Bookcase headboard – Top 10 Picks in Twin, Full, Queen & King size

This guide on bookcase headboards is planned to be a one-stop shop for all the information you’ll ever need to choose right.

What you’ll see

We are a month late with this update because we wanted to make sure that was covered everything. So, no matter what you’re looking for in terms of size and materials (mostly solid wood), we’re confident you’ll find it here.

It took us this long because we needed in our statistical data to make specific recommendations. That’s the first thing you’ll see - our top five picks among bookcase headboards in all styles, colors & sizes (twin, full, Queen and King). So let us get right to it.

Bookcase headboards with sizing details - Queen, King, Full and Twin

Kansas Solid wood bookcase headboard by Palace Imports

Most of the complaints we’ve seen while gathering data for this guide were about assembly, stability and longevity of the assembled headboard.

In those quality categories there is simply no comparison between composites and solid wood pieces like this one. It’s 100% solid wood (pine) available in 3 colors (mahogany, cherry and java) and two sizes (twin & full).

Between the sizes and colors, it’s hard to imagine a room that one of the versions one be a good fit for.

Bottom line – all the other solid wood pieces that we looked at cost way more and shed lower user satisfaction numbers.

In terms of value for money it’s worth noting that this solid piece is in the same price range as most composites.

You can read more about it and see what the users are saying below.

Bookcase headboard King

Prepac Sonoma

If you’re looking for clean, minimal look and value for money, this classic Prepac Sonoma might be where your search ends - especially if you're after a King size.

The doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s the most popular product on the list because it’s at the sweet spot between price, and versatility in both size and color.

The Prepac Sonoma is available as Twin, Queen and King size bookcase headboard. The twin is only available in white, one of the Queen and King are available in 5 colors: white, cherry, warm cherry, drifted gray and washed black.

We say that its popularity and high user satisfaction ratings are not a surprise because between the sizes, colors and minimal lines, it’s hard to imagine a room where one of the versions won’t be a good fit.

One caveat you should be aware of is that it’s a standalone, meaning that it doesn’t actually attached to the bed but is held in place by the weight of the bed. Some people we talked to find this to be a plus because it’s easier to clean around the bed while others prefer fixed models.

It’s just something to be aware of when it arrives without attachment hinges – it’s supposed to be like that.

The wood

It’s not a solid wood headboard bookcase and one doesn’t expect to be in this price range. It’s composite wood with a thick, solidly crafted laminate.

Most of the complaints we’ve seen about this Sonoma are regarding two aspects that go hand-in-hand - assembly and structural integrity over time.

Like most pieces like this (composite wood), a bit of extra care while putting together base dividends in the long run. If the screws are not properly aligned and angles are not right, it might affect how stable the final assembly is.

Based on our statistics, about 1 in 10 people have the complaint about the assembly or the longevity. In this price range, it’s fair to say that the percent of pieces are faulty on-arrival. So, the best practice here is to get someone experienced to put it together.

A trained eye will notice any on arrival issues with the angles or screws. In this scenario, it’s wise to replace the package instead of improvising.

Sauder County Line bookcase headboard Queen / Full

At the time of the last update to this guide, this Sauder County Line is one of the highest numbers in the category of user satisfaction. Granted, the number of reviews it had is currently nowhere near as high as, say, that of the Prepac Sonoma.

It’s only natural because this Sauder comes in only one color (salt oak) and it’s not as versatile as some of the other pieces of the list in terms of color scheme of the room.

It’s designed to be attached to pretty much and standard bed in full or queen-size. What do we especially liked about it is the thickness of the side boards in the frame and the minimal yet practical segmentation of the shelves.

If the salt oak finish works for your intended space, you can see all the details of this Sauder by following the link below.

Sauder Orchard Hills

Sauder Orchard Hills is one of the most popular pieces on the list.

The company stresses that the Orchard Hills have significantly lower return rate compared to similar headboards.

The design is minimal and can work with most spaces will, from modern to traditional. Of course, the fact that it only comes in Carolina Oak is a limiting factor.

Dimensions

It’s 62.75 inches long and 40 5/8 inches high. Total height of the shelves is 10 7/8 inches with the central shelf of 29.25 “.

Solid wood bookcase headboard Queen by Barrister

Finding a solid wood headboard bookcase in Queen size is proven to be a more difficult task than we anticipated. That’s why this Barrister is an amazing find.

We had to dig a bit deeper around carpentry forums, but once we stumbled upon it was a dear in headlights moment.

