Bed Conditions
Bedroom Conditions
Managing Darkness for Better Sleep
Having a dark room is one of the National Sleep Foundation’s tips for getting better sleep. About four in ten respondents (38%) said they have room darkening curtains, which are specially made to block light. Among those with room darkening curtains, more than half (55%) said they frequently closed them at night and opened them in the morning.
Interestingly, more than a third (35%) said they don’t own bedroom curtains at all!
Home vs. Hotel?
When it comes to sleep, there really is no place like home. Most Americans rated elements of their bedroom as better than a quality hotel’s. We asked respondents whether several elements of their sleep experience are better in their own bedroom, at a quality hotel room, or equal at both.
Respondents tended to say either that these elements were better in their own bedroom than at a quality hotel room or at least equal at both.
- Specifically, roughly six in ten mentioned that comfortable pillows (62%), comfortable feel of sheets and bedding (56%) and/or a comfortable mattress (55%) are better in their own bedrooms than at a quality hotel room.
The good news is that it is possible to create the feeling of a quality hotel right at home.
Electronic Appliances in the Bedroom
We know from the National Sleep Foundation’s 2011 Sleep in America poll that electronics use in the bedroom is pervasive. This is interesting because light emitted from screens may disrupt sleep. (In fact, those who have trouble sleeping may want to try limiting light exposure from screens before bed.)
We asked respondents of this poll which electronic appliances they had in their bedrooms. Interestingly, the most pervasive item is the alarm clock—89% have one in their bedroom, but around three-fourths have a table lamp (73%), a phone or cell phone (72%) and a TV (71%), too.
