In a recent study, it was discovered that, on average, the UK population spends around 8 hours sleeping per night. The chart below shows the average time a person spends sleeping in minutes for each of the countries listed. We’re just slightly above average at 503 and  27 minutes behind the French!

Based on these statistics, we can estimate that this is roughly one third of our lives spent asleep! With such a significant amount of time spent in bed each night, it would make perfect sense to ensure that we make our night time experience as pleasant as possible.

Here are five handy hints to help you get the most out of your bedtime

1. Stick to a regular sleep pattern:

By trying to go to bed at more or less the same time each night, you can train your body to feel sleepy at the right time each evening.

2. Cut down on caffeine and alcohol:

Too many cups of tea and coffee or a quick nightcap before bed can stimulate the mind and our alertness, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Instead of caffeine-filled beverages, why not try a milky drink like hot chocolate to help you relax and wind down in the evening.

3. Create a relaxing bedtime routine:

Instead of blaring out loud music or television programmes before you go to bed, try to do something more calming. Have a hot bath with scented oils or listen to some peaceful music. By combining this calmer activity with a milky drink and a cosy pair of pyjamas, you should start to feel more relaxed and, as a result, find it much easier to fall asleep at night.

4. Keep an eye on the temperature:

If your bedroom is too hot or too cold it can have a negative impact on your quality of sleep. Try to keep a window open or turn the thermostat up a little higher to ensure that you achieve a comfortable room temperature to suit you.

and most importantly of all…

5. Don’t scrimp on comfortable bedding:

Having a comfy bed is vitally important for getting a good night’s sleep. Don’t be kept awake by a scratchy duvet or a thin pillow. If your mattress is too hard then it’s time to upgrade to some better quality bedding. Your bedding should ideally provide your body with plenty of support (especially if you suffer from neck or back pain) and be pleasurable to sleep in each night. Choosing a high quality bed set over the cheap and cheerful option will reward you with extra comfort and a more satisfying sleep. After all, with such a large chunk of our time spent in bed, we deserve to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

When booking a hotel room, which features are most important to you? Are you the cheap and cheerful individual, perfectly content as long as you have clean sheets to sleep in and a functioning toilet? Or do you try to find something with a bit more oomph, a bit more of the wow factor? Well whatever your preference, here is a list of the top 10 most expensive hotel rooms from around the world as of 2011.

10: The Bridge Suite, Royal Towers – Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

Guests are treated to an enormous living room complete with entertainment centre boasting a grand piano and bar. Lavish bedrooms sleep up to 4 adults and a huge dining room displays a staggering 22 karat gold chandelier. With endless sparkling commodities and a private staff of 7, this magnificent suite could be yours for $22,000 a night.

9: The Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton Hotel – Tokyo, Japan

The Ritz-Carlton suite not only offers its guests the finest luxuries within the suite itself, they also have the pleasure of impressive views overlooking the Imperial palace and most of Tokyo, special access to the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, and usage of the indoor swimming pool and fitness studio. All for $25,000 a night!

8: The Penthouse, The Setai – South Beach, Miami, Florida

With access to a private roof-top pool and panoramic views of the beautiful surroundings, the Penthouse suite provides guests with 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms (including 2 Jacuzzi tubs) and a private butler who is on call at any time of the day along with a fantastic range of other rooms all for $30,000.

7: Villa La Cupola Suite – Westin Excelsior, Rome

Situated on the fifth and sixth floors of the Villa La Cupola hotel, this suite gets the inspiration for its exquisite decor from the beautiful Roman architecture that surrounds it. Its most impressive feature claims to be its domed living room adorned in dramatic red and gold colouring to accentuate the night sky outside. For $31,000 a night, guests also have access to a private wine cellar bearing a vast array of vintage wines, high-tech cinema room, fitness studio, sauna, Jacuzzi and numerous elegantly decorated bedrooms and bathrooms.

6: The Royal Villa, The Grand Resort Lagonissi – Athens

Guests of this contemporary designed villa can make use of both the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as a gym, a business centre, bar area, outdoor BBQ facilities and private massage parlour. All of these luxuriously designed facilities can be experienced for $32,000 a night.

5: The Presidential Suite, Hotel Cala Di Volpe – Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Making the most of the tropical climate, Hotel Cala Di Volpe’s Presidential suite indulges guests with a light and airy space from which they can view the exotic scenery around the hotel complex. Each expansive room in the villa is adorned with the finest local artwork and impressive cultural decor while at the same time revealing the luxury facilities expected from a villa of this quality. For $34,000, guests are also free to use the private wine cellar, steam room, fitness studio and numerous other luxuries are also available at this price.

4: Penthouse Prestige Apartment, Hotel Martinez – Cannes

As its name suggests, this French apartment has a distinct air of splendour and modern elegance surrounding it. Guests can use their $35,000 a night on the beautifully furnished rooms and all the magnificent luxuries that come with them. A sauna, butler service and a terrace area offering spectacular views over the Bay of Cannes only add to the finery of the suites available at this price.