We were taken back by the price range first and foremost. Once we researched more, we found some answers. It’s made of plantation hardwood. This is a medium density hardwood that you typically find on rubber wood plantations.

This type of wood is also known as Malaysian Oak. Widespread use of Malaysian Oak in furniture is yet to enter the mainstream - that’s the most likely explanation for the low price of this piece.

If this was the ‘80s, we could talk about the susceptibility of Malaysian Oak to fungus or insects. It was in the 80s that manufacturing treatments were developed to protect the sensitive wood.

One would think that 30 years would be enough for the industry to catch up, but this piece is proof of sorts that it’s yet to happen.

But, talking about furniture industry trends is besides the point here. The point is that this Barrister offers the quality of solid wood at a price range of composites.

Prepac Espresso bookcase headboard Queen / Full

If you’re looking for a more intricate design (read: more shelf space) this slanted piece might be right for you.

Size

Total height adds up to 55.75 “. The width of 65.75 makes a good fit for Queen and the full beds.

The central storage space measures 29.75 x 16.75 inches, with three smaller separated shelves on top of it and some generous space on the sides.

As you can see in the images, it has more than enough space to organize both your books and smaller stuff like alarm clocks or boxes.

In terms of design, what separates this Prepac is the slanted front-end, the bottom shelf is 10.25 inches, while the highest self is 6.5.

Again, the limiting factor is the color since it only comes with an espresso finish. In the cold works for you, you can read more about it below.

Sauder Shoal Creek

The first thing that stands out about the Sauder Shoal Creek are the drawers. If you have any knick-knacks that belong in the bedroom but you don’t want them displayed this Sauder might be right for you.

While the width is similar to most bookcase headboards for Full and Queen beds (64 inches), the Sauder Shoal Creek is the lower and not as imposing.

Measured from the bottom to the top shelf, it’s 41 7/8 inches. In the central storage area is 11.5 inches high and 28.75 inches wide.

It comes in five colors: white and soft white, brown, diamond ash gray and Jamocha (the best we can describe the mocha that it somewhere between dark brown and black).

South Shore Summer Breeze Bookcase Headboard Full

The South Shore Summer breeze clearly stands out in terms of design, with the dominant top arch. One look at it and it should be clear enough whether it can work for your room.

It’s available in two colors – chocolate and vanilla cream.

Dimensions and weight

Height – 48 “, width – 56 “, depth 9.25 “. It weighs 58 lbs.

South Shore Little Treasures

The South Shore Little Treasures is one of the pieces on the list that will obviously work primarily with rustic spaces.

In the country pine finish with knotted patterns is what defines the look.

The design relies on straight lines and right angles, which gives it a simple and minimal “feel.”

Its 57 inches wide, 36 1/8 “ high and 9 inches deep. The biggest (central) shelf measures 23 x 9 1/8 “.

South Shore Step One headboard bookcase Twin

The South Shore step one is clearly designed to be a good fit for modern spaces.

The shelves separation is not as intricate, the total with 56 inches is simply separated into three shelves, each 17 3/4 inches wide and 14 5/8 inches high.

Total height is 40 1/8 inches.

In spite of being minimal, it doesn’t look boring – the top arch is a nice designer's touch.

Twin bookcase headboard

Sauder Beginnings

The Sauder Beginnings belongs to the top five pieces in terms of user satisfaction numbers.

Furthermore, Sauder goes out of their way to stress how much lower the return and replace numbers are.

All the statistics we looked at do confirm the advertising claims about this Sauder. With that said, we’re not sure why the company is not offering it in more size and color choices.

It’s only available in dark cinnamon cherry color finish and twin size.

Reference info on bookcase headboards

In this section of our guide will offer some insights and tips about what to think about when choosing a bookcase headboard.

Composite or solid wood

As you saw in our analysis above, composite wood is more commonly used for headboard bookcases than solid. Our list of top 10 includes only 2 solid wood pieces and one of them is not classic wood but Malaysian Oak otherwise known as para wood.

The reason is that composite is much easier to work with and assemble. However, all composite’s are not created equal, so in the following section, we’ll take a look of the different types we saw used for the pieces.

Before we get talking about densities and the manufacturing process let us answer a basic question.

What is the wood composite in the first place?

We all know the type of “wood” but we don’t know much about how it’s made, where it comes from or how to judge its quality. So, we’ll try to simplify the definition, it to make the rest of this section easier to understand.

