How healthy is your bed?

You spend one-third of your life sleeping so it's time to pay careful attention to what you sleep on and in. Comfort and back support as well as the look and feel of your bedroom can all contribute to a restful night’s sleep, but also pay attention to the materials you breathe in every night. Creating a healthy sleeping environment is an act of self care and investment in your long-term health.

Indoor air can contain 10 x higher VOCs than outdoor air.

MATTRESS
If you’re ready for a new mattress, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on what feels good for you. Do you like a soft, medium or firm mattress? Each brand has a range of options. For your health, try and find a mattress with the most natural materials possible. If you are buying online, some companies will give you the option to send back your mattress within 30 days if you are not happy with it.

Did you know that many popular memory foam mattresses have been found to contain toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, benzene, naphthalene and isocyanates? These mattresses tend to either be topped with a layer of synthetic polyurethane or completely made of them as well as additional chemicals that are said to increase its density and viscosity. This may provide extra back support but breathing in these chemicals off-gassing could be causing irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and skin. They also may contain flame retardants whose off-gassing has been linked with brain disorders, obesity and infertility.

Body heat increases VOC emissions from your mattress, and while one study showed the level was below the level to cause health effects in adults some levels were of concern for children and infants. What’s of even more concern is that babies spend a large part of their days and nights sleeping on their mattress.

The Natural Bedding Company
One of the suppliers we used in the studio project was The Natural Bedding Company. Its mattresses are handmade to order from natural and sustainable materials. They are constructed from organic latex (from rubber trees from two farms in Sri Lanka with sustainability certifications), renewable wool, coir (coconut husks) and the removable cover is made from organic cotton with hemp.

There are pros and cons with each type of mattress, so do your research and think about your health priorities when selecting your new mattress.

Toxic-free mattresses were used in The Still Studio.

If you’d like to learn more insider insights, tips & tricks to designing and decorating your home, come join the Design + Decoration Masterclass.