3: Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel – New York

At the top of the tallest hotel in Manhattan, is Ty Warner’s penthouse suite, stylishly crafted by top designer Pete Marino. The penthouse offers an astounding 360˚ view of Manhattan as well as jewelled surfaces and fine fabric interior decoration to raise its standards way above its competitors. It’s no surprise that guests are expected to pay a whopping $35,000 a night.

2: Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Hotel – Las Vegas

Like Ty Warner, Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner has located his extraordinary suite at the summit of a top US hotel. Decked out with such lavish services as a private gym, bar, plasma TVs and spa treatment room, this suite really is designed to the excess. And for $40,000 a night, even the price is excessive to match.

1: The Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel – Geneva

And finally, topping the list with a massive $65,000 a night are the impressive Royal Penthouse Suites of President Wilson Hotel. Fitted with the top contemporary furnishings, guests can enjoy gazing out over the picturesque views of Lake Geneva and make use of the luxury amenities such as spa treatments that are highly sought after by the top celebrities across the globe.

Sleeping on your side is one of the most common ways for people to sleep, but if you regularly sleep on the same side it can have some unwelcome effects.

This sleeping position makes you more likely to get wrinkles on the side of the face you lie on as pressure is put on your face as it is creased on the pillow. Sleeping face down can also have negative effects, as this is more likely to make you develop a furrowed brow.

Ensuring that you alternate the side you sleep on can help you prevent developing deeper wrinkles on one side of your face, or if you’re very concerned about your wrinkles, sleeping on your back is the best option.

Many people choose to sleep in certain positions if their bed is starting to get worn out and uncomfortable, so investing in mattress toppers can help you ensure your whole bed is comfy so you’re more inclined to sleep in different positions.

It is also thought that sleeping with too many pillows can make you more likely to develop a double chin, so if you’re thinking of cutting down on the number of pillows you use, make sure you’re still comfortable by investing in high quality bedding such as silk pillowcases and 100% Egyptian cotton sheets.

Whatever bedding you’re considering investing in, ensure that you’re getting the best quality at the best prices by browsing the great range available from us here at Duvet and Pillow Warehouse.

It’s not just children that can have bad bedtime habits, it’s adults as well according to research and this can lead to sleep problems.

Having consistency at bedtime can help you get a better night’s sleep to ensure that you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.

Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can all have major effects on our sleep and should be avoided in the hours before you go to sleep. Caffeine will either prevent someone from falling asleep, or stop you from reaching all the different periods of sleep. Each period of sleep has a different effect on the body, so missing out one will leave you feeling groggy in the morning. Nicotine works in the same way as caffeine.

Although alcohol can make you sleepy at first, you will usually wake up about 4 hours after you’ve nodded off, meaning your sleep is also interrupted. Eating and drinking to close to bedtime can also affect your sleep.

The experts say that having the right bedroom environment is also vital to ensure we sleep well. Your bedroom should be dark and of a comfortable temperature, and you should make sure you choose comfortable bedding.

You should make sure you choose bedding which suits you, whether you prefer cotton or silk pillowcases, goose feather or microfibre duvets or a firm or soft mattress to ensure you get the best possible sleep. A comfortable mattress is also a must, but if you can’t afford to replace yours, a mattress topper could be the ideal solution.

At Duvet and Pillow Warehouse, we stock a wide range of bedding options so you can get make your bed comfortable and get a perfect night’s sleep so you wake up well rested.

A new study has found that more and more people in the UK are unable to switch off from technology and are using their laptops in bed.

Research from Ikea revealed that Londoners are the worst offenders, with 22% of them admitting to using their laptop whilst they’re in bed.

Using technological equipment in bed can cause sleep problems, especially with the light from laptops and iPads being very disruptive to sleep.

Phyllis Zee, neuroscience professor at Northwestern University in Chicago, said: “It could affect your circadian rhythm – the clock in your brain that determines when you sleep and when you wake up.”

An overdependence on technology and being unable to put down your smartphone or laptop whilst in bed can also have a negative impact on your relationship with your other half, warns Christine Northam, a counsellor with Relate.

She said: “Technology is a major distraction and can lead others to think you’re avoiding them.

“We need to make time for talking face to face. When you’re in bed it’s the perfect time to turn off the tech and tune into your relationship.”

Buying new bedding may make sleep more appealing to technology addicts and could help them sleep better and avoid distractions. Investing in mattress toppers to make your bed more comfortable or silk pillowcases to allow you to relax and wind down from Duvet and Pillowcase Warehouse may help tech lovers relax and be able to switch off from their devices to ensure they get interrupted sleep and not get in trouble from their other half!

Over the next seven days, it is National Love Your Bed Week!

Sponsored by Silentnight, it is a week to celebrate everything bed related from the beds, mattresses, duvets, pillows and bedtime reading; as well as to celebrate the importance of a good night sleep.

Whether you have bunk beds, a single, a water bed, a double, or a king size- make the most of the nationally recognised festivity and snuggle up to go to sleep with Duvet and Pillow’s expert bedding products.

Kids are being encouraged to not only wind down before bed by reading but also to write their own stories.