A composite derives from wood and it’s created from fibers, compressed boards, strands and other pieces pressed together and binded. Apart from wood-only, a composite can be WPC (WP stands for wood-plastic), this means that fibers and thermoplastics are mixed together.

It might sound strange, but this type of “wood” doesn’t have to include wood derivatives at all. It can be made using vegetable fibers like sugarcane, wheat straw or hemp stock. These fibers and are done pressed together by adding binding chemicals.

Roughly speaking, all composite wood belongs to four categories: plywood, fiberboard, oriented strand board and laminated timber.

Headboard bookcases are typically made from laminated timber

We did see some sub-par pieces made using fiberboard or strand board but, most of the time, companies use laminated timber to make headboard bookcases.

It’s at the sweet spot between malleability, density and sturdiness. In other words, it’s easier to work with and it assembled right, it holds shape pretty well…more on that in a minute.

The construction of headboard bookcases

If you look at the pieces and analyze the weak spots, the first thing to look at is the shelves (and drawers, if any). If we look at our statistics, most complaints about assembly are not regarding the frame but the shelves.

It’s only natural because the better pieces have a thicker frame that can withstand more force, both because the material is sturdier and more screws are applied to keep it in place. Shelves are a different story, they are much more sensitive.

Shelf sagging

Even if you don’t know much about woodworking, intuitively, you understand the issue were talking about when we say “shelf sagging”.

If the screws that go in the sides of the frame and through the shelf are not perfectly aligned, the assembly can quickly become rackety, sag or move.

Some of the pieces that we saw above have predrilled holes for the shelves. With these, the bookshelves lay on metal notches that go into the hopes. Some of the woodworking experts we talked to preferred this design because it minimizes the chances of the bookcase shelves becoming loose in the short run or sagging in the long run.

Dimensional factors of the bookcases

There’s nothing more important for the structural integrity of the bookcase frame than the thickness of the shelf.

Let’s try and explain bookcase sagging in plain terms

The two other dimensional factors (width and length) are directly proportional. This simply means that you if you had 5% of with the bookcase shelf gains 5% in rigidity.

The same directly proportionate math applies to length - the shorter it is, the more rigid it will be.

Thickness is not so straightforward

Thickness of a bookcase has, mathematically speaking, exponential connection with sagging. If you make a shelf 10% thicker, it becomes 21% stronger.

What this means for you

With all other factors equal, thickness of the wood will have more impact on bookcase sagging.

Simply put, if you’re looking for longevity from your bookcase headboard, choose thicker lumber.

“Creep” of the bookcases

What we talked about above (sagging) only applies in the long run as the woods changes shape. There’s another woodworking term that describes the small changes is in shape (arching) as you put on weight (books).

Creep is only a secondary factor with the pieces that we listed above because, typically, the bookcase shelves are not long enough for you to see significant creep.
It can, however, become a factor in the composite is low-density and creep forces become a factor that pulls on the screw connections between the frame and the inner case.

For example, if you get a two-section headboard bookcase in King size, the length can be a factor if you substantially burden it.

Strength of the wood used for the bookcases

We’re only briefly address solid wood strength because the range of choices is limited and the detailed analysis would be futile.

But, if you’re making a DIY headboard bookcase, it might be worth having some basic knowledge when choosing the wood. For our purposes, the more important part is the comparison between solid wood (primarily pine), medium density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood.

Solid

The harder to wood the stiffer and stronger the bookcase. Naturally, a piece made of solid wood will cost more, whether you’re making it yourself or buying it.

Medium density fiberboard

Probably the most cost-effective option, MDF is not as strong and stiff, but it does a good job for a bookcase.

Plywood

Compared to pine, plywood is about 64.5% “weaker.” On the other hand, it’s about 67% stronger than MDF.

For reference purposes, we are including comparison table of wood strength for bookcases. The numbers below describe how much weight a 36 x 12 x 1 “shelf can take and not sag more than 0.25 “.

• Pine: 200 pounds
• Oak: 313 pounds
• Plywood: 129 pounds
• MDF: 87 pounds

Rigidity of composites versus solid bookcase headboards

Man-made wood is nowhere near as strong as solid pieces. Let’s take the example of plywood - the rigidity is about 50% lower than hardwood (on average).

MDFs and particleboards are not a great choice if they are not strengthened. On their own, and they are about 75% weaker than average wood. With this in mind, the thickness of the shelves that we analyzed previously and the quality of the laminate finish becomes crucial important.

