How To Have a Five Star Sleep

We all need sleep. It’s a fact of life, we’d literally die without it. But it means different things to different people. Some see it simply as sustenance. The Margaret Thatchers amongst us, for example, manage on a brisk five hours before getting straight back to work. I, on the other hand, wake up deeply disappointed if I haven’t clocked a solid eight.

As a baby, my mum would proudly tell people what a good sleeper I was. If I woke too early, she’d say, I would either fall asleep in my cereal bowl or quietly take myself back to bed for a few extra winks. Who knew this would become the early passion I would carry through to adulthood?

Now, I should preface this by saying it’s not something I’m entirely smug about. Truly, I wish I could be the person at a party who glances at the clock at midnight and says, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s already twelve.” By that point, I’m usually daydreaming about taking off my make-up, climbing into my pyjamas and switching on my electric blanket. Any appearance from me at an event past that hour is, nine times out of ten, a valiant attempt to stave off accusations of being boring.

So when I heard that March was International Sleep Awareness Month, I took it as the perfect excuse to lean fully into my obsession, professionally, of course. If you’re going to do something, you may as well do it properly. In the spirit of investigative journalism, we spoke to the experts, the people supplying the world’s finest hotels with the mattresses that make their beds so irresistible.

Because let’s be honest, there is nothing quite like sleeping in a hotel bed. Crisp sheets, feathery pillows that somehow remain cool on both sides, and a perfectly weighted duvet that comforts without constricting. It turns out that recreating that experience at home isn’t just about buying the most expensive mattress. It’s about understanding what actually makes a bed feel five-star.

Take Vispring, the iconic British bedmaker whose story begins as an act of love. A husband inventing the pocket spring purely for his wife’s comfort. At the heart of its philosophy are “only the finest natural materials, including Real Shetland wool, horsetail, bamboo, silk and cashmere,” says Managing Director Martin Gill.

Horsetail, perhaps the most surprising ingredient, plays a crucial role. According to Savoir Beds, it provides both resilience and ventilation. When curled correctly, the fibres create “micro springs, taking every contour of the body.” If you prefer a firmer mattress, you’ll want one heavier on the horsetail. For a softer feel, look for higher proportions of cashmere and silk.

If there’s one key takeaway, it’s just how personal a mattress is. As Martin reminds us, “we spend a third of our lives in bed, so it’s well worth investing in.” But that investment should never be generic.

Hästens, official supplier to the Swedish Royal Court, recommends trying before buying and emphasises that comfort and support must be experienced rather than measured. “The correct sleep system is neither too soft nor too firm. You should lie in it, not sink through it or rest on top. The bed must allow you to stretch, turn and recover naturally through the night.”

Savoir Beds agrees and explains that “the right bed should allow the sleeper to feel weightless, with no pressure points.” In other words, as close to sleeping on a cloud as possible. As Martin notes, “contrary to a commonly accepted myth, a firm mattress is not always best.”

Of course, the mattress is only part of the story. Creating a truly hotel-worthy sleep at home means considering the entire environment. For Martin, true luxury is a “natural, breathable system that supports the body deeply and allows the mind to rest completely.” That means a base, mattress and topper working together, along with breathable bedding and enough space to move freely.

Personally, I would argue the bedding deserves equal attention. My ultimate sleep set-up requires at least two pillows and a duvet so fluffy and airy that I struggle to see over it when lying down. The experts agree that natural materials are key here too. The team at Domes Resorts, the award-winning luxury group with properties in Greece and Portugal, opts for breathable linens across all of its hotels.

Then there is the ultimate hotel luxury, the pillow menu placed neatly on the bedside table. Few things feel quite so indulgent as selecting your perfect pillow, even if it’s only for a night. According to Savoir Beds, there is real science behind this. “A side sleeper requires a firmer pillow than a back sleeper in order to support the shoulders.” And then come the sheets, the first thing you feel when you slide into bed. Here, thread count matters. The higher, the better, ideally in either crisp percale or silky sateen.

Speaking to the experts makes one thing clear. Good sleep isn’t indulgent or lazy. It is one of life’s true luxuries. If we are spending a third of our lives in bed, it might as well feel five-star.