So love your bed this week and get a sound rest with our quality goose down items, memory mattress topper and silk bed linen. Cuddle up to the most luxurious materials that are wonderfully indulgent for the perfect finish to any glamorous bedroom; and sink into bedding that feels like cotton candy which is filled with only the finest natural high standard fillings.

And if you don’t already have the best bedding, then use the week to treat yourself to some class products with Duvet and Pillow Warehouse. Splash out on sumptuous duvets and pillows to transform the bedroom from drub to chic and all this can be done without costing a fortune; especially with our fantastic current summer sale.

So put some heart and soul into your divan and get a cosy night sleep with our expertise!

It is a hundred year-old myth and a legendary icon for kids; the tooth fairy.

The magical being gives children money or a gift in exchange for baby teeth.

Parents tell kids when they are growing up to put their fallen out teeth under their pillow at night when they go to sleep and in the morning when they wake up, it would have vanished and in its place will be a shiny coin.

It is a tradition that can be traced back years but is very much alive in present days in the UK and in Ireland.

A professor at the Northwestern University Dental School, Rosemary Wells, found evidence that supported the origin of different tooth fairies in the US in 1900 whereas other folklorists suggest post-war affluence and media turned the myth into a custom.

Fairy dust is reportedly often found on the floor of children’s rooms as the Tooth Fairy uses the magic to be able to get into the room and make itself so small it can get in between small cracks and down vents.

What is more, how much money the Tooth Fairy leaves is debateable and very much depends on the family itself. The largest gift ever reported was by a responder in Manhattan, New York, America who got $1.2 million for one tooth fallen out.

But on average 300,000 teeth from children around the world are collected per night and that’s a lot of monies to be exchanged.

Studies show that a child will usually lose 20 teeth between the ages of six and 12 years-old and that these teeth are called deciduous teeth; so put your fallen out tooth under your pillows tonight and see what The Tooth Fairy will bring you in the morning.

Children who sleep less and miss out on essential naps are fatter, according to a new survey.

Researchers at the University of Otago, in Dunedin, New Zealand have found that young kids gain more than a pound in weight for every hour of slumber they lose.

Children aged three to five get upon on average 11 hours a night but the findings reveal that for every 60 minutes they sleep less, they will be carrying an extra pound and a half of fat.

The study involved monitoring 244 children from toddler age onwards and observing their sleep patterns using belt devices called accelerometers. The parents were also asked about their child’s diet and the amount of exercise they carried out as well as information on the mother’s education, ethnicity and income taken into account.

The report, which was published in the British Medical Journal, concluded that youngsters who sleep less are more likely to be overweight with high body fat values even after adjustment for lifestyle variables.

Not getting enough sleep affects two hormone levels which are involved in appetite control and ultimately tell the brain how much to eat. The hormones, called leptin and ghrelin, are affected and sleep deprivation decreases levels of leptin and increases the levels of ghrelin.

Low levels of leptin tell the brain to eat more while high levels of ghrelin do the same.

So make sure your kid gets a long night sleep on a comfortable Goose duvet with quality pillows with the Duvet and Pillow Warehouse.

A study has revealed that teenagers who play video games are likely to sleep less than those who do not.

Researchers found teens that play computer games sleep less than the recommended eight to nine hours a night for that age group.

The analysis, which involved 16,000 adolescences, also discovered that youths who reported sleeping less than seven hours a night did not exercise.

Caris Fitzgerald, a psychiatry resident at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences who led the study, said not enough exercise or sleep impacts health and is detrimental to all, particularly on teens.

A poor night sleep affects energy levels, concentration and moodiness; but yet only 10% of American teens get the recommended number of hours of slumber according to the findings.

Sufficient sleep is even more important for youngsters researchers argue because they have “accelerated demands for growth and memory retention, very vital things with regard to the teen in their overall success.”

Reasons behind minors not hitting the pillow earlier include texting in the middle of the night and expectations from parents and peers. Watching television did not affect sleep time.

The survey was unable to conclude there was a cause-effect relationship between sleep and online gaming or sport but evidence showed that “reducing media exposure and increasing physical activity could increase the amounts teens sleep.”

So make sure you go to bed early so you’re right as rain before school in the morning, by sleeping on quality duvets with Duvet and Pillow Warehouse.

According to reports in a Chinese newspaper, Shanghai has changed its’ rental laws to stop people living and sleeping in rooms other than the bedroom.

The new policies soon to be put place in the city enforce that residents have at least five square metres to live in to stop the practise of overcrowded apartments.

The amendments emphasise the importance of space, limiting citizen’s ability to rent out rooms such as kitchens and closets. These practises are increasingly more common in Shanghai as rents rise; but the new regulations coming into force are to try and make people think twice about renting that extra space as a low-cost bedroom.

The new policy is prohibiting landlords from converting rooms like the bathroom into sleeping rooms.

It is reported more than 31 million square meters of floor space was rented in Shanghai during 2010, but of that number, 8% of the space was occupied by local residents, 88% by Chinese from elsewhere in China and a mere 4% by overseas residents.

Wherever one is sleeping, make sure you are all wrapped up in a cosy Goose down duvet, with Goose down quilts and a quality Pillow.