 tog duvet – which you can fix together to create a 13.5 tog duvet.

The design feature I was rather pathetically thrilled about is the ties on the corners and edges of both duvets. This allows you to connect both duvets securely together, and they don’t become uncoupled. In comparison, my pricey Scooms duvets have detachable plastic poppers, which get lost, come off when changing the duvet and add a weird feeling to the whole perimeter of the duvet. No exaggeration to say that they’re the bane of my life.

The one downside I did notice initially is a slight scent of 'game' about the duvet. Although this should fade over time, and is perhaps to be expected given the filling.

Temperature regulation

I am prone to overheating, as is my husband, so we’re a fussy pair when it comes to duvets. We’ve both found our happy place under our scooms duvet, so I was intrigued to see if duck feathers would tick our boxes in the same way.

After testing, both my husband and I found the temperature regulation under the M&S feather and down was very decent, and on a par with the scooms duvet. I used my Oura 4 ring, which monitors my sleep quality during testing, and it told me I got “optimal” sleep under the duvet. In fact, my overall sleep score was above average.

That said, I do think temperature regulation is one area where my Woolroom Deluxe Wool Washable Duvet really comes into its own. It’s hard to beat wool’s temperature regulation when you compare wool vs feather duvets. The Woolroom Deluxe duvet seems to give my husband and me our own microclimates under one duvet.

However, I didn’t find myself kicking the M&S duvet off or wishing it were thicker. Even on chilly nights where I couldn’t wait to dive under my duvet, I felt quickly warm and yet didn’t wake at 3 am in a sweat.

And I am a huge fan of an all-seasons duvet. I like options, and these styles of duvets have three. You can find more info here on what duvet tog to buy, but basically, the 4.5 tog duvet is going to be fab on balmy summer nights, where you still want a cover for security but don’t need much warmth at all. And I love having a 9.5 tog as we move into mild, but not frigid, nights, whilst the 13.5 tog is a cosy winter warmth.

Ease of care

You can wash this duvet at 40ºC in your washing machine at home (or a laundrette if you need a larger-sized drum). This won’t be a high enough temperature to blitz allergy-causing dust mites (that requires a 60ºC blitz that this duvet can’t handle), but it’s a good option to give your duvet a refresh. You can also tumble dry it on medium, which again is hugely convenient.

The duvet is baffle boxed – meaning it's stitched in boxes to stop the filling from slipping. However, I still found I needed to fluff this duvet almost daily. This is pretty easy to do with a quick shake, but anyone with limited mobility or upper body strength might find it slightly challenging compared to a synthetic duvet.

I also found the zippable storage case was really handy for storing whichever duvet I wasn't using. Storing a duvet properly is an art, and this bag will allow proper airflow around the duvets and stop any mould building up (a real issue in feather and down duvets).

Sleep trial

There's no sleep trial available on M&S bedding unfortunately, which does mean that once you remove the duvet from its bag it's non-returnable. In comparison, my scooms duvet has a 60-night sleep trial, and my Woolroom duvet 30 nights.

I do think a sleep trial is a great feature, as although you may be able to squish the M&S duvet in-store if you have shop nearby, it's still hard to guess how you'll find sleeping under any duvet until you actually do.

Things like temperature regulation can be especially tricky to guage until you're actually getting hot and sweaty under a duvet, so this may or may not be a dealbreaker for you.

Value for money

Feather and down duvets are never going to be your most affordable duvet option. The manufacturing processes involved in harvesting the fillings mean they’re more expensive. And these fillings are traditionally considered better than other fillings – especially synthetic fillings – because of the level of warmth and luxurious comfort they provide.

Having said that, the M&S Duck Feather & Down Duvet in the 13.5 tog All-Seasons king-size version I tested is £99. (You can also buy it in separate 2.5, 4.5, 7.5, 10.5 and 13.5 togs if you prefer). In comparison, the equivalent 13.5 tog All-Seasons scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet would cost you a whopping £520 – so it's incredible value in comparison.

The fill in the M&S feather and down duvet is 85 per cent feather and 15 per cent down. In scooms, it’s 90 per cent down and 10 per cent goose feather. Down is the fluffier and more expensive filling, so this explains things somewhat. Plus, Hungarian goose down is considered the crème de la crème of feather and down. Duck is its slightly inferior cousin.

Alternatively, The White Company’s 13.5 tog Hungarian Goose Down Duve costs £440 and isn't an All-Seasons design (again, it’s goose rather than duck down).

I’ve tested a lot of duvets over the years, and on balance, I think this M&S option is a really reasonable price for a feather and down duvet. It may not feel as premium as my scooms option, but it does still feel like a good quality duvet. And you are getting three duvets to see you through all the seasons of the year, which I think is great value.

It also scores brilliantly on the M&S website, with nearly 800 reviews and an average customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Owners rave about its temperature regulation qualities and how cosy it is, and I will certainly be recommending it to all of my friends as well.

How I tested

I tested the M&S Duck Feather & Down Duvet at home, on my bed. I share my bed with my aforementioned heat-sensitive husband, and if I’m very unlucky, one or more of my three children. While I asked my husband for his thoughts, I discounted most of my children’s feedback (sorry, kids).

During the testing period, it was a chilly February into March, with some warmer days – perfect for seeing how the duvet fared in different temperatures. I paid close attention to how quickly I warmed up under the duvet on cold days, and warmer nights too. I also monitored my sleep quality on all nights using my Oura Ring 4.

Other things I factored into my testing were the feel and quality of the duvet, how easy it is to care for, and, of course, value for money is always part of the duvet testing process at Ideal Home. I compared this duvet to similar options on the market, and considered how its performance compares to its price point.

The budget-friendly Slumberdown Made For You Two duvet is designed to help partners who prefer to sleep at different temperatures, with one side offering 4.5 togs of warmth and the other a cosier 10.5 togs.

As a cold sleeper who shares a bed with a husband who sleeps hot, it could have been made for us. We put it to the test over a week to see how it compared to the best duvets on the market, and whether it would solve arguments over the thermostat.

In a nutshell

Overall, the Slumberdown Made For You Two 4.5/10.5 tog duvet performed better than I expected. It offers great value for money and turned out to be an ideal solution to satisfying both mine and my husband’s different preferred sleep temperatures.

The king-sized version I tested costs just £26.50, which is an extremely competitive price in comparison to other synthetic duvets on the market.

Another big plus point for this duvet is that it’s easy to care for. So as a mother of two boys who are constantly covered in mud or chocolate, being able to machine wash it at home and tumble dry it too is extremely beneficial.

It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that the reason it's so easy to wash and dry is because it's made from synthetic fibres. Both the filling and outer casing are constructed of 100% polyester which does impact the breathability of the duvet, making it feel a lot warmer to sleep under than my usual feather and down filled duvet.

For me as a cold sleeper this extra warmth is a bonus, but for my husband who is always hot at night it would usually be an issue. However, because his side of the duvet was only 4.5 tog it offered the perfect solution for us both, and neither of us overheated.

Normally I prefer the luxury and weight of a feather and down duvet, however, I was pleasantly surprised by how warm this duvet kept me and by the way in which it kept myself and my husband happy. And the fact it’s easy-care and affordable means I would definitely recommend it to friends.

Slumberdown Made For You Two Duvet review

Specifications

• RRP: £23.40 / £26.50
• Sizes: double / king
• Tog rating: 4.5 tog on one half and 10.5 on the other
• Materials: casing: polyester, filling: polyester
• Care: machine washable at 40ºC, tumble dry on low
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Feel

The Slumberdown Made For You Two 4.5/10.5 tog duvet arrived in fairly basic plastic packaging and felt very lightweight when I unpacked it; much lighter than the usual feather and down filled duvet that my husband and I sleep under.

That said, because it’s so light it made it much easier to change the bed than my usual duvet, and the 100% polyester case feels nice and soft. The cover itself is plain white and looks quite low budget, but it's comparable to most other budget-friendly duvets around this price point.

As you would expert, there is a distinct difference in weight and thickness between the 4.5 and the 10.5 tog side of the duvet. The 10.5 tog side is noticeably thicker and springier, but both sides feel nicely squashy.

Rubbing them between my fingers, the filling feels soft and plump, and, unlike some microfibre duvets I’ve slept under, the filling isn’t clumped or lumpy, and feels evenly spread.

However, I was a bit disappointed to notice that some of the corners of the duvet had loose threads hanging off as if the edges were starting to unravel, but this didn’t impact me at all once it had a duvet cover on. It was more a reflection on the quality of the finish.

On the plus side, unlike my feather and down-filled duvet, the Made For You Two's polyester fill didn’t make a crunchy rustling noise which annoys me so much in the night when my husband moves! This made it perfect for light-sleepers like me.

Temperature regulation

Sleeping temperatures are always a point of contention in our house. My husband’s internal thermometer means he’s always hot at night, whilst I am always cold. This means that I often go to bed in layers of PJs, bed socks and even a dressing gown in a bid to keep warm. Not helped by the fact that we live in an older house that gets very cold in the winter.

My husband on the other hand, sleeps with a foot out of the bed to keep cool and let the air circulate. So I had high hopes that this split tog duvet might help us combat our differing temperature preferences.

When I climbed under the warmer half of the Slumberdown Made For You Two 4.5/10.5 tog duvet, the first thing I noticed was that it didn't drape around me quite as well as my usual feather and down duvet.

Because I’m always cold, I like to pull my duvet up to my chin and to make sure there are no air entry points around the sides of my body. This duvet didn’t cling to my body as much as my usual feather and down-filled duvet, so it was harder to ensure no cold air got in around my body in our 18 degree bedroom.

However, even though it wasn’t as heavy or easy to drape as my feather and down-filled duvet, I found that those synthetic fibres soon reflected my body heat back toward me. As a result, I was warm within a matter of minutes. In fact, I felt really warm and cosy.

Over on the 4.5 tog side of the bed, my husband reported that he loved the fact that he didn’t overheat like he normally does with our usual feather duvet.

The only downside I encountered was when the temperature rose. We had an unusually warm day whilst I was testing this duvet, during which the temperature in our bedroom went up to around 20 degrees. On this occasion, I did wake up in the night feeling hot and clammy – presumably due to the lack of breathability the polyester fibres offer.

Synthetic fibres don’t typically perform well in terms of breathability in comparison to natural duvet fillings such as feather and down. Polyester is also hydrophobic, meaning it doesn’t wick moisture away effectively, which can lead to overheating. For this reason, some people may find the synthetic filling too warm for higher summer temperatures.

