Choose your preferred position. Now that you have spent time thinking about and discovering your preferred sleeping position, it’s time to decide. This is an important decision, as it will guide you to your perfect pillow.

• If you are a stomach sleeper, you will need a soft, fairly flat pillow, or you may not need any pillow at all. Having a soft pillow will allow your neck to stay more in line with your spine.
• If you are a back sleeper, look for a medium thick pillow. You don’t want it to be too thick, or it will push your head too far forward. You also don’t want it to be too soft, or your head will simply sink down to the mattress. In this case, you may want a pillow which is thicker and firmer on the bottom, to provide a bit of neck support.
• Side sleepers will need a thicker, firmer pillow to help support the neck.
• If you find that you are a mixed sleeper and you find many positions comfortable throughout the night, look for a pillow that is of medium thickness, and a bit softer so that it can be used comfortably in different positions

Select a mattress.
Lie down in your typical sleep position.
Evaluate the level of comfort and support.
Educate yourself about each selection.
Partners should test beds together.

FINDING THE MATTRESS OF YOUR DREAMS

Once you are familiar with the menu of mattress options available, start the shopping process at a store that you know and trust. Remember, it is important to have an educated salesperson who can guide you through the many choices in bedding to help you find the mattress that best meets your personal preferences.

Once in the store, be sure to “test drive” your new mattress following the S.L.E.E.P. test. Remove your shoes (if you’re a woman, it’s best to go mattress-shopping in jeans or pants) and lie down on several different models in various positions, especially the one you usually sleep in. And remember, those few extra minutes of focusing on the “feel” of different mattress choices can save a lot of time later.

Keep in mind as you test various mattresses that comparison shopping by model name may lead to frustration. You probably won’t find exactly the same model name in one store as you did in another. As with so many products on the market today, many retailers prefer to offer products that are exclusive to their store. For consumers that means more to choose from, and following the S.L.E.E.P. test will help you make the right selection.

When you go to buy bed linens, you can find lots of different colors, patterns, fabrics, and prices for the pieces you need. And for as many different choices available, there are as many different ways of caring for them. Colors must be protected, fibers must be treated just right.

But you don't need to be puzzled about how to care for each of your choices. You don't need to guess if it’s how water or cold, line dry or tumble. Each piece of bed linen you'll buy comes with specific recommendations for cleaning and drying. Follow the directions!

It's a great idea to save the care instructions wrapped with every piece of bed linen. Some of the tags sewn into the hems even tell you how to wash and dry. But It's helpful to tape the instructions on a file card, mark the card with the particular product that it applies to, and keep it near your laundry area. When you're not quite sure how to treat a piece, you'll have the information at hand in the laundry room.

Yet beyond specific instructions are some general, common sense tips for purchasing, cleaning, and caring for sheets, pillow cases, and other bed linens. Did you know that you can remove some wrinkles from sheets by throwing a damp cloth into the dryer? Read more tips on caring for and cleaning bed linens.

Washing
• Wash the linens in cool or lukewarm water that's less than 104 degrees F. No need for hot water.
• Set wash cycle on "gentle."
• Use the extra rinse cycle if available in order to remove any detergent residue. o Use less detergent than usual.
• Avoid using bleach since it breaks down fabric fibers.

Drying
• Leave the sheets in the dryer just until dry.
• Avoid over drying. You'll just have more wrinkles.
• Remove sheets from the dryer promptly and fold immediately. Hand press to remove excess wrinkles.

Storage
• It's a great idea to have three sets of sheets per bed. Use one on the bed, one in storage, and one in the laundry.
• Change sheets more often, may be one a week or two time a month.

General Tips for Bed Linen Care
• Use a mattress pad between the mattress and bottom sheet
• If you love a particularly expensive pattern, buy just the pillow cases and top sheet in the pattern. Buy the bottom sheets in a coordinating, less expensive solid

Do you remember when all bed sheets were white cotton? If so, you're probably amazed at how many options are on the market now. You can add color, style, and pattern to your bedroom with the newest bedding. Read here what you should do and know before you spend your money to buy new bed sheets.

Measure Your Bed
You are probably familiar with a twin or queen or king size bed. But did you know that there is no absolute standard measurement for beds with these names? While the top measurements are rather consistent from maker to maker, there is some variation. So before you go shopping, measure your bed carefully, noting the dimension from top to bottom, side to side, and the thickness of the mattress. Some are wider than others or longer. Be sure you know exactly what you need when you shop.

Pick Your Store
Major department stores carry both name-brand sheets and house-brands and offer a wide range of colors, quality, patterns, and prices. You might have a specialty linen store near you that has more luxury lines or decorated or embroidered bed sheets. Or you may choose to shop on-line where the options are almost endless. If you have something specific in mind, shop around. But if you're after basic sheets, you might find a good bargain at a discount store. You'll have lots of choices.

Learn About Thread Count in Bed Sheets
Right on the front of the label, the manufacturer will tell you the tread count of the sheets. This refers to the number of threads per square inch in both directions in the weave. The higher the thread count, the more luxurious the feel of a fabric. But beware, as a higher thread count usually means that the individual threads are thinner and may not wear as well.

Choose Cotton or Blends, Flannel, Silk, or Satin
For sheets you'll sleep on every day, treat yourself. Choose the best you can afford. After all, you'll hopefully spend 8 hours a day lying on them! Cotton is the most popular sheet fabric, but some people prefer non-wrinkling cotton blends. For chilly winters flannel is cozy. For luxury, choose satin, silk, or microfiber. You might buy a pair of pillowcases in different styles and see which you like best, how they feel to sleep on, how they wash. Then decide if you want a whole set.

Check the Sheet Measurements
You know the exact size of your bed. Now check the exact size of the sheets. Be sure that the fitted sheet is deep enough for your mattress, or that you haven't found a California King sheet set and your bed is an Eastern King. Remember that many sheets will shrink as much as 7% in the first washing.

Buy More Bed Sheets Than You Need
If you've spent a lot of time deciding on what bed sheets to buy, you won't want to have to do it again soon. Consider buying two or three sets that are identical so you can trade off. If something spills on the bottom sheet, you can replace just that. If someone puts a foot through the top sheet, you won't have to start over. And be sure to buy extra pillow cases for freshness.

Check the Laundering Instructions
Silk sheets are sensuous and wonderful, but will you have to have them dry cleaned each week? Can you afford that? Be sure that you'll be able to care for your new bed sheets the way the manufacturer recommends. They'll last longer, and if you have any problem, you'll be able to return them if you've cared for them properly

Make Your Bed Room Restful Place to Sleep Your bedroom should be quiet and relaxing.  Unwelcome noise or light, an uncomfortable or worn-out mattress and foundation or a room that’s too warm or too cool can prevent you from getting the sleep you need.  There’s no reason to settle for anything less than perfect sleep. Make Your Bedroom a Sleep Haven Is your bedroom conducive to a good night’s sleep? These four factors can make a difference:

MATTRESS AND FOUNDATION Be sure your mattress and foundation meet your needs for both comfort and support.  If you sleep with a partner, your mattress should also allow you both enough space to move easily.  

LIGHT Light is one of the body’s most power-fulltime cues.  The rising sun can wake up the brain long before the alarm goes off.  A dark room is the most conducive for sleep — day or night.

NOISE Sudden, loud noises from inside or outside the home can disrupt sleep.  Steady, low sounds, such as the whir of a fan or air conditioner, are soothing because they help block out distracting noises.

TEMPERATURE The ideal bedroom temperature is 26 to 27 degrees Celsius.  A room that’s too warm or too cool can disrupt comfortable sleep