This is where he to ties in – our top picks in the table at the very top of this guide are superior to similar products from competitors in most of these aspects, especially in the craftsmanship of the laminate.
Granted, you won’t be burdening your headboard with heavy objects, but if there is space, they might fit a set of encyclopedias.

To that end, we’re including a reference table about maximum length between supports for moderate and heavy loads (25 & 50 pounds per running foot).

Talk to us and apply for our giveaway

If we haven't covered something in the guide, feel free to ask us about it. We respond to all comments and questions with 1 day.

If you do end up getting one of the pieces above or already have experiences you'd like to share, make a note to contact us and tell us about it. That would make you a contributor and qualify you for our annual 1K Amazon gift card giveaway.

Don't be a stranger,

The Sleep Studies Team

Bookcase headboard – Top 10 Picks in Twin, Full, Queen & King size See more on: thesleepstudies

Glass beads and plastic poly-pellets for a weighted blanket

We’ve received a few dozen questions about choosing and buying glass beads and plastic pellets in the last few months.

So, we decided to put together a guide that would give you all the information necessary chose right - from the type and size that would work well for this DIY project to the more specific questions like, “Where to buy glass beads?”

First things first

For those of you who like to get straight to the point, we’ll to just do just that - offer specific recommendations with links to the original products.

Where to buy glass beads for weighted blankets

If you’re looking for glass beads choice and you’re not the company that can import in bulk from China, the choice is very limited.

In fact, we only found one product that’s large enough in the amateur so that the beads don’t pass through the fabric or shift between the chambers.

You can see the details below:

[table id=69 /]

Plastic pellets for weighted blankets

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Reference info

We’ll do our best to simplify things here avoid technical lingo. As you stressed in the title of section were providing this information for reference purposes and all the products listed above meet the guidelines.

Weight properties

We could get into more depth here, but most of the weight aspects are not that important for our purposes.

Two weight properties that had an impact on our choices are density of the material itself and bulk density.

Here’s the difference between the two density properties:

Actual density refers to the material itself. To put it simply, if you took to pellets from different manufacturers and measured them, they’ll have different weight.

Bulk density is slightly different because it refers to how much a cup (or another measure for volume) will weigh. The unit measurements are the same (lbs per cube-inch, oz per cup, etc.) - it will, however, always be lower than the actual density. it's only natural because "bulk" includes the space between the tiny spheres.

If the pellets are of the same size, shape and plastic density, they’ll also have the same bulk density.

If they are of the same size and shape but the material density is higher, bulk will be higher too - 1 cup will weight more.

On the other hand, the finer the beads and pellets, the less space between them and, again, higher bulk.

Plastic pellets for blankets - bulk density rule of thumb

The rule of thumb when choosing poly pellets is 4-7 oz per cup. Practically, this means that the higher bulk density you go with, the lower the loft will be.

Let us explain this on an example of the top two products we listed above.

The first one (ReachTherapy) is 6 ounces per cup and second one (Victory) is 5.

This doesn’t change anything in terms of weight. It’s like that famous question, “Which is heavier, 1 pound of iron or 1 pound of cotton?”

Of course they weight the same.

But, if you make two blankets of, say, 15 lbs - the one filled with 5 oz/cup plastic will be loftier and slightly thicker. The higher the difference in density, the more difference you’ll see in loft and thickness.

When you should (or should not) think about this

If you go with any of the plastic filling we listed in the table above, it’s fair to say that you can forget about bulk density - the differences are minuscule and all of them are just right for weighted products.

When to consider it

The density analysis is more important if you’re still deciding whether to go with beads or pellets.

The former is much finer (smaller pieces, higher bulk density) and the end result will be different - you’ll need less volume to fill the blanket and it will be thinner (compared weight to weight).

How to choose between the two

Safety

As soon as someone mentions plastic, the first thing that comes to mind is safety from any potentially harmful chemicals.
All the products we listed are completely safe. They are made of virgin plastic (meaning that it’s not recycled) and free of any toxins like BPAs, traces of fire retardants or phthalates.

So, if you go with any of them, this is a non-issue.

Texture and feel

Pellets have the texture and feel of miniature pebbles. They are, however, too small for most people to feel the pebbled-shapes when sleeping.

On the other hand, the beads are so fine that they practically feel like sand and look like sugar (if it was spherical).

Bottom line - for most people, the slight “bumpiness” of pellets will be a non-issue, especially if you plan to use your blanket with a cover.

If you’re particularly sensitive, beads are a great alternative. One caveat here is that beads call work well with dense materials like satin and close stitching. In other words, if you’re using them to make a blanket you’ll need to make sure that the stitches are crafted with precision (especially at the edges). Otherwise, you might see some movement and shifting between the chambers.