Ease of care

A huge plus point of the Slumberdown Made for You Two 4.5/10.5 Tog duvet is the fact that it can be washed in the washing machine at 40 degrees and tumble dried.

I tested a king-size duvet and although it was a bit of a squash to get it into the washing machine (which is a standard drum size) I did manage it.

As a mother-of-two I’ve noticed that bedding is often at risk of stains from spilled drinks and accidents, and so this is ideal for keeping it clean and strain-free

I managed to wash and tumble dry it in a day, but it was a squash to fit the king size in my washing machine and tumble drier. So it’s worth considering in relation to your machine size as to whether it’ll fit.

Sleep trial

Unfortunately Slumberdown doesn't offer sleep trials on any of its bedding, so there isn’t an opportunity to test it out and return it if you don’t enjoy the sleeping experience.

However, it isn't too much of an investment, and in my experience, it really does do what it says for the money. So unless your expectations are wildly unrealistic, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

Value for money

Costing £26.50 for a king size, I think this duvet is a total bargain. Part of its low price is no doubt due to the fact that the filling is synthetic rather than natural, and the quality and finish does reflect this cheaper price point, but is not dissimilar to other duvets in this price bracket.

And considering the fact that it offers a such a useful solution for keeping two people happy while sleeping I think it’s a good price for what it is.

As a point of comparison, other synthetic king-size duvets can retail in the hundreds of pounds. So this is definitely at the budget end of the price scale.

How I tested

I tested the Slumberdown Made for You Two 4.5/10.5 Tog duvet at home, on my own bed with my husband for a week. Some nights, I shared it with my two young children, too.

I observed how warm it kept me when I got into bed, and how it regulated my temperature during the night. What makes this particular duvet unique is how it caters to two different sleeping preferences, and so I also noted how happy it kept my husband and children, who prefer to be cooler at night than I do.

I also looked at how it felt when scrunched in my hand, and how it sprang back. Plus, how the drape was around my body as I lay in bed.

I also tested how easy it was to wash and dry, and how well it came up after these, and whether this resulted in lumps.

And of course, value for money is always part of the duvet testing process at Ideal Home. I compared this duvet to similar options on the market, and considered how its performance compares to its price point.

M&S has just relaunched its bestselling linen bedding collection online, and with spring in the air, I predict this anti-trend bedding will start selling out fast.

Timeless, stylish, *and* affordable, the Marks and Spencer Pure Linen Bedding Set is a customer favourite, having already amassed nearly 400 5-star reviews in previous seasons.

And even better, I've spied two new colourways in the 2026 collection. One of which I'm very tempted to add-to-basket before the most popular bedding sizes start disappearing, as they did last year.

When it comes to where to buy bedding, and indeed *what* bedding to shop, good quality linen bedding is always a winner in my book. In fact, this is the first year I've kept a linen duvet set on my bed year-round. As a hot sleeper, I find it the most breathable – and therefore the coolest – fabric to sleep under in summer, and I've found it offers me the best temperature regulation in winter too.

Because of its cosy texture, brushed cotton bedding has always been my go-to in winter as a way to avoid the chill of cold cotton bedsheets. But as someone headed into perimenopause territory, with all the temperature fluctuations that brings, I can now find this bedding material *too* cosy.

Linen, I've discovered, is the answer. Its slubbier weave means there's none of the chill that flat cotton bedding brings with it, and I find it keeps me 'just right' temperature-wise all night long. That means it's also the perfect spring bedding.

The one downside is that linen bedding can be *very* expensive. So the fact that this M&S bedding set comes in at £110 for a double set – which includes a duvet cover and two pillowcases – makes it one of the most affordable linen bedding sets on the market.

No doubt that's part of the reason this bedding set gets so much praise on the M&S website. It may be a little thinner than some I've tested, but as one 5-star reviewer points out, that's also one of its plus sides.

'Love it, just the right weight of linen,' says the happy owner, 'I have another set from a different brand, and it is much heavier and an absolute horror to get dry. This set is great, lovely and soft.'

'This is my first linen set, and I can't wait to get cosy under it,' says another M&S reviewer. 'I already have M&S linen bedsheets and pillowcases, they wash well, and are very comfortable for sleep.'

Shop alternatives

From memory, the M&S Pure Linen Bedding Set also has a few new colour options this season compared to previous years, including the pretty green 'Seafoam' green and, my favourite, a deep 'Slate Blue'. But there are also plenty of timeless neutrals to choose from.

Or at least there are right now. Last year sizes in this set started disappearing fast once the weather warmed up, so personally, I'm eager to snap this M&S buy up now, whilst it's still in stock.

Every time my team of Editors and I see a new homeware collection, we always play the game 'what will sell out first'. Usually, we can pretty easily predict the next viral hit that will be impossible to get your hands on, but the John Lewis Leon Quilted Bedspread took us by surprise in the latest Spring/Summer collection.

I loved the look of the John Lewis quilted bedspread with its earthy colourway when I saw it at the the brand's press show in early February. However, priced at £180, I did not expect it to sell out at the speed it did.

Within 24 hours, it was all over Instagram, and a couple of days later, it was completely sold out. Something I unfortunately found out when I went on the app to try to (unsuccessfully) persuade my partner that we needed it.

After a month of checking the John Lewis website almost daily, I am happy to report that it's finally back in stock. But if you've been waiting for it, I'd recommend acting fast.

This wasn't the first time I've been caught out by a John Lewis item selling out, either. Last year, I waited to buy the Marcy outdoor sofa. Big mistake. They flew off the shelves and weren't properly restocked for the rest of the summer. I managed to get hold of one by a fluke restock of the least popular colour, but I wouldn't rely on the same thing happening with this bedspread.

The quilted bedspread is part of the John Lewis 'Rustic' collection, which focuses on pieces that feel handcrafted in rich and earthy colours. That said, this is not your nana's quilt; it has a smart geometric design in this season's hottest colours: earthy pink, olive green, burgundy, sky blue and khaki.

However, while it might be super on trend in terms of colours, fortunately these are also relatively timeless shades that will still look great in a soothing bedroom scheme in five years. Which is something you want when investing in a £180 quilt.

Quilts are classically heirloom pieces, bedspreads that are cherished for generations, and I've enjoyed watching the patchwork quilt trend grow steadily over the last year.

John Lewis currently has one of the best selections, with this gorgeous cotton and linen quilt the perfect example. However, I do also love the more vibrant Puebla Quilted Bedspread, also priced at £180, which has a timeless Prairie-style look about it.

While I do adore these quilts, I'm not currently in the financial position to spend almost £200 on a bedding upgrade, so I've been hunting through the rest of the John Lewis range to find some more affordable buys to help me get a similar look without the price tag.

The Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress Topper is Simba’s entry-level – and most affordable – topper. Although at £299 for a double, I'd say it's still pretty pricey.

The brand's premium topper – the Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper – scores best-in-class in our guide to the best mattress toppers money can buy, and having slept on this more expensive topper in the past, I was keen to see how the brand's more budget-friendly offering compared.

Overall, I was impressed. I did find the Hybrid Essential felt a little thinner than I'd have liked, but it added cushioning, bounce, and support to my bed without causing any overheating.

Simba Hybrid Essential Topper review

Specifications

• RRP: £249 / £299 / £299 / £349 / £399
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 6.5cm
• Construction: foam, springs
• Care instructions: removable cover is machine-washable at 40ºC, do not tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

Attaching the topper to the bed

The Simba Hybrid Essential Topper is delivered rolled up in a box. It may look a little bulky at first glance, but as I lugged it upstairs, I was pleased to note that there are handles on the box and it’s relatively lightweight.

I was able to get it upstairs and into my bedroom on my own, as a moderately strong person.

It’s also easy to unpack. Open the box, slide the topper out onto your mattress, and then carefully snip away the plastic that surrounds the topper. Mine wasn’t actually vacuum-sealed – just rolled in a cling-filmed layer like a topper burrito.

Because it wasn't vacuum-packed, that meant that there didn’t seem to be any off-gassing scent, and it expanded to its full size pretty much immediately it was unboxed.

Another big tick for me was strong, sturdy elasticated straps on each corner of the topper. These were easy to slip over my deep mattress and held the topper in place well.

The underside is also covered in a slightly tacky treatment to bolster the stay-put credentials of the Simba Hybrid Essentials mattress topper.

Comfort

The Simba Hybrid Essential has three cushioning layers packed into its 6.5cm depth, plus the cover (which Simba counts as a layer on their website).

The first layer is Simbatex foam comfort. Simbatex is an open-cell foam that’s infused with graphite. Great, but what does this mean? It’s meant to offer increased elasticity and allow air to flow through the foam so you don’t overheat. The added graphite also works to regulate temperature, but we'll get onto that in a bit.

In terms of comfort, I did find that the topper had a discernible bounce to it – it noticeably improved the responsiveness of my mattress (I usually use the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper on my bed – but for temperature regulation rather than responsiveness). In contrast, I was almost bouncing up out of bed with the Simba topper on!

This foam layer is complemented by a layer of 'Aerocoil' springs underneath. Simba says these micro springs ‘provide unique, cushioned comfort and tailored, responsive support’.

This translated into good motion isolation – so I wasn't disturbed by my husband moving next to me in my sleep, and meant the topper adapted to my movements, supporting my spine in natural alignment, however much I shifted about.

Overall, I found the Simba Hybrid Essential Topper's support was very impressive. When I lay on my side, my heavier parts – hips and shoulders – gently dipped down into the mattress, and the topper contoured around my body without feeling claustrophobic. I didn’t wake with any aches in my hips, which does sometimes happen on my Woolroom topper.

Plus, while loads of people love the sinking feeling of memory foam, it’s not for me. I don’t want to feel my body imprint on the mattress topper. I was pleased that the Simba Hybrid Essentials didn’t really give this effect. It sprang back quickly when I changed position.

There’s also a firmer, high-density foam that forms the base layer on the Simba Hybrid Essentials mattress topper. This layer is to consolidate support, providing stability and durability to the topper. This Certipur polyurethane foam certification means low VOC emissions and no harmful heavy metals.

Although one thing I would say is that the topper does feel slightly thin. One of the mistakes people make when buying a mattress topper can be scrimping on depth. And although, at 6.5cm, this topper initially looks and sounds quite deep, I found it compressed quite a lot under my weight.

Overall, it probably isn’t going to cover any significant dips, bumps, or protruding springs on the mattress underneath.

However, if you want to add an extra layer of comfort to an already pretty decent mattress, this topper does do the trick.

