We spend one-third of our lives in bed. Making that bed cozy is the first step in getting a good night's sleep.
10 Ways to Make Your Bed 10 Times Cozier
Start with a good mattress
McDaniel owns short-term rental properties in Minden, Louisiana, and aims to make them as comfortable as possible for guests, especially the bedrooms. “It definitely starts with a good mattress,” she says, adding that she goes for a “happy medium” between soft and firm because “everyone loves it.”
Dr. Hu says that, although there are budget-friendly mattresses out there with adequate support, it’s well worth it for your overall health to invest in something better. He likes Sleep Number beds that not only adjust in firmness, but can also elevate your head—more on that in a moment.
Sleep in the nude
Did that wake you up? Yes, one way of getting better rest is to sleep in the nude—or at least as nude as possible, says Dr. Hu. It’s not about being sexy, but more about regulating your body temperature. “We don’t want to overheat as we’re sleeping through the night,” says Dr. Hu. The best way to ensure that is to mimic what our ancestors did way back in the day, which was not wearing pj’s.
If sleeping au naturel is a bridge too far for you, then look for bamboo pajamas or cooling bedsheets that can help keep your temperature regulated overnight.
Forget about thread count and look for natural materials
“When it comes to sleep, the materials in direct contact with your skin matter more than thread count,” says Sternfeld. She recommends choosing breathable, natural fibers like organic cotton or linen; bonus points for sheets that have GOTS or OEKO-TEX certifications. “These materials help regulate temperature and humidity, which is essential for uninterrupted rest,” she explains. “Avoid synthetic blends or heavily treated fabrics, which can trap heat and off-gas chemicals.”
If you choose cotton, Sternfeld says to aim for a thread count between 300 and 400. That might sound low, but it’s actually ideal. “It offers the right balance of softness and breathability without compromising airflow,” she explains.
Snuggle up with a weighted blanket
If the idea of wearing less makes you feel cold, well, that’s what bedding is for. Weighted bedding, specifically. According to the Sleep Foundation, weighted blankets provide deep pressure stimulation, which is a firm yet gentle pressure across the body to encourage relaxation.
Weighted blankets aren’t like putting a bunch of dumbbells in your bed, though; it feels more like a warm snuggle to make you feel safe and grounded so you can fall asleep faster. The weight promotes a calming sensation that slows the heart rate and reduces cortisol, which basically sends a memo to your body that it’s time to rest.
Opt for a duvet over a blanket or comforter
If a weighted blanket feels too heavy, consider a duvet. McDaniel says a duvet is heftier than a quilt or a comforter, so you do reap some of the benefits of a weighted blanket. “I think that the added weight and layer of texture just creates a luxurious experience,” she says. But the real benefit is that it’s easier to clean; McDaniel says she and her team change out the duvet covers with every visit.
Sleep on your side only
Dr. Hu says sleeping on your side is the best position for a good night’s sleep, particularly if you’re one of the 30 million people who suffer from sleep apnea, according to the American Medical Association.
Sleep apnea occurs when breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. Snoring is a common symptom. There are also different types of sleep apnea. While a doctor’s diagnosis is always advised, sleeping on your side is a good start.
“More often, people have positional sleep apnea,” he says, which means people are experiencing interrupted breathing due to their sleep position. It’s also known as positional obstructive sleep apnea, or POSA. Basically, if you’ve ever told your partner—or been told yourself—to roll over due to snoring, that’s POSA.
“If they’re on their side, they actually sleep much, much better,” Dr. Hu says, adding that sleeping on your back is the worst way to sleep, followed by sleeping prone.
Rest your head on a specialized pillow
Instead of a bedtime story, here’s a bedtime geometry lesson: You’ll sleep better when your head is at a 30-degree angle, says Dr. Hu. When you sleep flat on your back, he explains, “Gravity is going to take all those muscles [around your head and neck] and pull them down, and they’ll collapse your airway. And there’s no way, when the airways collapse like that, that the oxygen is going to reach the lungs.”
Not breathing is not only scary, but it would definitely not lead to a cozy night’s sleep. A standard pillow will typically provide only minimal support to your neck and spine, so look into wedge pillows or even adjustable mattresses that can put your head at a better angle for improved breathing. Dr. Hu says 30 degrees is great, but you can go up to 45 degrees. He suggests SlumberBUMP or MedCline pillows, which do the geometry for you.