Polymers used for the pellets

There are two types polymers used to make pellets – thermoplastic and thermosetting. The classification is based on the forming of the bonds and flow properties.

A vast majority of products used for DIY projects (like blankets) belong to the group of thermoplastic. This is types plastic that will melt.

Thermosetting polymers form a much stronger bond and will not melt or “flow” when heated.

Thermoplastic vs. thermosetting plastic pellets for blankets

There’s not much to think about here and all the products in the table at the beginning of the guide thermoplastic.

The reason behind using them is simple – the price vs. the job they’re intended for.

The strong bonds in thermosetting plastics are formed through expensive manufacturing processes like electron beams, UV or chemical agents.

Using this type pellets for blanket filling would be like using bulletproof glass for your flower garden. You can do it, but it’s going to cost much more and there is no common sense reason to do it.

Ask, share and apply for our giveaway

If you do end up making a blanket, it would be great to share your experience. This should make you a contributor to our site and you’d qualify for our $1,000 yearly giveaway of sleep products.

All you need to do to apply is bookmark this page and contact us after you’ve made the blanket to share your thoughts.

Finally, if you have any questions or feel like we failed to mention something, use the comment section below to ask us anything.

The Sleep Studies team

The article Glass beads and plastic poly-pellets for a weighted blanket is courtesy of TheSleepStudies

Blanket Ladder

What you’ll see

This guide on blanket ladders is envisioned to be a one-stop-shop for all information you’ll ever need to get top value for your money.

It took about 10 months & 4,000 work hours to complete. Writing a general guide with shopping tips is not a big deal, but the specific recommendations you’ll see called for outside help.

Why we had to talk to experts

It’s because some quality aspects were out to our area of expertise. So, we talked to 8 experts. Most of them specialize in quality of materials used - from wood to metal.

In terms of design, we relied on the knowledge of one of our own - Katia Dadzis. Before joining us full-time, Katia was an award-winning interior decorator.

So, when two products of similar type (typically wooden rustic), it was her opinion that was the deciding factor.

That’s how we made our initial picks of 35 products. We also had to tweak our statistical model to reflect these specific quality aspects.

Bottom line - results and see below are a combination of a few factors: the expertise of our woodworking consultants, statistical modeling of user satisfaction with the products and a touch of our experience in the industry.

Blanket ladder - our top five picks

The Original Sula - top pick overall

If you’re into interior design, you might already know that the Sula Stand was featured in one of the issues on the Architectural Digest Magazine. When choosing a blanket ladder there’s a few quality aspects to think of. We’d group them into two categories: style and practicality.

The Sula is at the sweet spot. Stylish enough to work well with the range of space styles – from antique to modern and yet practical enough to eliminate any concerns that come with daily use. It’s easy to see stylish pictures from a photo shoot session and think,” I want that.” But daily use is a different story altogether, especially if you go with wood.

So, if you’re looking for a piece to use for years to come without sacrificing style and appearance the Original Sula Stand is, in our opinion, the obvious choice.

Sturdiness of the Sula is second to none – it’s the only item here made of solid Teak. All the hardware used is stainless and waterproof, so you won’t be seeing any corrosion issues.

AquaTeak might have made these with towels in mind, but the generous width works for blankets just as well.

With these, you don’t have to worry about leaning or placement. It stands independently and you can easily move it around your living room if you get bored with the placement.

To be overtly personal for a second, one of the authors of this guide has first-hand experience with the Sula. Our editor Bob has two of these - one for the living room and one for the bathroom. All of us make jokes about him paying the extra bucks for the Sula. To be honest, there might be a peg of home-jealousy involved.

Back to the object side of things

The Sula stand does cost more compared to any other item on this list, but it doesn’t cost as much in some of the ladders you might see in a Pottery Barn catalogue.

Our analysis here might read “teleshopy,” so, in case you’re wondering (which you probably are) let us just stress that we received no free products when compiling this guide.

We seem to find the Sula to be the best-rounded stand/ladder.

You can do your own reading and see some more first-hand experiences from the owners by following the two links below.

White rustic blanket ladder by BarnwoodUSA - top decorative choice

BarnwoodUSA was not in the top three when it comes to user satisfaction statistics, but it’s still our top pick in three consecutive updates. We gave this fact some thought over the past few months and analyzed the feedback.