Temperature regulation

I’m always stringent about testing temperature regulation on toppers and mattresses with foam components. I’ve slept on many a foam mattress or topper that has felt like it’s trying to cook me while I sleep. I’ll admit that I am a hot sleeper, and temperature can really disrupt my sleep.

Simba says that their aforementioned Simbatex foam allows for airflow through the topper. This is done via an open-cell structure and the addition of graphite, a material that draws heat away from the body. This layer is the uppermost layer, keeping you “just right” while you sleep.

I found, even as a very particular tester who’s sensitive to overheating, temperature regulation wasn’t an issue on the Simba Hybrid Essentials mattress topper. I was able to sleep all night without waking in a sweat, even with a thick down duvet on. I paired the topper with 100 percent cotton sheets, and it felt positively cool without being chilly.

Care instructions

Whilst you can't wash the topper itself (you'd have trouble getting it in a washing machine anyway!), you can zip off the entire cover of the Simba Hybrid Essential mattress topper, and stick it in the wash.

The zip is also pretty robust, so I think you'd be able to do this many times without encountering any problems. (I've found many zips on topper/mattress covers are flimsy and not fit for purpose, but not so here).

Simba’s care instructions, which are printed on the label of the cover, say to wash it at 40ºC and not to tumble dry.

Washing a mattress topper cover is a great option to have in case of nighttime accidents or to refresh the topper. However, 40ºC is not going to banish dust mites or kill many bacteria. I'd also advise adding one of the best mattress protectors over both the topper and your mattress – just make sure to choose one that's deep enough to cover both.

Sleep trial

Simba offers a 200-night sleep trial on its Hybrid Essential mattress topper. That's a pretty long time to test it out on your own bed, and as long as you’re within this time frame and follow any terms and conditions, if you aren’t happy with the topper, Simba will collect it for free.

Not all retailers offer a sleep trial, so to my mind this is a real plus point with opting to invest in a Simba topper. The 200-night period starts the day your topper arrives at your house, and you don’t need to have kept the original packaging – phew.

Verdict

Overall, I was genuinely impressed with this mattress topper. I think it offers a decent degree of comfort and adds some pleasant bounce to my pocket-spring mattress. On the whole, I found it supportive and responsive.

It also did a great job at regulating my temperature during the night, and offered some additional motion isolation so my husband and I didn't notice so much when one of us rolled over in the night. The 200-night sleep trial makes it a low-risk purchase, too.

That said, I would like it to be a bit thicker. I don't think it would be deep enough to mask a lumpy or bumpy mattress underneath, and, at £299 for a double, I do think it's expensive.

Yes, the £299 Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress Topper is cheaper than the premium £349 Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper, but only by £50. In comparison, a double of the Hybrid Essential has 1,500 Aerocoil springs compared to the Hybrid Mattress Topper's 1,900, and it has 1cm less depth. I didn't notice *that* much difference between the two, but if I was spending this much on a topper to sleep on night after night, I think I would pay the extra £50 and go all in.

Alternatively, if I wanted to give a guest bed a boost, or make a sofa bed more comfortable, I’d be completely happy with opting for this mattress topper. However, I do think there are more affordable options out there that do the trick for occasional use, such as the Panda Topper, which is only £139.95 for a double.

How I tested

Usual sleep position: side
Tension preference: medium-firm
Sleep problems: hip pain

In order to test out this mattress topper, I slept on it for two weeks in my own home on top of the fairly firm pocket-spring Hypnos Wool Origins 6 mattress. I assessed how easy it was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer.

This double-sided ergonomic pillow from IKEA claims to offer a cooler night's sleep while gently supporting your neck. I put it to the test to see how it compares to the best pillows on the market.

In a nutshell

The IKEA KLUBBSPORRE pillow is aimed at back and side sleepers, and it has an ergonomically shaped arc that's designed to offer space for your shoulder whilst you sleep. I liked this feature during testing; it meant the pillow wrapped around my neck nicely and kept me comfy all night.

The KLUBBSPORRE is made of memory foam, and although I found it softer than most of the best memory foam pillows we've tested, I enjoyed sinking my head into its squishier texture.

Memory foam is well known for not being the most cooling of fillings, but IKEA has addressed that with a two-sided design; one side is plain memory foam, and the other is topped with a cooling gel layer. This offers a different feel on each side, and I found it really did the trick at keeping me cool at night.

Overall, I found this pillow comfortable. I would have liked to be able to adjust its height, as I found it a little low for side sleeping, and for me it felt too soft (but then I do like a very firm pillow), but at £49 I think it's a good price as long as it suits your build and comfort preferences.

IKEA KLUBBSPORRE pillow review

Specifications

• Best for: side sleepers
• RRP: £49
• Feel: medium-soft
• Heights available: 1
• Dimensions: 13 x 50 x 80cm
• Materials: polyester and memory foam
• Care instructions: insert: do not wash; cover: machine wash at 40º, tumble dry on low
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Comfort

As a combination sleeper, meaning I move from sleeping on my side to my back throughout the night, I'm probably the perfect person to test a pillow that's specifically designed for side and back sleepers. I've also been professionally testing sleep products for more than five years now, so I know all about how to choose the right pillow.

However, I’ve long conceded that I like a firmer pillow than many sleepers. I am a self-confessed Simba CustomFlex pillow stan, but it’s a bit of a Marmite pillow as it is so firm.

In terms of feel, I'd describe the KLUBBSPORRE as medium-soft. It has a memory foam core, which usually means a fairly firm feel, but I found that this pillow had a nice squishiness to it and felt pleasantly responsive and springy under my head. It feels very comforting to sink into, and I was pleased to note that it didn't cocoon me as some memory-foam products can do.

Would I have preferred it to feel firmer? Yes, but that's personal preference and some will love its softer feel.

The other slight bugbear I encountered during testing is that the KLUBBSPORRE is one height only. Many pillows offer the ability to change the height (often referred to as “the profile” in the sleep world) of the pillow. Not so with this IKEA number – you get what you’re given.

At 13cm high, it’s going to be comfortable for most people, but those with broad shoulders might find it lacking. I found I shoved my arm underneath it while I was sleeping to give it more height. So yes, personally, I would have loved more height. And if we’re being real for a second, it looks flat when the bed is made – it was not giving “hotel fluffy vibes”.

However, what I did love was the curved bottom of the pillow. It feels a bit like being cuddled.

I sometimes like to sleep with my pillow at a 45º angle, as I like my whole face and chin to be on the pillow. The KLUBBSPORRE sort of answered this problem as it curved around my shoulder when I lay on my side. I really liked this shape and the comforting feeling of being gently hugged. It also meant I didn’t wake to shuffle my pillow around in the night, as it was always in the right place.

While testing, I wore an Oura 4 ring, which is a piece of sleep tech that reports on all kinds of sleep metrics. When I reviewed my sleep data, it told me I actually had a less deep sleep than usual when using this pillow, but my sleep ranking was still “good” – it’s usually “optimal” (well, I am an expert sleeper).

However, I’m not sure it’s fair to put all this down to the pillow. I had a sore shoulder during testing (that, ironically, I suspect was caused by sleeping on the wrong pillows one night while away from home), so there were almost certainly other factors at play here.

The KLUBBSPORRE didn't solve my shoulder issues – I am off to the physio next week – but it was a pre-existing condition, so perhaps I was asking for a lot in thinking a pillow might cure it.

Temperature regulation

I tend to be a hot sleeper, even in winter. My children and husband report that heat “radiates” off me (thanks guys, love you too). So I am always a bit fussy about the bedding I sleep on and under having good temperature regulation.

My go-to sleep set-up features a lot of natural fibres – the wool-filled Hypnos Origins mattress, a feather and down duvet, the Woolroom Deluxe Wool mattress topper, organic linen sheets. I am fussy and then some. The only thing man-made I regularly sleep on is the aforementioned Simba CustomFlex pillow.

Memory foam is not a famed temperature regulator, and I've overheated on plenty in my time testing the best mattresses, so I was a little concerned about how I would fare with the KLUBBSPORRE's memory foam core. Memory foam is often too dense to allow decent air flow, so hot air is trapped next to your body. Some older memory foam even reflects heat back up to your body – ick.

To solve this potential problem, the KLUBBSPORRE pillow has holes drilled through the middle of the pillow to allow for better airflow and to wick away sweat. (Fear not – the pillow does not appear hole-y and it has a thick zip-off cover over the top to provide an even sleep surface).

IKEA has also added a cooling gel layer on one side of the pillow for good measure. You can tell which side is which (with the pillow case off) because the gel side is blue.

During testing, I found the gel side did feel discernibly cooler than the non-gel side. I’ve tested several cooling pillows, and I’d say this is up there as one of the best cooling pillows I’ve tried. My cheek felt cool when it hit the pillow, and I didn’t wake up hot at all during the night.

It’s also worth noting that the non-gel side didn’t overheat me either – although not as actively cooling as the gel side, it did the job of keeping me 'just so' all night long.

Ease of care

Like most memory foam pillows, the core of the KLUBBSPORRE pillow cannot be washed at all. Although you could air it outside on a bright sunny (dry!) day. This will allow fresh air to circulate around it, and the sunlight should deodorise the pillow and banish dust mites and bacteria.

In fact, you might want to do this as soon as you unpack it, as I found that the pillow had quite a powerful off-gassing scent that took a while to fade.

However, the cover can be unzipped and machine-washed. Simba advises washing at 40ºC and then tumble drying on low.

That said, it is worth noting that 40ºC isn’t hot enough to kill dust mites or many bacteria. You need a 60ºC wash for that. However, it will freshen up the pillow nicely and eliminate odours.

Sleep trial

Unfortunately IKEA doesn't offer a sleep trial on this, or any of its pillows. That's a bit of a downside as it can be difficult to tell if a pillow is for you before you have a few nights sleeping on it.

On the plus side, most of us aren't *too* far from an IKEA store, and it's usually possible to test out most of the brand's bedding in-store if you want to lay your head on this pillow before you invest.

Value for money

Having tested pillows of all budgets, I think this IKEA pillow is decent value for money. Some may baulk at paying £49 for a pillow, but you only need one.

(Although, as I mentioned, this pillow does look a bit flat on the bed, so if aesthetics are a concern for you, you could beef up your bedscaping with much fluffier, cheaper pillows and then sleep on this pillow.)

I haven’t tested this pillow for long enough yet to be able to assess its durability (I'll keep you updated), but as it has a softer feel, I do just wonder if its memory foam core is more likely to compress over time than firmer options. That said, the general advice on the lifespan of pillows is to replace them every two years anyway (probably a lot more often than most of us do!).

