Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Style

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

3 simple tips for making a bed comfier so you don’t have to buy a new mattress

Julie Scagell
By

Having a cozy bed is one of the luxuries of life. Given the average person spends 26 years of their life sleeping, having a comfortable place to lay your head at night makes a big difference. Sleep can boost your immune system,  improve mood and memory, and is critical to maintaining your mental and physical health. If your mattress isn’t all you need it to be, but you don’t have the means to replace it right now, there are simple things you can do to make it cozier.

We’re breaking down how to make your bed cozy below, and with three relatively affordable, quick ways to do so, you’ll be well on your way to a perfect night’s sleep in no time.

Syda productions / Adobe Stock

How can I make my bed more cozy?

If a new mattress is out of the question, consider buying a mattress topper. Mattress toppers can be made of memory foam, feathers, and other soft materials and can do wonders in making an old mattress feel brand new. Some also come with cooling technology built in to keep your body temperature regulated through the night. We love this queen mattress topper that’s got a 100% cotton top and down-alternative fill. It’s on Amazon, and for less than $50, you can have a bed that feels like you’re sleeping on a cloud.

Recommended Videos

If you only buy organic, check out this natural latex mattress topper from Avocado Green. It’s made with natural and organic materials, including GOLS organic certified latex harvested from their tree farms.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How can I make my bed soft and fluffy?

Another way to make your bed soft and cozy is with your bedding selections. We love flannel because it’s super soft and helps keep you warm on long winter nights. While you should ultimately touch and feel sheets before you buy, we can assure you these UGG luxury flannel sheets are everything they’re cracked up to be and more. They’ve received all five-star ratings, and you can find them at Nordstrom for $148 (for a queen sheet set). They come in stone or snow and wash up like a dream. You’ll sleep on them once and wonder how you’ve managed without them in your life until now.

If you don’t like the feel of flannel, we also recommend the Luxe Hardcore sheet bundle from Brooklinen. With more than 75,000 near-perfect reviews, these are hard to beat.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How can I create a warm, snuggly space to sleep?

Finally, you can’t be cozy without a comforter to keep you warm at night. Whether you prefer a one-piece comforter, an insert with a duvet, or a coverlet, picking the right comforter is important. You’ll want to know your preferences in terms of size, fill (such as down, down alternative, cotton, or wool), and weight to know what you should be looking for when you shop. If you have allergies, you may need to stay away from materials like down and wool, but down alternatives are as soft and warm as the original.

A couple of things to keep in mind is the fill power, which determines how lightweight or heavy it will be. Another is whether it’s been Oeko-Tex certified, which means it’s been manufactured without harmful substances. We love the all-season down comforter from Brooklinen because it’s fluffy, warm, and worth the $359 price tag.

A comfortable bed is something we all strive to have, and the tips above will get you well on your way to getting the night’s rest your body needs. Finding the right pillow is also important, which varies widely based on how you like to sleep. Plus, we love body pillows, and throw pillows abound to give your bed even more of a cozy feel; the more, the better.

Before you buy any mattress toppers, comforters, or sheets, do your homework on how often they should be cleaned and the best way to care for them, so you have set expectations going in. We also recommend reading through the reviews. You can garner a lot of information and get questions answered online, which can turn out to be helpful in making recommendations in color, sizing, and feel.

December is a good time to look for sales on bedding and bed items; oftentimes, you can find savings of 10% to 30% off. Many stores offer sales, so look around, and you may be able to score some seriously cozy bedding items for a deal.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Julie Scagell
Julie Scagell
Contributor
I am a freelance writer based in Minneapolis, MN. My passions include my dogs, talking about my dogs, and taking pictures of…
7 imaginative small bathroom storage trends you don’t know about yet
Small bathroom with blue tiles and floating sink

Organizing hot spot areas in the home is at the top of many homeowners' to-do lists, and the bathroom is usually one of the most challenging rooms. Having a small bathroom, though, makes it difficult to keep this high-traffic room tidy. The good news is, since tiny bathrooms are a common woe, creative ideas for maximizing storage space in the bathroom are plentiful. Here are our seven favorite small bathroom storage ideas that you may not have heard about yet.