Groom your furry bedmates frequently
Dr. Hu was gracious enough not to specifically advise kicking our fur babies out of bed, but he does advise keeping them as clean and well-groomed as possible to remove shed hair and avoid allergens that will cause health conditions for the humans. It’s important to learn how to make a cozy bed for all of you, because well-rested humans make for better pet parents, Dr. Hu says.
Change sheets weekly
Experts say you should change your sheets at least every two weeks, but Dr. Hu says to do it more frequently, especially if you have pets. (This pet mama is on a weekly sheet change schedule.)
It’s not just about the pet hair that piles up so easily, though. It’s about the allergens that can take up residency in your linens and cause breathing issues and other adverse reactions. If you live in a humid climate, you’ll also have to keep an eye out for mold growth, although Dr. Hu warns that there are types of mold found in the desert too. To combat these and other allergens, Dr. Hu says to make sure all your bedding is made from hypoallergenic materials, and to be sure to launder them frequently.
Make your bed super fluffy
Even if you like a firmer mattress, there’s nothing quite like super-fluffy bedding to send you off to dreamland. Mattress toppers are one way to make a cozy bed, not to mention add years to the life of a mattress. But if you’re not keen on adding more things to your bed, you could fake it till you make it with the existing bedding.
McDaniel recommends rolling back the first layer of the duvet or comforter to expose the sheets beneath and create visual layers. She also likes to arrange pillows by height, starting with stacking the sleeping pillows in the back and layering decorative pillows and Euro shams in front for a sumptuous-looking bed.
How do you make a bedroom feel cozy?
Although the bed is certainly important, there are other things you can do for your overall bedroom that will contribute to better rest. “Think of your bedroom as a space to restore and regulate,” says Sternfeld. Here’s what our experts recommend:
- Keep the bedroom tidy. “Start by clearing visual clutter. A calm environment helps the nervous system unwind,” says Sternfeld.
-
Keep it cool. Aim for between 67 and 69 degrees, says Dr. Hu, to keep your body temperature regulated. Go ahead and cuddle up under those blankets, though.
-
Use aromatherapy. For a relaxing, spa-like experience, McDaniel likes to diffuse lavender in the bedroom.
-
Opt for natural materials. These reduce toxins and contribute to healthier air quality, says Sternfeld. You can go natural with not only bedding, but other furnishings and finishes, from window treatments to carpeting.
-
Ditch the screens. Turn off the TV, or even better, remove it from the bedroom completely, along with any other screens, including your phone. “Screens and notifications can be overstimulating and make it harder for the body to ease into rest,” says Sternfeld. According to Dr. Hu, it’s not just that screens are a distraction, it’s that their wave frequency is disruptive to sleep.
-
Have a wind-down ritual. Dr. Hu recommends shutting down screens 30 to 45 minutes before bed, if possible, then winding down with some music, meditation or another form of mindful relaxation. Have a drink of water if you’re thirsty, but no alcohol.
-
Turn on the white noise. Some people can’t sleep when there’s a little noise. Some people can’t sleep in utter silence. Some noise is good, provided it’s on the white noise spectrum, says Dr. Hu. He suggests a white noise machine set to gentle waves (if you use an app, make sure to keep your phone face down or otherwise hidden). McDaniel includes standing fans in her rental bedrooms so people can not only stay cool but fall asleep more easily to the slight hum of the blades.
-
Block out all light. Dr. Hu recommends a “very dark, preferably pitch black environment” for the bedroom. Dr. Hu says even natural light peaking out from behind window treatments is disruptive to our circadian rhythm, especially when sunrise and sunset is much earlier/later in certain parts of the world. Blackout curtains are ideal for this, but if that’s not possible or still not doing the trick, try a sleep mask, maybe even a weighted sleep mask.
-
Choose a soft, muted color palette. From bedding to bedroom decor, choose items in colors that soothe rather than stimulate—they will also support your circadian rhythm, says Sternfeld.
About the experts
|
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Dr. Jerry Hu, founder and CEO of Nevada Dental Sleep; phone interview, June 18, 2025
- Lisa Sternfeld, founder of WLLW Studio; email interview, June 19, 2025
- Sara McDaniel, owner of Simply Southern Cottage; phone interview, June 20, 2025
- Sleep Foundation: “Weighted blanket benefits”
- American Medical Association: “What doctors wish patients knew about sleep apnea”
- Mayo Clinic: “Sleep apnea”
- Ohio Sleep Treatment: “Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It’s a Thing”
- YouTube, Dr. Jon Saunders: “Avoid These Pillow Mistakes: Learn How to Choose and Use the Perfect Pillow”