If you’re a side or back sleeper and like memory foam and/or want a cooling pillow, then overall I think this is a solid choice at a good price point. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty decent.

This firm pillow lover isn't ready to swap my Simba CustomFlex pillow for the IKEA KLUBBSPORRE just yet, but if you're a side or back sleeper who prefers a medium-soft feel and you want a pillow that will keep you nice and cool, I think this is a good value buy.

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort and temperature regulation. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offers good value for money.

Did you know that your birth month has a colour associated with it? From January to December, each of the twelve months is linked to a different shade or hue, and if you're looking for a way to make your interior really feel like you, adopting your birth month shade in the bedroom can be a great way to decorate.

After all, when it comes to where to buy bedding, this year's biggest bedding trends are all about leaving generic design behind and instead embracing hyper-personalisation. What better way to do that than decorating with your birth month colour?

Intrigued to find out what your birth month bedding colour is? I've rounded up all twelve months of the year below.

Wondering what colour to opt for if you share a bed with a partner? Well, this could be the ultimate test of couple compatibility. Do your birth month bedding colours complement each other or clash?

Luckily, mix and match bedding is very on trend right now, so there's no reason you can't pair an amethyst duvet cover with citrine yellow pillowcases to represent both of your birth month colours on the bed.

And if you really don't vibe with yours or your partner's birth month shade? Personally, I'm a big fan of a coloured fitted sheet, and this is a great way to sneak in a little of your birth month bedding colour onto the bed without having to redecorate the whole bedroom in your birth month shade.

Unless you want to, of course. If you do feel an affinity with your birth month colour, you may indeed want to drench the walls of your bedroom in this shade too. There is plenty of birth month bedroom colour inspiration to show that it can be a great way to decorate.

We all want a bedroom that looks like it's straight out of the pages of a glossy magazine, but, in practice, styling a bed to recreate that hotel-luxe vibe can be trickier than it looks.

However, I've just found a £12 Habitat buy that instantly makes a bed look more expensive. In fact, to my mind, it elevates the look of the whole bedroom in one fell swoop.

It utilises a design trick I swear by in the bedroom – the bolster cushion – and Habitat's Velvet Bolster Cushion does it for a *very* budget-friendly price tag.

During the past five years as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've looked at a lot of well-dressed beds, and I've learnt that one of the key things they tend to have in common, is carefully styled pillows.

However, getting bedding to look 'just so' can be harder than it may first appear. After all, there's an art to how to dress a bed, and a reason that professional interior stylists get paid to pull looks together for photoshoots.

Knowing where to buy bedding helps, of course, but it's not always as easy as simply throwing some pretty cushions onto your sleep surface. Except that with a bolster cushion, it is exactly that easy.

I've found that a bolster cushion instantly makes a bed look more elevated (and more expensive) than it did before.

There's just something about that cylindrical design that immediately makes it look like you know *exactly* what you're doing when it comes to bedscaping.

Luckily, there are plenty of great options on the market right now, although few of them are quite as affordable as the £12 Habitat Velvet Bolster Cushion.

Shop alternative bolster cushions

Personally, I think there is a time to spend big money in the bedroom – such as investing in the best mattress, best duvet, and best pillow your budget allows – and then there are times to look for easy and affordable wins.

For me, the bolster cushion is one of those easy wins. I think this affordable bedroom update offers far more in terms of style points than its price tag might suggest.

If you're not super confident with mixing and matching prints and fabrics, a bolster cushion is also the perfect way to introduce some colour and texture to your bed.

You can stick to white bedding or one single colour for your duvet and pillowcase set, and then let a bolster cushion (or two) do the talking.

If you’re looking for pretty yet affordable bedding, I rate Primark pretty highly. And the latest of theirs to grace my wishlist is the Yellow Gingham Ric Rac Duvet Set (£14), which could easily be mistaken for a more expensive brand.

While Primark may not be on your list as one of the best places to buy bedding, I've been pleasantly impressed by my Primark bedding sets, and I expect this gorgeous set to be no different.

Gingham has been a popular bedding trend for quite some time, and I’m not complaining about it. It’s a timeless style, with plenty of charm, and while many lust-worthy gingham sets can prove quite expensive (I'm looking at you Piglet in Bed), this set is an affordable way into the look.

When I was at university, I loved Primark bedding. It was affordable and allowed me to easily add fun colours and patterns to my soulless rented bedrooms. Ok, so the quality wasn’t as good as Piglet In Bed’s stunning gingham bedding, which is made from 100% linen, but I still found it to be comfortable and cosy. To this day, I can’t resist a browse of the bedding when I pop into my local Primark store.

I can't wait to snap up the gingham ric rac duvet set after spotting it in Primark’s latest spring collection. Costing £14 for a double duvet and pillow case set, it is a bargain. Plus, with its stylish yellow gingham print and soft pink ric rac trim, it looks expensive, too. I wouldn’t have guessed the set came from Primark.

While butter yellow may have had its peak last year, this sunny yellow print won't be going out of style anytime soon. Gingham bedding has a timeless appeal and has been a dominant bedding trend for a few years now, proving it has more longevity than your average microtrend. Plus, this stunning yellow shade is fresh and summery, ideal if you want to forget it’s chilly February outside.

Primark’s gingham bedding set is made from 60% cotton and 40% polyester, with a cotton-rich fabric finish. So, if you prefer pure cotton bedding, it's worth investing a little more money into an 100% cotton set such as M&S’s Pure Cotton Gingham Bedding Set (from £25). Alternatively, here are a few more affordable gingham bedding sets I’ve spotted.

If you want pretty, colourful and affordable bedding, Primark is genuinely worth considering. It’s never let me down before.

There's one M&S bedding set that's flying off the shelves this January, and thanks to its calm and comforting vibes, it's very easy to see why.

I fell in love with this timeless Pure Brushed Cotton Striped Bedding Set the first time I saw it, and it seems I'm not alone. Two out of the four colourways are already sold out, and happy M&S owners are rating it five stars online.

What's more, it's currently on sale, meaning prices now start from just £15.60 for the duvet and matching pillowcase set. That's amazing value for money, and even more proof that M&S is one of the best places to buy bedding.

Why has this bedding set caught my eye? Firstly, its cosy brushed cotton fabric is super soft and snuggly. Brushed cotton is cotton that has been... yep, brushed... to make the fibres feel fleecy and tactile, and that makes it the perfect comforting material to cosy up under during the coldest months of the year.

'It is so soft,' confirms one 5-star reviewer on the M&S website, 'even in winter, it feels so warm with no need for an electric blanket on the coldest of nights.'

Second, it's not just the fabric that feels comforting to the touch. To my mind, its striped weave also *looks* comforting. The regularity of stripes is known to calm a busy mind – exactly the kind of bedding we want waiting for us in the bedroom to help our mind relax and our nervous system wind down before sleep – but there's also something very nostalgic about these timeless pinstripes.

If 2026 bedroom trends have taught me anything, it's that this year we're all looking to our bedrooms to become an oasis of comfort and grounding in an uncertain world. Those nostalgic stripes hark back to simpler times, and offer the grounding and cocooning feel we're all craving from our bedrooms this year.

Third, this bedding set also reflects many of the key bedding trends of 2026. This is the year of earthy, natural colours. Think warm whites, muddy greens, earthy terracotta, and colour palettes inspired by the natural world. The four colourways of the M&S Pure Brushed Cotton Striped Bedding Set sum up this year's colour palette perfectly.

Plus, M&S has nailed the mix-and-match vibes of bedding in 2026. Cold and impersonal matchy-matchy looks are out, and layered, personal, relaxed-look bedding that gives a bedroom warmth and character is in. The fact that this duvet cover is reversible instantly makes a bed look effortlessly well-styled.

Really, the only downside is how quickly this fantastic value bedding set is selling out. So if it gives you the same warm and cosy glow it gives me, you'll need to move fast to secure your own snuggly winter bedding before it's sold out.

That said, if you don't manage to score the M&S Pure Brushed Cotton Striped Bedding Set in time and don't want to wait until it's restocked, I've rounded up a few alternative options below.

Shop alternatives

January can be a tough month. It's cold, it's grey, and most of us are spending more time huddled indoors on the sofa than we might want.

My solution is to make my home as cosy as possible, and there's one item I wouldn't be without during the cold months of the year.

Yep, my Dreamland Luxury Faux Fur Heated Throw is my go-to winter warmer, and it's *easily* the item that gets most attention in my living room when friends and family come to visit.

And I won't gatekeep, it's currently reduced in Dreamland's winter sale, alongside a whole host of other Dreamland heated throws with prices currently starting from under £50.

Now, as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've been lucky enough to test the best electric blankets and heated throws on the market, and still, Dreamland's heated throw is the one I use day in and day out during the cold months.

In fact, I own two. The more budget-friendly Dreamland Snuggle Up Electric Warming Throw, which is currently reduced from £69.99 to £49.99 in the Dreamland sale, and this luxurious faux fur option.

The Snuggle Up has recently gone to live at my Mum's house (and most likely will stay there), so the Faux Fur option is the one currently draped over my sofa, and its super-soft fabric is like a magnet for any visitors to my home.

It's the product I'm most frequently asked 'where did you get this?!' about, and it generally takes about 30 seconds for any of my visitors to snuggle up into it. Luckily, I know it's machine washable, so my friend's toddlers are welcome to faceplant into it as often as they please!

However, the best thing is that Dreamland's heated throws don't just look and feel good. They're also the best-performing heated blankets I've tested.

The blankets have six heat settings, and the higher temperatures are seriously cosy. I generally have mine set to four as I find settings five and six can get a little *too* toasty for me, even on cold nights! This is in contrast to many other heated throws I've tested, which are lukewarm at best.

Dreamland's throws also have a super-fast five-minute warm-up time. Again, this is much quicker than most comparable products I've tested. Plus, they feel like premium products that are really well made. Which is exactly what you want from an electrical product. There's also a handy auto-shut off timer and built-in safety features.

Even better, the running costs are negligible. When I added up the energy cost, it was less than 1p an hour to run.

All in all, if you're looking for a way to combat the January blues and make your home a little cosier this winter, I think Dreamland's sale is well worth making the most of whilst it lasts.

The January sales are offering up all sorts of bargains right now, but if the cold weather has had you feeling the chill at night, there's one deal in particular you'll want on your radar.

Yes, Dunelm has finally added its cult Teddy Bear bedding to its winter sale, and if you're looking for a way to stay cosy at bedtime, this is it.

