The cosiest beds and bedding this winter

Winter time offers the perfect excuse to curl up, get warm and stay in bed for endless happy hours. Reading, watching TV and conducting phone calls about Christmas plans, all can be done from the comfort of your bed and the best thing is, you don't have to feel guilty because everyone is doing it. After all, no one would choose a run on a chilly Saturday morning over the morning papers and a sumptuous breakfast in bed. And to help you enjoy your sloth period this season, here is a selection of the most comfortable beds and cosiest bedding this winter. After all who needs central heating when you've got a big warm duvet to hide under?

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BED

The first decision you need to make is what type of mattress you want. Many people make the mistake of assuming that the softer the mattress, the comfier you'll be, but this may not be the case. Feather beds, for example, are great for a feeling of total luxury, but they may cause back problems for those who move around a lot in their sleep, and can be tricky to keep clean. For this reason, another type of mattress may be more practical.

For people with back problems, a memory foam mattress can relieve pressure on painful backs and joints and even re-train your body to sleep ‘correctly'; they can also be warmer, as they are designed to absorb and retain body heat throughout the night. For double bed users, one of the major problems in life can be your partner moving around and waking you up in the night. To solve this problem, it may be worthwhile investing in a pocket sprung mattress: the individual springs distribute your weight evenly and minimise any movement you make.

& BEDDING

In terms of bedding, what you buy will again depend upon your individual needs; if you're looking for something with added warmth factor, the higher the tog and weight of the duvet, the warmer you'll be. However, buying a high-tog duvet may not be practical in the warmer months, and buying two is unnecessarily expensive. A good compromise is to invest in a medium-tog duvet for the bed itself, and several blankets or a single bed duvet to use on colder nights. In terms of material, silk can be cold but is excellent for sensitive skin, and for those who suffer from allergies, a duvet specifically designed to be hypoallergenic should aid restful sleep.

Whatever you end up investing in bed-wise, one of the things that make a decent night's sleep is all the added extras that go with it. Hot water bottles, comfy pillows and a hot drink will all help keep you warm on a cold night, and are known to promote restful sleep into the bargain. Winter generally brings its own set of stresses (Christmas shopping, New Year's plans, etc), so a decent night's sleep is essential to tackling the problems that lie ahead as the temperature drops. Invest now, and get ready to enjoy your cosiest winter yet.

15 December 2011