The conclusion we reached is that most people who weren’t satisfied after spending money in this product talked about the craftsmanship and the fact that it is a peg more expensive than other similar products.

What this means for you

It means that you should be aware of what you’re buying if you do go with this piece. It’s right there in the name - this is a rustic blanket ladder and the wood does look distressed and unfinished.

Why we chose it as the top rustic piece

Because it does exactly what it’s meant to do and does it well. The part that was especially important here is the fact that it comes in three sizes in six colors, which means there’s little chance of ending up with a piece that doesn’t work with your space.

To be subjective for a second, our favorites (color-wise) are the white, black and turquoise. These three alone cover any “feel” you’re going for - the rustic white and black will complement pretty much any room style, while the turquoise makes for a great accent piece.

What this means for you

It means that if you’re looking for a product to be used daily, you’re probably better off with some of the products further down this list.

To be precise - if you own a wool blanket and you’re using it daily, you’ll want a smoother finish with zero splinters. On the other hand, if you are primarily looking for a decorative piece, you’ll love this Barnwood.

Is there are still questions in your mind about the kind product this is, you can see them all answered by following one of the two links below. When all said and done, there’s no better source of answers than those coming from owners.

Yamazaki Home Tower throw ladder rack – most practical

Among metal blanket ladders, our choice is the Yamazaki home Tower.

We wouldn’t expect anything less from a piece designed in Japan.

In the category of daily use we looked at 14 products and 3 of them stood out - this Yamazaki, the Umbra Freestanding Adjustable & Master Garden Bamboo.

The smooth finish of the Yamazaki eliminates any issues regarding blanket wear and tear; the minimalist retro design is still stylish. It comes with six thin steps (one more than any of the products we listed here).

If you combine the thin six-step design with the generous width (close to 18 inches) you get what’s probably the highest capacity and versatility item here, comparable only to the Umbra Freestanding.

The Yamazaki Tower is also too obvious choice if longevity is and kind of the factor for you. It’s only natural because it’s the only ladder here that’s top-to-bottom steel.

With user satisfaction of over 90% (people who gave it either four or five stars) put it in the top 3% off ladders we looked at.

You can see what people like or dislike about the Yamazaki by following the links below.

Umbra Freestanding - most versatile

The umbra is a whole different “beast” compared to any of the products on the list. We found it to be most versatile for two reasons - the width is adjustable (in the range between 16-24 “) and the protruding steps on one side of the ladder offer some extra space for hanging towels or throws.

Along with the Yamazaki Tower, the Umbra is one of the two pieces on the list with the modern design (versus the rustics).

Our rating: 90/100

Rustic Decor - runner-up in the “decorative” category

If you’re aiming for a minimal Barnwood or antique look, this might be your choice. Rustic Decor makes these from reclaimed wood and they look and feel primitive - that’s why we’re labeling them as “decorative.”

It’s rugged, unfinished with all the knots and splinters still there. This means it’s not the best idea to use it as storage ladders for your expenses blankets.

With that said, dollar for dollar, this is probably top value for money. Further down in this guide we explored the options you have if you want to make the ladders on your own.

Unless you have all the materials at hand, looking at the price of this slice of style will probably get you to think twice about whether it’s worth making one of your own.

Our top primitive pick - authentic weathered display

If you’re looking for a piece that looks like it’s been washed ashore, this 4-inch high weathered wood ladder might be your choice.

Buyer beware

It’s right there in the name, this is primarily a decorative display piece and it’s too distressed and unfinished to be used daily. You can see the knots and nail holes even in the images here.

They do look rustically charming but, make no mistake; daily use would take a toll on your blankets or throws.

The good part is that, for a decorative piece, it’s surprisingly sturdy and well made.

Our top pick in Bamboo ladders

If you like bamboo look, there is one piece we found that meets the quality standards.

It comes from Master Garden and stands at 60 inches high and it’s primarily designed for towels. However, it’s wider than most solid wood or metal blanket ladders – 16 inches wide.

In our research, we found that four out of five people were satisfied with the product they received and those who weren’t primarily talked about the imperfections in the making.

So, be aware that the bamboo doesn’t look as confectionery, run-of-the-mill perfectly finished ladders you might find in your local IKEA. It’s not crafted to be perfect and those who know bamboo note that this type (Calcutta or Tam Wong) is used when you want a piece that looks like it’s a present from your friend who just came back from traveling the Orient.

DIY blanket ladder

Although getting a nice set of blanket ladders at IKEA, on Amazon, Walmart or Target is fairly cheap, you can always go down the DIY route just because it’s fun.