The Dunelm Teddy Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set, as well as the Teddy Bear Fitted Sheet, are now 30% off, with prices starting from just £3.25.

The brand's fleecy bedding is a bestseller every year, with the snuggly duvet sets often selling out as soon as they launch in autumn, and if you've ever laid your hands on one, you'll understand why.

This bedding is *soft*. And *cuddly*. It truly does live up to its 'Teddy Bear' name, as this is a material you immediately want to snuggle up next to.

'So soft!!' agrees one 5-star reviewer of the Teddy Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set. 'Very pleased with this.'

'Bought for my daughter as she loves to be snuggly,' says another happy owner, 'very soft and fluffy'.

Dunelm's winter sale launched earlier this year, but the Teddy Bear bedding was only added to it this past weekend. Now that it is, expect it to start selling out fast.

In fact, multiple sizes and colour options are already out of stock, but there are still enough colourways that you should be able to get your hands on the size you need, if you're quick.

And it isn't only the Teddy Bear sheets and duvet covers on sale. The Dunelm Teddy Mattress Topper is also reduced. I put it to the test for our best mattress topper guide last year, and found its fleecy fabric made my bed much toastier.

If you're a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating in bed, then it may not be the right choice, but if you're a cold sleeper and struggle to stay warm enough at night, this super-cosy bedding is for you.

'I would definitely buy these again,' shares one 5-star reviewer of Dunelm's Teddy Bear bedding sets. 'Fantastic quality, and warm and snuggly. Perfect for these freezing nights.'

'Wish I had bought two,' sums up another happy owner. If you want to get your hands on your own Teddy Bear bedding, I recommend snapping up some of these fluffy sleep buys quickly, before they sell out!

It's winter, and outside temperatures have plummeted below freezing for many of us, which means that getting into bed at night has suddenly become a much chillier affair.

However, if you've been tempted to add one of the best electric blankets to your bed to combat the cold, you may want to consider this warning before plugging it in and turning it on.

Mattress experts have warned that there's one type of mattress you should never use an electric blanket with, and if we get this wrong, it could lead to a very costly mistake.

One type of mattress you shouldn't use an electric blanket on

Yes, according to Martin Seeley, sleep expert and CEO of MattressNextDay, if you have a memory foam mattress, you might want to think twice before layering an electric underblanket on top of it.

'Memory foam is designed to work with your body’s natural warmth,' explains Martin, 'it's specifically engineered to respond to body heat by softening slightly, which allows it to mould around your body shape. That’s what gives a memory foam mattress its signature ‘hugging’ comfort.'

However, as Martin reveals, 'introducing extra heat – such as adding an electric blanket to the bed – can interfere with the foam’s structure, leading to premature wear and reducing its ability to support your body properly.'

We all know that the best mattresses don't come cheap, and compromising the integrity of the memory foam surface could lead to us having to replace a mattress far sooner than we would normally need to.

Plus, pairing an electric blanket with a memory foam mattress doesn't just risk the mattress overheating and losing its elasticity; it can cause us to overheat, too. 'The trapped warmth can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate temperature, leading to restless sleep, night sweats, and dehydration,' warns Martin.

Thankfully, if you do own a memory foam mattress or a hybrid mattress with a memory foam surface, you don't need to resign yourself to a cold sleep this winter. As Martin explains, there are several things you can do to make your sleep setup warmer, without using an electric blanket.

Alternative options

1. Use a heated throw on top of your bedding

Instead of opting for an electric underblanket, which goes between your mattress and your fitted sheet, opt for an overblanket or heated throw instead. This will give you that extra boost of warmth when you first climb into bed, without coming into direct contact with the memory foam underneath.

'By placing a heated throw over your bedding, you’ll avoid overheating or softening the foam while still creating a cosy sleeping environment,' Martin explains. 'Try switching it on for 10 to 15 minutes before bed, then turning it off once you’re tucked in. You’ll drift off warm and comfortable without using unnecessary energy overnight.'

2. Add a mattress topper

Before I switched to a natural-fill pocket spring mattress, I used to sleep on a memory foam mattress, and I didn't just find it cold to get onto in winter, I also found it often felt harder during cold weather. This makes sense because, as Martin has pointed out, memory foam is designed to soften with warmth.

My solution was to add a wool-filled mattress topper to my bed in winter. Wool's natural temperature-regulating powers made for a *much* cosier sleep, and a natural wool or feather and down topper also solves the electric blanket problem.

Add the electric blanket over one of the best mattress toppers for cold weather, and you can stay warm whilst still protecting the memory foam underneath.

'Think of a topper as a light, insulating jacket for your mattress,' agrees Martin. The right one 'can keep you warmer through the night while also protecting the mattress from sweat and moisture. It’s a simple way to extend both your comfort and your mattress’s lifespan.'

3. Choose a higher tog duvet

And of course, if you choose the best duvet for winter, you may find you don't need to use an electric blanket at all.

'During winter, opt for a duvet of at least 13.5 tog,' recommends Martin advises. 'It provides that extra layer of insulation your body needs when the temperature drops.' You can find out more in our guide to how to choose the right duvet tog.

Finding the best filling for a duvet will also help you to stay warmer in bed. Martin recommends natural materials such as wool or feather fillings, which regulate body temperature more effectively than synthetic fibres.

I put the M&S Duck Feather & Down Mattress Topper to the test to see how it compares to the best mattress toppers and best cooling mattress toppers on the market.

In a nutshell

The M&S Duck Feather & Down Mattress Topper is filled with 85% white duck feather and 15% white duck down inside a high-thread-count cotton cover. My husband and I have been sleeping on it for the past two weeks, and although at £110 for a double, it isn't cheap, I've been really impressed by its value for money.

I really like the fact that, unlike many cheaper feather and down toppers I've tested, the M&S Duck Feather & Down Mattress Topper doesn't rustle when I roll over on it, and it doesn’t have any spiky feathers poking through the cover like others I’ve tested.

And while its 3cm depth doesn’t add support or motion-isolation to our bed in the same way a deeper foam or memory foam topper can, it feels luxurious and comfortable to sleep on and adds a welcome layer of softness to our mattress.

The natural feather and down construction and cotton case also offer good breathability and insulation, meaning that it kept my husband and me warm and cosy even when our heating broke down during testing this winter, and also means that I haven’t overheated or woken up hot and sweaty like I often do during the night.

Plus, it isn’t just me who gives this mattress topper a big thumbs up, my husband and sons also agree it feels 'like sleeping on a giant fluffy cloud'!

M&S Duck Feather & Down Mattress Topper review

Specifications

• RRP: £99 / £110 / £130 / £150
• Sizes: single / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 3cm
• Construction: inner 85% white duck feather and 15% white duck down, cover 100% cotton
• Care instructions: do not machine wash, tumble dry, or dry clean. Do not iron or bleach.
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

The M&S Duck Feather and Down Mattress Topper didn’t arrive vacuum-packed like some toppers I’ve previously tested, and this is a good thing because it means that it's instantly ready to use and doesn’t require time to regain its full height and plumpness.

Plus, unlike some memory-foam toppers, such as the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper I recently tested, thanks to its all-natural cotton cover and feather and down fill, there was no chemical off-gassing smell at all.

It has four thick elasticated straps at the corners to hold it onto the mattress, and I found these very easy to fit to my double mattress. Plus, I found they held the topper in place well during the two weeks that my husband and I slept on this topper.

Comfort

The cotton cover of the M&S Duck Feather and Down Mattress topper feels soft to the touch, and unlike many feather and down toppers I've tested, I was pleased to discover I couldn't feel any prickly feathers spiking through it.

No doubt this is thanks to the high 233 thread count ‘down-proof' cotton cover, because the tighter the weave, the less space there is for feather or down to escape.

Plus, unlike the DUSK Luxury Duck Feather and Down Mattress Topper I previously tested, I was extremely pleased to find that this M&S option didn't make any rustling sound when I turned over on it. That meant a lovely, quiet sleep.

M&S describes this topper as offering ‘natural feel and soft support’, and after my first night sleeping on this topper, I agreed.

Whilst its 3cm deep feather and down construction didn’t offer the support or motion-isolation of some of the thicker toppers I’ve tested, such as the Simba Hybrid Topper or Panda Memory Foam Topper, I liked the fact that I didn’t sink into it too much, so it was easy to roll over and get out of bed.

Instead, my husband and two children agreed that it was like sleeping on a giant cloud, and the whole household was vying to have their turn sleeping on it!

I found it provided an additional layer of comfort over our usual mattress which reduced the pressure on my joints and made me look forward to getting into bed. I typically sleep on my back or side, and I loved the way that it wasn’t too thick so I didn’t sink too much into it that my spine was out of alignment, but there was a good level of cushioning for my joints.

Temperature regulation

Duck feathers and duck down are naturally breathable materials which are known for their ability to regulate body temperature and allow moisture to evaporate, which means they help to prevent overheating when you sleep.

Fine and fluffy duck down, which makes up 15% of this M&S Topper's filling, is also known for its exceptional thermal insulation properties, which can help regulate body temperature effectively.

Because of this I was expecting good things from this topper temperature regulation-wise, especially because that natural fill is encased inside a 100% cotton cover, which should add more natural breathability.

And in practice, I was impressed. When I slept on this mattress topper it certainly seemed like it offered good ventilation and airflow because I didn’t overheat during the night. But equally, when our heating stopped working whilst I was testing this mattress topper and our house was extremely cold, my husband and I both found this topper kept us cosier than sleeping directly on the memory foam surface of our mattress.

Care instructions

In my opinion, the main downside of the M&S Duck Feather and Down Mattress Topper is the fact that it sadly can’t be machine-washed, bleached, tumble-dried, or dry cleaned.

This is a big negative for me, because as a mother of two and as someone who often has guests to stay, being able to freshen it up would have been very welcome. Instead, it’s recommended to spot wash the topper to remove marks.

You can add a mattress protector over it, of course, and the lack of washability is a common theme with many toppers made from natural materials. If you want ease of care, then a synthetic topper, such as the Silentnight Airmax Mattress Topper, is your best bet.

The upside is that this feather and down topper is made with a grid-like pocket construction. I found this meant that the filling stayed evenly distributed, without the need to shake it to fluff it back into shape.

Sleep trial

M&S doesn't offer sleep trials on its bedding, which is a bit of a shame because at £110 for a double, this topper is an investment.

That's in comparison to online brands such as Simba, Panda, and Woolroom who do offer up to 30 nights to test out their bedding before you commit to keeping it.

The good news is that most of us aren't that far away from an M&S store, so there is likely an opportunity to give this topper a squish in-store if you want to check how it feels before you invest.

