Mattress and Bed Accessories

How to Choose Bedding and Sleep Accessories

A bed is a system, and the pieces around the mattress decide how much of its comfort you actually feel. Start with the pillow, because it sets the angle of your neck and is the easiest thing to get wrong. Side sleepers need a high loft to fill the gap between ear and shoulder, back sleepers a medium loft that supports the curve of the neck without pushing the chin forward, and stomach sleepers the thinnest pillow they can tolerate. Fill then decides feel: memory foam, whether one moulded piece or granulated and loose, softens under body heat and holds the shape it takes; latex pushes back sooner and reads firmer and less enclosing at the same firmness label; feather can be punched into any shape and needs re-fluffing to keep it; and fiberfill sits lightest and washes most easily.

Below the sheets the job changes from comfort to protection and support. A mattress protector is a barrier against spills, sweat and skin oils, all of which reach the foam long before a stain shows. When you buy sheets, check the fitted pocket depth against your mattress height plus any topper, because a shallow pocket pops off the corners. Underneath, a mattress only performs on even, continuous support: a sound box spring, a bed frame with closely spaced slats, or an adjustable base if you want to raise the head and legs. Bedroom essentials such as headboards and platform bedframes finish the room.