On the other hand, you might have taken a look at the latest Pottery Barn catalog or a handmade piece on Etsy and your heart skipped a beat…they can be quite pricey.

The prices

The prices range anywhere from a few dozen dollars (all the leaders we listed are available on Amazon and belong to the lower price range) up to a few hundreds (we’ve seen some expense pieces in the Pottery Barn catalogs).

Whether you can relate to the former or a latter scenario, the DIY version is probably going to save you some money and cost you some time.

They do look simple enough to make, deceivingly simple even, but weight making one yourself does require a bit of experience in woodworking… especially to make a piece that will last.

How to make a blanket ladder

As we said, for a person experienced in woodworking, the project can be very simple and cheap.

We looked at what’s available out there, compared DIY sources and prices of the supplies and reached a conclusion that you can make one for as little as $10-$15.

The advantage here is that you can customize the end result to fit your needs. The important part here is the width and depth of the steps – choose one that will be just right for the blankets you have.

On the other hand, if you’re making a decorative piece, you can plant whole thing ahead and choose the decorative throws or blankets just for this purpose.

How to make it – the supplies

Here’s a list of what you’ll need

17-18 ft. of wood - we’d go with 2 2x2 boards - each of them 8-9 ft. long. Thicker wood pieces like this would be easier to work with (in terms of the assembly)

Wood screws - the number here will be and how many steps you want. For the purposes of this guide, let’s say that you’re making a 4-step ladder - this would require eight screws. In terms of size, ½ “screws will do just fine.

Wood finish for staining - you can always go with a completely unfinished look; this is an option for decorative ladders that want be used on daily basis. But if you want to make ladders that you’ll actually use or you want to specific color (rustic wood or white will work well with most spaces) we would advise using some type of wood finish.

Clear coating for the finish – this will prevent any color from getting on your blankets or splits damaging them.

Step-by-step

The first step would be to cut the boards - 5 feet for each of them is a good size

If you do go with 5 feet, after step one will be left with two 3 feet boards (36 inches) - this allows you to choose the width of 4 steps to be between 14 and 16 inches.

Before you use the screws, measure the boards again by laying them on the floor. Make sure that everything fits precisely.

Distance between the steps - measuring from the top, place the first step at about 5 to 6 inches. A good rule of thumb some for the distance between the steps is 11-13 inches. This will leave some more space between the bottom step and the floor and that’s what we’re aiming for. Otherwise, the bottom step would be unusable for most standard sizes of blankets and throws.

Precision when measuring and getting the wholes is crucial - we don’t want crooked ladders now, do we?

Use the screws to put it all together

Apply the wood finish and coating that you chose

Voila, after a day of drying the finish, you’ll have a modern or antique-style storage piece, the pride making it yourself and the few extra dollars in your wallet. We found some more precise tutorials and DIY plans on Shanty 2 Shic and Ana White.

The caveats of choosing

Ultimately, your choice should depend on the type of blanket you want to hang on the ladder.

In practical terms, it comes down to the friction between the two surfaces. Distressed, rustic wood with no finish might prove to be too much for sensitive materials like wool. Simply put, and fibers will catch the splinters and even if you don’t pull out a thread, you’ll probably soon see some wear.

The same goes, probably even more so, for knitted or crochet blankets. On the other hand, wood of this type is not likely to be sturdy enough for heavier throws.

If this is your scenario, you’re better off with a fine finish.

Flat steps vs. round dowels

The first step should probably be the deciding on the shape of the steps (no pun intended).

You can go with a wide and flat wooden steps or rounded dowels which typically see in bamboo, metal and iron.

The right way to look at things here would be a combination between the material, finish and shape of the steps.

If it’s fancy DIY project, it can be as simple as nailing peaces of pallet together.

If there’s one take away here it would be not falling into the trap of saving money on the front-end (by making it cheap) and losing it on the back-end (by damaging your blanket).

Where to buy a blanket ladder?

Most major retailers and store chains (like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Farmhouse, Pottery Barn, Wayfair, Magnolia etc.) carry a wide range of choices – from white and to black and from wood to metal.

Choosing where to buy the ladder comes down to two things - your budget and how well you can research before buying one. Get it online will give you the advantage of reading experiences of other owners.

If you want a handmade one but would like to skip the trouble of making it yourself, you can always a blanket ladder for sale on Etsy.

How tall?

From what we’ve seen, 5ft and 6ft are the sweet spot when it comes to height. This size range allows for proper distancing of the steps or dowels.