Value for money

As I've mentioned, at £110 for a double, this topper isn't cheap. However, it is one of the best value feather and down toppers I've tested, and I found it added a layer of luxurious comfort to my mattress.

We've tested numerous cheaper feather and down toppers at Ideal Home, and tend to find that you get what you pay for. More affordable options have all suffered from loose feathers that escaped or stuck through the cover to create prickly spikes, and were noisy to sleep on with lots of rustling. There's none of that with this M&S option.

Yes, investing more in a high-end goose down topper, such as scooms Hungarian Goose Feather & Down Mattress Topper, which costs £260 for a double, or The White Company's Luxury White Down Topper, which will set you back a whopping £350, will get you even softer padding. However, personally, I was more than happy with this mid-range feather and down topper's comfort level.

For me, the only bugbear with this topper is its lack of washability, but if you're happy adding a mattress protector on top, then overall, I think this is a good value buy.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

• Sleep position: back or side
• Tension preference: firm
• Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
• Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In order to test out this mattress topper, my husband and I slept on it for two weeks in our own home on top of our usual mattress. I assessed how easy the M&S Duck Feather & Down Mattress Topper was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer, as well as its value for money.

As you may have noticed, it's cold right now. The winter weather has hit, with snow and ice descending on large parts of the country, and overnight temperatures dropping to sub-zero temperatures.

Thankfully, Lidl has the answer if you've been feeling the bedtime chill. The retailer is currently stocking the Silentnight Winter Warmer Electric Blanket for just £19.99, and I think that an investment of under £20 is definitely worth it if you're after a cosier sleep.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've spent the past five years testing some of the best electric blankets on the market, and during that time, this budget-friendly heated blanket has remained my top pick if you're after extra warmth at an affordable price point.

The good news is that Lidl is currently selling this cosy bedding solution at an even lower price than usual; in fact, it's the lowest price I've seen this electric blanket available for.

At full price, this heated blanket usually costs £30 for a single, £35 for a double, and £42 for a king-size blanket. Lidl is selling the Winter Warmer for £19.99 for a single, £24.99 for a double, and £29.99 for a king.

Now this electric blanket is fairly basic and 'no-frills' compared to the very best electric blankets I've tested. That accolade goes to the aptly named Dreamland Snowed-In Heated Electric Blanket, with its super-fast five-minute warm-up time, six heat settings, automatic shut-off timer, and dual controls that allow you to create your own microclimates on either side of the bed, even if you share it with a partner.

But, whilst the Silentnight takes more like fifteen minutes to get to maximum temperature, when I tested it on my own bed, I found its three heat settings still offered plenty of warmth.

Yes, you need to remember to turn it off if you don't want it on all night, as there's no timer, and you'll need to agree on a set temperature with your partner, as there's only a single control, but it remains a great budget buy that can really help combat these icy cold nights.

And it's *far* cheaper than the best-in-class Dreamland electric blanket's £139.99 starting price.

Of course, the only downside is you do need to be able to get into Lidl to snap up this bargain. And if you're already snowed in, that may be tricky!

Thankfully, there are other winter warmer bargains you can shop online if getting into your local Lidl store isn't an option, I've rounded up my top recommendations below.

Shop alternatives

My Fine Bedding Adjustable HoneyFoam Pillow review tests this unusual-looking pillow to see how it compares to the best pillows on the market. *Spoiler alert*: if you're looking for the best pillow for a side sleeper, you'll want to read on.

In a nutshell

The Fine Bedding Adjustable HoneyFoam Pillow is an adjustable pillow that has an inner core filled with memory foam clusters that can be added or removed to make it the exact right height for your sleep preferences.

I usually sleep on the Simba Hybrid pillow, which offers a similar style of adjustable memory foam fill, so I was interested to see how the HoneyFoam pillow would compare, and overall, I found it plumper and softer.

As a side and occasional back sleeper, I enjoyed having the option to change the height and firmness of my pillow to get a custom fit, and I found my head stayed nicely cradled in one place throughout the night. That meant that during my four-week testing period, I've been waking with a less stiff neck and shoulder.

I also found that the HoneyFoam's temperature regulation was surprisingly good for a memory foam pillow, and I like that it has a removable and machine-washable cover to help keep things fresh.

Plus, thanks to its HoneyFoam fill being partially made from renewable raw materials, Fine Bedding says that this pillow has a 50% lower carbon footprint versus standard memory foam made from fossil fuels. And, to help reduce waste and prolong the life of the pillow, you can buy replacements for both the clusters and outer cover when the time comes.

In my opinion, the only thing this pillow lacks is the option of a sleep trial, and at £99, it isn't cheap. However, the fact that you can adjust the filling means it's likely to work for you whether you're a side, back, or front sleeper, and I think that makes it a great buy.

Fine Bedding Adjustable HoneyFoam Pillow review

Specifications

• Best for: side, back and front sleepers
• RRP: £99
• Heights available: various
• Dimensions: 74 x 48cm
• Feel: adjustable depending on fill level
• Materials: recycled polyester outer, biomass balance PU foam filling
• Care instructions: the removable quilted cover is machine-washable at 40°c, the foam clusters can't be washed
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Comfort

For as long as I can remember, I have always been a side and occasional back sleeper. I'm pretty sure I end up in the recovery position on some nights, too. And yet, despite everything I know about how to choose a pillow, I've always struggled to find a pillow that I'm 100% happy with. That was until I tested the Fine Bedding Adjustable HoneyFoam Pillow.

A good night's sleep isn't one-size-fits-all, and the brand knows this. The HoneyFoam pillow is soft yet supportive, and filled with memory foam clusters that can be added or removed to adjust the pillow's feel and height.

I found that the pillow arrived with just the right number of HoneyFoam clusters to slip into the inner cover and give the pillow the height I need to sleep comfortably on my side. That makes it about 20cm high.

I also found it to be the perfect height when I was lying on my back, and although I'm not a front sleeper, it's easy enough to remove about half of the memory foam clusters to make it into a comfortable stomach sleeping pillow.

Handily, the HoneyFoam pillow arrives with a storage bag for any clusters you'd like to remove, and if you want to replace or add more clusters for a firmer feel, these can be bought separately.

As of writing, extra Adjustable HoneyFoam Clusters cost £20 for a 300g bag on the Fine Bedding website. I found I had more than enough provided, but it's good to know there's the option to add more, and to replace any filling that becomes a little flattened over time, without having to replace the whole pillow.

It's also worth noting that my mattress (the TEMPUR Ease) is a memory foam mattress. My body sinks into this, as my head does on the pillow. Side sleepers who sleep on a firmer mattress may find they need to add more HoneyFoam clusters to achieve a comfortable pillow height.

As I've mentioned, I'm used to sleeping on the Simba Hybrid Pillow, and in comparison, I found the Fine Bedding Adjustable HoneyFoam Pillow doesn't feel as dense. Instead, I found it feels plump and squishy, yet supportive.

Full credit for that squishiness doesn't all go to the filling. The super soft, quilted cover with cute honeycomb-shaped detailing provides a cushioned layer of comfort on top of the HoneyFoam clusters inside.

Temperature regulation

I have to admit, I am a cold person. I only really seem to get hot (and bothered) when I'm doing some cardio, or when I'm on the school run, and by the time I've resumed my 'normal' resting status, I start to feel the cold again.

This is especially true at bedtime, and I often climb into bed wearing my dressing gown to warm up. I haven't quite gotten to the point of wearing a hat in bed, but my head usually stays at a consistent temperature through the night, and I'm not prone to overheating.

However, when I sleep on my Simba Hybrid pillow, I do find I need to flip or rotate it every so often, as, despite its cooling tech, I find it can get warm sometimes. I was expecting the same with the Fine Bedding Adjustable HoneyFoam Pillow, especially as it has a polyester outer cover. I usually prefer natural materials for breathability and sustainability reasons, but during testing, I actually found this pillow slept pretty cool.

The brand says that the 'hexagon-shaped clusters promote better airflow' than a standard memory foam pillow, and that seemed to be the case. I found there was a lot less heat built up around and underneath my head during the night.

All in all, this pillow exceeded my expectations of maintaining a comfortable temperature overnight.

Ease of care

The memory foam clusters of the HoneyFoam Pillow can not be washed, but the outer cover can be unzipped and popped in the washing machine at 40°C.

This is also a standard-sized pillow, which makes adding a pillow protector and a pillowcase much easier.

From time to time, you may wish to 'fluff up' or redistribute the memory foam clusters to keep the pillow plump, or replace these clusters to keep the pillow fresh.

Sleep trial

While The Fine Bedding Company offers a 30-day returns service if you change your mind about this pillow before sleeping on it, this is not the same as a sleep trial that allows you to test out a pillow by actually sleeping on it for a set period of time.

Unfortunately, a sleep trial is something that the brand doesn't offer yet, which is a shame, because at £99 this pillow isn't cheap, and it can take a good few nights to find out if a pillow is really the one for you.

However, the fact that you can unzip the cover and remove the desired amount of foam clusters means you can adjust the pillow to your optimal height and firmness. It also offers the flexibility to adjust whether the pillow feels soft, medium or firm. That means there's much more likelihood of it being the perfect fit compared to your average pillow.

Value for money

The Fine Bedding Adjustable HoneyFoam Pillow costs £99, which isn't cheap. However, I have tested a lot more expensive pillows, and a lot that are far less expensive, and many of them haven't offered good value for money in one way or another, whereas I do think that the HoneyFoam Pillow does.

Because you can personalise the height and firmness, it's one of the very few pillows that can be made suitable for front, back and side sleeping positions. And that adjustable filling means you can choose whether your pillow has a firm and plump or loose and soft fill.

You can also prolong the life of this pillow with replacement HoneyFoam clusters and outer covers, which will keep it out of landfill for longer, and these are cheaper than buying a new pillow from scratch. Experts recommend replacing your pillows every two years, so that expense can soon add up.

Overall, I think this pillow certainly offers enough bang for your buck that it provides good value for money.

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort and temperature regulation. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offers good value for money.

A new year is nearly upon us, and with 2025 on its way out, at Ideal Home, we're busy thinking about which home decor trends are set to disappear with it, and which decor trends are ready and waiting in the wings, about to take center stage in 2026.

The biggest bedding trends of 2025 were all about maximalism and dopamine decor. The high street was awash with bright colour and bold mix-and-match pattern-clashing prints. But, as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I spend a good proportion of my working life keeping tabs on where to buy the best bedding, and I sense that there's a change in the air.

