10 simple bedroom upgrades that make it easier to fall asleep

Lots of things can make you cranky: bad traffic, bad weather, or a bad day at the office. But there’s nothing worse than a poor night’s sleep. There’s a reason the saying goes, “I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

If you’re suffering from one too many poor night's sleeps, it may be time to look for a solution.

Making small upgrades in your bedroom can make a world of difference. From changing out your alarm clock to refreshing your curtains, you can create an environment made for sleeping soundly.

1. Turn your bed into a blissful, cushy utopia

The answer to your tossing and turning may be the very thing you’re sleeping on. If you can’t get comfortable at night, or you wake up feeling terribly sore, it might be time to replace your mattress.

Choosing a new mattress that’s the right amount of firmness for your sleeping position can set you up for deeper comfort and less aches and pains.

If you’re not in the market for a new mattress or don’t have the budget, then a mattress topper could be the right choice. A mattress topper offers extra softness and support when getting a new mattress isn’t an option. It pays to spend a little more on a good quality option so that it won’t wear out after a few months’ sleep.

• Get the Comfy Mattress Topper at Casper starting at $199
• Get the T&N Original Mattress at Tuft & Needle starting at $548.25

2. Create the perfect climate for sleep

Chilly, dry winters or steamy summers can mess with the just right temperature you need for sleeping. Especially for apartment dwellers, you may not be able to control the temperature of your home. A few tools can help you stay comfortable all throughout the night.

In the winter or if you live in a particularly dry area, a humidifier can be the key to a good night’s sleep and keep you breathing easy. Depending on your needs, humidifiers come with cold and warm mist options.

If you sleep hot, you know that trying to sleep in the summer heat is nearly impossible. As summer approaches, think about adding an air conditioner. Experts agree that the mid-60’s is the perfect temperature for a good night’s sleep and an air conditioner can help control the temperature.

• Get the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier at Amazon for $33.99
• Get the Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Air Conditioner at Amazon for $499

3. A cozy down alternative comforter at the right price

After a long day, there’s nothing as blissful as slipping under a comforter and bundling up as you doze off. If your duvet is falling flat, change it out for a new one.

Whether or not you plan to use a duvet cover, a great comforter should have a soft exterior to cozy up to. We like an all-season comforter that can keep you warm or cool just when you need it to. Going for a down alternative is a key choice for allergy sufferers who sneeze at the thought of down filling.

Get the Linenspa All-Season Down Alternative Quilted Comforter at Amazon for $35.99

4. A blackout curtain to block out the sun and streetlights

Sunlight is great for getting some vitamin D and keeping your houseplants alive. Probably the only place you don’t want the sun is shining in your eyes as you’re trying to catch some zzz’s. That’s where blackout curtains come in.

These curtains will shut out any sunlight or even artificial light that could be streaming into your room unwanted.

Blackout curtains come in a variety of colors and designs so you can find the right pair to match your home décor. Plus, many curtains offer insulated options, which is a smart choice for those with old, creaky windows.

• Get the Superior Leaves Blackout Grommet Curtains at QVC for $28.08
• Get the Lush Décor Insulated Blackout Curtain Panel at QVC for $60.99

5. A portable white noise machine you can take anywhere

Falling asleep to the soothing sound of rain is simply dreamy. And while you can’t (and probably don’t want to) live somewhere where it rains every night, you can bring the rains sounds inside with you.

A sound machine brings the sweet fall of rain into your bedroom without the need for blue light exposure. While your phone has access to apps with playlists full of white noise to help you fall asleep, the blue light exposure right before bed can mess with your sleep cycle.

If you don’t have room for a sound machine on your nightstand, get an alarm clock that does double duty. Our favorite alarm clock has pre-programmed sounds that can keep you asleep until it’s time for your alarm to chime in the AM.

• Get the Sound + Sleep by Adaptive Sound at Amazon for $99.47
• Get the DreamCaster by Sharp Sound at Amazon for $34.99

6. A blue-light free meditation experience

Bringing some mindfulness into your nighttime routine can help settle the mind as you prepare to doze off. Yet, once again the issue of meditation apps exposing your eyes to blue light right before bed is present.

Morphée is a meditation device that brings rain sounds and guided meditation with the turn of a knob rather than looking at a screen.

While it only provides up to 20 minutes of meditation or white noise, it’s great for those who just need a little help falling asleep quickly.

Get the Morphée at Amazon for $99.99

7. A pretty, silk eye mask that can help you have sweet dreams

Whether you’re on a plane or in your bed at home, a sleep mask can be just what you need to fall asleep, although we realize this isn’t an option for everyone. A sleep mask blocks out light as you get some shut-eye for a full 8 hours.

Eye masks come in two styles: a domed, contour mask or a silk mask. A contour mask won’t press on your eyes so you can blink comfortably while it still blocks out all light. Meanwhile, a silk mask is soft on the skin and rests gently on your eyes.

No matter which style you prefer, a sleeping mask can feel like a small luxury.

• Get the Nidra Deep Rest at Amazon for $14.95
• Get the Alaska Bear Organic Silk Sleep Mask at Amazon for $9.99

8. Fall asleep and rise with the sun – on your terms

While blocking out natural light with blackout curtains can help you keep consistent sleep hours, it also prevents you from getting natural lighting cues to awake. Create the illusion of a sunrise with a sunrise alarm clock.

A sunrise alarm clock gradually illuminates your space to emulate a real sunrise and sunset. It will fill your bedroom with light whether you’re waking up with the sun or a couple hours before.

Get the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light at Amazon for $79.95

9. Sink into sleep with the help of a gravity blanket

If you need a little extra help unwinding in bed, a weighted blanket can provide a necessary calming effect.

Filled with glass beads or plastic pellets, these blankets provide gentle weight on your body so you can relax a little easier. In a velvet-y soft fabric, this is a welcoming addition to any bedroom.

Get the Gravity Weighted Blanket at Gravity starting at $215

10. Settle in with a pillow made for cuddling

Creating a soft spot to rest your head shouldn’t be a battle. So, if you find yourself constantly shifting around your pillows, look to a body pillow.

Body pillows can help you sleep better as they support the natural sleep position for side sleepers. Even if you’re a back or stomach sleeper, body pillows can offer relief in a pinch to rest under your legs to alleviate hip and back pain.

Get the Original Body Pillow from Coop Home Goods for $80

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.