How do you store towels in a small bathroom?
Everyone who uses the bathroom uses towels, whether for showering, washing hands, or cleaning. Keeping towels on hand in a cramped bathroom can be a challenge, though, so we looked for towel storage solutions that could hold several towels without taking up too much valuable space.
Use a ladder
Decorative ladders are all the rage. Their openness has a minimalist vibe that keeps the room feeling more spacious than an obtrusive piece of furniture like a cabinet or bookshelf. They're perfect for small bathrooms for this reason, and they don't take up a ton of floor space. You can use a ladder with small rungs to hang towels to dry, or you can find one that has wider rungs to be able to store items on them.
Install floating shelves up high
Take advantage of underutilized wall space by hanging floating shelves above your head to store towels. These shelves won't make the room feel more cramped since the eye-level portion of the wall remains uncluttered, but you'll still have your bath and hand towels within reach.
How should I store my bathroom products?
When it comes to bathroom products, most homes have a mountain of them. Keeping all those essential products, from cosmetics to cleaning supplies, organized and accessible is the key. The space under your sink is valuable real estate in the bathroom, so here are some under-sink storage ideas to keep your essentials both tidy and useful.
Hide under-sink storage with a curtain
Most small bathrooms, particularly in older homes, simply have a single pedestal sink with no storage underneath. If this is the case for your bathroom, a good way to use the space without creating a cluttered eyesore is to hang a decorative curtain around the sink to hide your storage bins.
Lazy Susan
If you have cupboards or some other hidden storage under the sink, you're among the blessed. Keeping your items accessible on the countertop or under the sink can still be a challenge, though. That's where the lazy Susan comes in. Typically used in the kitchen to store canned goods and spices in tight spaces, this turntable storage plate can also serve as bathroom product storage that keeps your essentials accessible.

Read more
7 simple safety tips to stop a rug from sliding (and you from tripping)
how to decorate a rental living room area with persian rug

A great way to bring the room together, area rugs bring decorative flare to your space, with the added bonus of comfort. While popular in modern homes, rugs are difficult to keep in place, particularly on hardwood floors. They slide around easily and even curl up at the corners, creating slipping and tripping hazards for you and your family. Luckily, there are several ways you can successfully keep your rug where you want it.

How do you keep a rug from slipping on hardwood floors?
Hardwood floors are a stunning feature in any home, but their smooth surface makes it difficult for area rugs to stay in place. At best, the rug will gradually drift off-center, and at worst, the rug might move suddenly while someone is walking on it.

Read more
7 incredible new wood flooring trends you have to know about
bleached light wood flooring in an entryway

Each year, new trends emerge in interior design. And when it comes to flooring, homeowners are shaking up the way they utilize one of the most vital aspects of the home. Whether you prefer minimalist-inspired modern styles or love raw and authentic wooden textures, 2022 is the year of variety for wooden floors. So, if you’re looking to spruce up your outdated flooring or want to add more warmth and excitement to your home, then we have seven incredible new wood flooring trends that you need to know.
Bleached wood adds subtlety
One of the most beloved trends this year is the use of bleached wood in the home. Bleached wood creates a sense of subtlety by introducing natural wood tones without appearing too loud or bold in your home’s design. This is achieved by lightly bleaching the wood to create a look that feels whiter and brighter than ordinary hardwood flooring.

For homeowners who prefer Scandinavian-styled homes, minimalist aesthetics, or modern touches, bleached wood flooring could be just what you need. To style this flooring, keep it in rooms that need a refined finish. Areas in the home with minimal natural lighting may also benefit from this lighter flooring option as it will help to open up the space.

Read more