According to multiple bedding experts, I'm not alone in seeing a shift in how many of us want our bedrooms to look, and most importantly, *feel* in 2026.

These are the bedding trends we'll be saying goodbye to in 2025, and the trends that all of the best-dressed beds will be wearing in 2026.

Out: Bold Pattern & Dopamine Decor

Yep, it looks like those bright, bold patterns of 2025 are going to be the first trend to drop out of favour in 2026.

'In 2025, we saw a surge of bold prints and abstract designs in saturated colours,’ says Claire Roberts, design lead at Marks & Spencer, and whilst there's nothing wrong with the fun, playful energy of dopamine decor in other parts of the house, as Claire explains, 'these loud, dramatic patterns are now being questioned in light of a broader wellness and calm-driven design shift.'

After all, dopamine decor is designed to stimulate the brain, and relaxation is the name of the game when it comes to bedroom design ideas.

What's replacing it: Calm, Grounded, Wellness-Driven Design

In contrast, in 2026, 'the bedroom is being treated more like a wellness sanctuary,' shares Clare. 'As noted by some trend reports, people are focused on creating calmness and rest through their design choices.'

'This ties into a palette shift towards serene neutrals, and also choice of bedding fabrics: breathable, natural, sustainable materials are likely to continue gaining ground.'

'Natural fibres will become even more important in 2026,' agrees Molly Freshwater, co-founder of bedding brand Secret Linen Store. 'A return to nature, but in a way that feels fresh.'

Out: Oversized & Maximalist Florals

As we see a shift away from bold and dramatic bedding, it's perhaps no surprise that oversized and maximalist-style florals are the next trends on their way out of style.

'Large-scale florals are now starting to feel overdone,' says Claire, 'especially the “maximalist floral” movement. Instead, florals are now being reinterpreted for 2026.'

What's replacing it: Soft & Delicate Florals

So what will these reimagined florals look like in 2026? 'Rather than bold statement florals, it’s more about heirloom-style, soft florals or faded, distressed vintage looks,' reveals Claire.

'In 2026, we'll see far more heritage-inspired patterns and delicate florals,' agrees Jessica Hanley, founder and CEO of bedding brand Piglet in Bed. So expect to see more bedding 'leaning into vintage, soft vibes' this coming year.

Yep, it sounds like 'pretty' is staging a comeback in 2026, with bedding unapologetically embracing softer, gentler, more delicate floral prints.

Out: Stark Minimalism

Of course, the move towards more gentle, calm, grounded decor in the bedroom sees a shift in colour palettes too.

'Plain white bedding and minimalist looks are losing their appeal, feeling a little cold and impersonal,' shares Jessica at Piglet in Bed.

'Ultra-minimal interiors are on the decline,’ agrees Molly Freshwater, co-founder of bedding brand Secret Linen Store. As a result, ‘we’re quietly saying goodbye to the greys. All of the cool-grey colours that have been around for a long time are finally slipping away.'

What's replacing it: Nature-Inspired Colour Palettes

And what's replacing bold, bright dopamine decor colourways and stark cool-toned minimalist whites and greys? 'The future looks super soft, natural and grounded,' says Molly.

'Cool colours are being replaced by warm and natural colours,' Molly continues. 'Muddy reds, earthy clays, and greens lifted straight from the woods are making their way onto our beds. Colours and shades that feel lived-in, comforting, and connected to the outside world.'

In keeping with the trend for calm, wellness-oriented spaces to relax, 'there’s also a strong shift toward serenity and purity in the bedroom,' says Claire from M&S. 'Think more whites, but not the stark industrial white – instead, warm off-whites, soft creams, and blush neutrals.'

Out: Impersonal Matchy-Matchy Looks

As bedding vibes soften in 2026, the next thing to go is oh-so-perfect matchy-matchy bedroom looks.

'People are rethinking matching bedding sets,' says Jessica at Piglet in Bed. 'When everything is too similar, the bed can end up looking flat and one-dimensional. Overall, the shift is toward bedding that feels layered, textured, and personal, rather than overly uniform or "safe".'

What's replacing it: Hand-Crafted, Heirloom-Style Bedding

'In 2026, I see a move towards more traditional, heirloom-style bedding, like quilted bed covers and pillows,' says Genevieve Rosen Biller, co-founder of bedding brand Bed Threads. 'There’s something about the artisanal look of the stitching that feels tactile and nostalgic.'

'Traditional quilting patterns will be appearing everywhere,' agrees Molly. 'The move is away from “perfect”, instead we're happily saying hello to bedding with warmth and depth, and pieces that tell a story.'

So in 2026, it's less about box-fresh bedding bought straight off the shelf, and more about finding ways to add a personal, individual touch to your bedroom. In fact, 2026 is being dubbed the year of 'hyper-personalisation' by many, with birth-month bedding colours and even birth-month bedroom wall colour increasing in popularity.

Out: Ruffles, Bows, and OTT Decoration

And lastly, decoration. In keeping with the playful dopamine decor trend, in 2025, bedding was all about over-the-top decoration and trims; think oversized ruffles, statement frills, and larger-than-life bows.

However, in 2026, outlandish embellishments are toned down in favour of more subtle textures and trims.

'Rather than relying on bold prints or heavy decoration, in 2026, bedding is leaning into texture,' says Claire at M&S. 'Think semi-plains, jacquard weaves, waffles, linens and attention to detail on trims and finishes.'

What's replacing it: Texture & Tactility

'The mood for 2026 is natural, tactile, and deeply rooted in materials that feel good,' says Molly at Secret Linen Store. 'Frills, frills, and more frills have been around for the last few years, but we’re saying farewell to these and welcome to slightly more understated trims.'

'Gentle stripes, soft layers, and tactile fabrics will be big in 2026,' agrees Jessica at Piglet in Bed.

So out with the 'more is more' OTT decoration, and a return to the 'less is more' aesthetic, with a focus on tactile natural materials and handcrafted elements. No wonder natural fibre bed linen, such as the M&S Pure Linen Bedding Set, is selling so fast this year.

Overall, as 2025 comes to an end and 2026 is poised to begin, it's clear that the new year will bring with it a fresh outlook in terms of how we want our bedrooms to look.

If our experts' predictions are anything to go by, then bedding trends in 2026 will soon reflect the calm and grounded energy that many of us are longing to experience more of in our lives as a whole.

In a world that's become increasingly hectic and adrenaline-fuelled, we no longer want the dopamine hit of bold and stimulating bedroom decor, instead, many of us are craving a return to simpler, natural, and quieter pleasures.

A bedroom filled with tactile natural fibres, textured fabrics, and soft, soothing colourways certainly looks like it's set to play an important part in creating more relaxation and wellbeing in our lives in 2026.

At Ideal Home, we put a lot of work into bringing you the biggest trends of the year, and in 2025 there was one particular bedding trend that made our eyes light up as soon as we saw it at the early press shows. Once it launched, it was clear you all felt the exact same way, because this year, there was one definite bedding trend you couldn't get enough of.

2025 was the year we all fell in love with William Morris prints, as reimagined by some of our favourite brands. But it was the M&S William Morris At Home bedding range that really caught your attention, with Ideal Home readers buying more of this bedding set than any other this year.

Yep, when it comes to where to buy bedding, this was your clear winner in 2025.

Most popular bedding of 2025: M&S William Morris At Home

And is it any surprise? The bestselling M&S Pure Cotton Pimpernel Reversible Bedding Set is a dream, combining elegant florals, modern graphics, and muted colours that are perfect for creating a relaxing bedroom.

Interior design experts tell us biophilic design is perfect for the bedroom because the familiar botanical patterns of foliage and flowers help our brains to switch off and relax, and this M&S bedding nails that brief perfectly.

In fact, you loved this bedding range so much that it sold out in record time. Yes, we're pretty sad about that too.

However, thankfully, there's another William Morris collaboration on the high street that stole our (and your) hearts just as much as this M&S range, and that's the Habitat x Morris & Co. collection.

Most popular bedding of 2025: runner up

Slthough the M&S x William Morris range just pipped the Habitat x Morris & Co. collection to the post in being the most shopped bedding of 2025 according to our data, this bedding set was *very* close behind.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, this is the bedding collection that made me part with my cash this year, and if, like me, you have a small bedroom, I actually think it trumps the M&S range, because the scale of the Habitat x Morris & Co. prints work far better in a small space.

Plus, not only has Habitat managed to keep its Morris & Co. bedding in stock, but the brand has also kept adding more prints and colourways to the collection throughout the year.

After speaking to multiple bedding experts about 2026's bedding trends, I can also assure you that the William Morris trend is very much set to continue into the new year.

In fact, alongside natural fibre bedding, such as the M&S Pure Linen Bedding Set, in 2026, heirloom-style florals are set to be one of *the* hottest bedding trends.

So if you want to get ahead of the curve, I thoroughly recommend shopping Habitat's Morris & Co. prints before they too sell out!

This budget-friendly M&S duvet is designed to be easy to care for. I put it to the test over a week, sleeping under it on my own bed, and testing how well it washed and dried, to see how it compares to the best duvets on the market.

In a nutshell

Overall, the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet impressed me. As a sleep product reviewer, I've slept under dozens of duvets, some of a *far* higher price point than this, and I was genuinely impressed by this duvet's quality and value for money. The king-sized 10.5 tog version I tested will set you back just £39.50, and I think it's really well made for its price.

Plus, if you want an easy-to-care-for duvet, this duvet does what it says in its name. It's easy to wash and tumble dry, meaning I managed to get my king-size Supremely Washable duvet washed, dried, and back on my bed in the same day.

However, the reason it's so easy to wash and dry is because it's made from synthetic fibres – both the filling and outer casing are polyester – and that does impact its breathability. During testing, I found sleeping under it a lot hotter than most natural-fibre duvets I’ve tried. If you're a cold sleeper, that could be a bonus; if you're a hot sleeper or someone whose temperature fluctuates, that could lead to overheating.

Would I be happy sleeping under this duvet every night? Overall, I still prefer the luxe feel of my feather and down duvet on my own bed, and I find it more breathable. However, as a mum of three, I definitely appreciate the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet's easy-care merits – I think this is a great, affordable and very practical duvet.

M&S Supremely Washable Duvet review

Specifications

• RRP: £29.50-£49.50
• Sizes: single / double / king / super king
• Tog rating: 1 / 4.5 / 7.5 / 10.5 / 13.5 / 15 / all-seasons
• Materials: casing: polyester, filling: polyester
• Care: machine washable at 40ºC, tumble dry on low
• Manufacturer sleep trial: none

Feel

When I first unpacked it, I was surprised by how lightweight the M&S Supremely Washable duvet is. It feels as light as a feather in its carry case – ironically much lighter than the super marshmallowy actual down duvet I sleep under at home (scoom’s Hungarian goose down duvet, in case you’re interested).

I unzipped it from its reusable case and was immediately impressed with how cloud-like it feels. The casing is also attractively striped, which makes it look and feel a lot more premium than most budget-friendly duvets of this kind of price point.

As a seasoned duvet tester (I’ve spent almost five years testing sleep products), I firmly believe I could guess between a wool, down, silk and synthetic-filled duvet in a blind test, and when I rubbed the duvet’s filling between my fingers, there was no mistaking that it’s synthetic inside. However, those fibres felt pretty fine, this isn't a lumpy and clumpy hollowfibre duvet.

I was also impressed when I gave it the 'scrunch' test. I'm not opposed to the satisfying crunch of crisp hotel-style bedding, but it’s not for everyone. Thankfully, I found the M&S Supremely Washable duvet to be rustle-free, meaning it’s very unobtrusive if you’re a light sleeper sensitive to noise.

Next up, the sleep test. I like to be cocooned by a duvet, so I prefer a slightly heavier feel, but this is a personal preference. I found the Supremely Washable duvet didn’t cling to my body when I climbed under it, as it’s pretty lightweight. However, if you prefer not to have to heave your duvet around, the M&S Supremely Washable duvet is a great lightweight option.

It's a little thing, but I was also pleased to note that the duvet corners are nice and square, meaning that they fit inside my duvet cover well (nothing worse than a duvet slipping around inside the cover).

Temperature regulation

I’m a bit of a Goldilocks when it comes to temperature preferences while sleeping. I like to be cosy, but I often overheat thanks to sleeping next to my husband, a very hot sleeper, or – if I’m really lucky – a child squished up right next to me radiating their body heat.

More often than not, synthetic duvets don’t suit my preferences because of this. Synthetic fibres don’t tend to perform well on breathability in comparison to natural duvet fillings such as wool or feather and down. Polyester is also hydrophobic, meaning it doesn’t wick moisture away effectively, which can lead to overheating.

This won’t aid your body’s natural process that helps keep you down. Sweat will just stay with you rather than evaporate off and cool your skin. That means polyester isn't the best filling for a duvet if you're a hot sleeper.

True to form, I found the 10.5 tog Supremely Washable duvet took me from chilly to very warm within five minutes. In fact, I timed how long it took for me to go from “brrr” cold to “mmm” toasty and warm in our 18ºC bedroom, and it was 4 minutes and 40 seconds.

This kept me cosy on the coldest nights, but on warmer nights I found I quickly got far too warm and struggled to cool down under this duvet. This is especially disruptive in the winter when it’s too cold to just kick off the duvet.

If you're not a hot sleeper, then I'd say this 10.5 tog duvet could be a great option for autumn and winter, but on milder nights, it may lack the breathability needed for good temperature regulation. In that regard, a wool-filled duvet, such as the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Washable Duvet is definitely your best bet.

And personally, I definitely wouldn’t want a tog rating any higher than the 10.5 tog (M&S also offer it in a 13.5 and 15 tog) unless you are a very cold sleeper.

Ease of care

The main selling point of the Supremely Washable duvet is, of course, that it’s very easy to wash. You can stick it in a washing machine at 40ºC and then tumble dry it on low.

I tested a king-size duvet, and although I have a larger-capacity drum washing machine too (did I mention I have three kids?!), I still found it a bit of a challenge cramming the king-size version into my machine – and especially my dryer.

M&S says the whole job – washing and drying the duvet – can be done in a day. I tested it and found it is possible to do this in a day, but it did take a while, so my advice would be to make sure you get it in the washing machine first thing in the morning. After all, no one wants to sleep with a damp duvet.

However, it would have been a much easier process with a smaller size, so this is definitely a good option for a kids' duvet, especially if you're in the bedwetting stages.

It's also a great, easy-care option for a guest bedroom, and if you’re allergy-prone, the fact that you can blitz this duvet in the washing machine regularly is a definite plus point. Although it's worth noting that the care label says 40ºC, and to eradicate dust mites, you do generally need to wash at 50ºC or over.

Sleep trial

Unfortunately M&S doesn't offer sleep trials on any of its bedding, that means there isn't any opportunity to test out sleeping under this duvet before you decide whether it's the right fit for you.

On the plus side, most of us aren't *that* far away from an M&S store, and as this duvet is one of the brand's bestsellers, it's likely to be on the shopfloor. That means you could at least pop into your local homeware branch to give it the 'squish test' in person, even if you can't actually take a nap under it!

Value for money

I found the price of this duvet eyebrow-raising, but in a good way. I can't believe a king-size duvet is available for under £40 – I've tested a lot of duvets, and that's a real bargain.

Yes, there are elements of the duvet that give away you haven’t dropped a ton of cash on it: the heat-sealed rather than stitched edges and its synthetic filling, plus it doesn't come with any cooling tech to combat the problems with polyester's lack of breathability. But still – I think it’s fantastically priced, and it looks and feels a lot more premium than I expected.

For comparison, multiple big brand names offer synthetic duvets (admittedly with cooling tech added) that range from £249 for a king-size in the Simba Hybrid Duvet to a whopping £399 for a king-size TEMPUR Luxe Fibre Cooling Duvet.

Generally speaking, I’ve always found M&S’s bedding to be well-made and durable, which gives me peace of mind that I can recommend this duvet even though it’s 'cheap', and if you're simply after an affordable, easy-care duvet, I think the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet definitely delivers.

How I tested

I tested the Marks and Spencer Supremely Washable duvet at home, on my own bed. I snoozed under it for a week – seven nights of slumber, including the odd daytime nap.

Then I slept on the job – seeing how my sleep quality varied over a week. I have an Oura Ring 4 to help me monitor the quality of sleep, and those metrics fed into my overall review. I also looked at how it felt when scrunched in my hand, and how it rebounded. Plus, how the drape was around my body as I lay in bed.

This particular duvet is all about how easy it is to care for, so I drilled down into this during testing. It’s all very well saying a duvet is washable, but I wanted to find out how easy that really was, and how long it took to dry.

And of course, value for money is always part of the duvet testing process at Ideal Home. I compared this duvet to similar options on the market, and considered how its performance compares to its price point.

If you haven’t already upgraded your bedding in time for the colder months, I have the perfect option for you. Next’s Supersoft 100% Brushed Cotton Duvet Cover Bow Tie Edge and Pillowcase Set (from £35) is beautifully on-trend and stylish - and most importantly, will keep you cosy all winter.

Brushed cotton bedding is some of the best bedding you can buy during winter, due to its ability to trap warm air during the colder months and its wonderfully cosy feel. There are some gorgeous brushed cotton bedding sets around at the moment, but Next's brushed cotton bow bedding is one of the best I’ve seen.

Not only will it keep you toasty, but its bow embellishments will make your bedroom ideas that little bit chicer.

Available in white and pink colourways, this bed set is subtly chic. The edges of the duvet covers and pillowcases are adorned with large, brushed cotton bows, which turn an otherwise plain duvet cover set into a stylish design choice.

Not to mention that bows have been a huge trend for the past few years, in both fashion and interiors, as we’ve remained charmed by their elegant, feminine look.

The cotton is brushed on both sides of the duvet cover for added comfort and cosiness, and the set is made from 100% cotton. The reviews are predominantly positive, with many mentioning that the set feels incredibly soft. However, a few do mention that the set can shed.

‘The fabric is extremely soft and warm, the fit on the duvet cover is excellent, and the buttons are a great fit. Even though the cover was understandably creased from being folded in the packaging, I found it smoothed out really well without ironing. A great purchase,’ said one.

‘Excellent value for money - washes and dries well. Some pilling on the pillowcases - would recommend changing it and washing again after a week being on the bed. Very comfortable, cosy and warm to sleep in - to the point you don't want to get out of bed,’ said another.

Right now, Next has hoards of stunning brushed sets to keep you warm and cosy this winter. Here are a few more of my favourites.

If you're looking for a cosy yet stylish bedding set, this Next brushed cotton bow set is a great option that won’t break the bank.

Hosting season is on the horizon, and if you have guests staying over the Christmas period, you may well want one of Dunelm's latest launches on your radar.

The brand has just released its popular scented pillow protectors in a new festive fragrance, and at only £8, the Christmas Tree Scented Pillow Protector Pair is the ideal way to make a bed smell good or a guest bedroom smell nice.

This new fragrance joins two other Christmas favourites, the Dunelm Gingerbread Scented Pillow Protector Pair and the Dunelm Candy Cane Scented Pillow Protector Pair, in the brand's bedding range.

Plus, there are also Dunelm's original scented pillow protectors to choose from, the popular Fogarty Eucalyptus Scented Pillow Protectors and Fogarty Lavender Scented Pillow Protectors.

As the brand says, these festive additions to the range are 'perfect for guest rooms, winter bedding or as a gift' and are designed to bring 'a hint of Christmas magic to your sleep space'.

Whether you opt for the Christmas Tree, Gingerbread, or Candy Cane scent, the Christmassy fragrance is infused into the pillow protector fabric and designed to last up to 20 washes.

And, whilst they're not the thickest of protectors – they're more like an extra pillowcase than a quilted design – the extra layer will also do the trick to keep your pillows fresh and clean – especially important for guest bedding.

Dunelm shoppers certainly seem to be impressed by the brand's two original Eucalyptus and Lavender fragrances, with one 5-star reviewer saying, 'Not overly scented but you can definitely smell them, makes the bed smell clean and fresh. Wish they did a mattress protector too!'

'Smells fresh and lasts for a decent number of washes,' says another 5-star reviewer. 'The eucalyptus smell is so soothing,' shares another happy owner, 'love, love, love it!!! I just go to bed hugging my pillows. I have used it for over 2 weeks now. I hope it lasts.'

On that note, some reviewers do mention the scent not lasting as long as they'd like. I imagine that depends on how often you wash your bedding and how strongly scented any fabric conditioner you use is, but it's worth bearing in mind that other ways of scenting your home could be longer-lasting.

One reviewer also notes that they may not be the best choice for the most sensitive noses, saying that the 'smell is really strong' on the eucalyptus protectors, so it may be worth considering if your guests are sensitive to strong smells before using them in a guest bedroom.

Alternatively, there are plenty of other tricks people with great-smelling guest rooms always use, plus I've rounded up three other ways to make a bedroom smell nice below.

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