For specific purposes (like baby nursery), we’d say that 5ft or smaller would be a better fit.

Ask us anything or work with us

Typically, we update this every four months to reflect any changes on the market.

As we said in the beginning, a year ago, this topic was new to us but we learned a lot since. We also have a panel of good people with expertise in the field, so we’re confident we can answer any question that pops to mind.

If we don’t know, we’ll find out. So, feel free to reach out or share your comments about our picks.

If you already own one or get it after reading this guide, do come back and contact us – we can always use the contribution and firsthand experiences and we are running a yearly 1K of sleep products giveaway for all our contributors.

Don’t be a stranger,

The Sleep Studies team

The following post Blanket Ladder Read more on: thesleepstudies

Couple Sleep Positions Meaning

Most of our communication is actually based on non-verbal gestures. Body language is something we are familiar with in everyday life, but it doesn’t stop when we fall asleep.

The position of our body while sleeping can tell a lot about person’s character and emotional state. In terms of love, the way we sleep with our partner can indicate the state of our relationship.

Subconsciously, we choose the position in which we are sleeping. Since we can’t control it, it can be a great way to shed a light on feelings that may not be spoken while we are awake.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common positions couples sleep in their meaning.

1. Tangled, honeymoon hug

We’re starting with the one that is very rare, because it’s not really comfortable to stay in this position all through the night. It usually happens when the emotions are running high (after sex) or at the beginning of relationship, when partners want to be physically close to each other as much as possible. If this is a regular sleeping position for couple, or if you spend all night in this tight knot, it can indicate a lack of independence in relationship.

2. The unraveling knot

It starts like honeymoon hug, but later partners untangle. This is actually a good thing, it shows that love and intimacy are definitely there, but independence is present as well. It usually happens (although not often) when couple has been together for a while

3. Spooning

We are all familiar with this one. Spooning indicates intimacy, trust and closeness in relationship. Although there is a lot of physical contact in this position and it’s very sensual, the erotic vibe of it is not as important as the feeling of comfort that it provides. Person who takes the role of “big spoon” feels protective of his partner and this way he/she is trying to create a safe zone for a loved one.

4. Loose spoon

This is a more popular variation of classic spooning. Couples who like to sleep in spoon position will choose this one after some time, simply because it’s more comfortable. On psychological level, this doesn’t mean something is going wrong between the two of you, it actually shows you trust each other and are comfortable to have some space between you, in bed and in life.

5. The Chase

It looks like spooning, but in this position one partner has turned back and moved away to the side of the bed, and the other one is playing the role of “chaser”. There are two ways to interpret this: this person needs more space in bed, or wants to be pursued by his partner.

6. Head on chest aka. the nuzzle

At the start of relationship or when the passions are rekindled, couples will sleep in this snuggling position. Partner who rests hand or head on the chest of other, shows healthy independence in relationship, but is still willing to be dependent on their partner. Usually this partner will place their leg on the body of the other, or they’ll intertwine their legs. Person who sleeps on back and hugs his partner is confident and offers protection. This position is open and is saying that partners are companions who trust each other.

7. The Shingles

When both partners sleep on their back, but one is placing their head on the other’s shoulder, this shows confidence and understanding in relationship.

8. The leg hug

This position can be interpreted in few ways. If just one partner is “hugging” it can mean that he/she needs attention from the other. If both of partners participate in this “hug” that’s a sign of balanced and comfortable relationship. In casual relationships, this often can be confusing, since some people don’t show their affection openly, so this can be either just a random contact or a “call” for closeness.

9. Back to back - touching

If you sleep back to back, but the butts are touching, don’t worry, you are good. This is very popular sleep position, especially among established couples. Each partner has its space, but there is a contact which speaks about closeness and sexual connection.

10. Back to back- no touching

If you and your partner usually hug when sleeping, this could be a red flag. With all that space between the two of you maybe it’s time for a conversation. On the other hand, maybe you cuddle in bed, but it’s just too warm to sleep skin on skin. Some couples don’t need much contact during the night, just a good rest, and there’s nothing wrong in their relationship.

Keep in mind that if you toss and turn a lot throughout the night, its natural if other person wants to keep more space between the two of you. This doesn’t indicate you have an underlying problem in relationship, instead it says you have bad sleeping manners.

11. Face to face - touching

If your heads are at the same level and touching, and your arms are tangled, this speaks about closeness, like-mindedness and general good atmosphere in relationship.

12. Face to face - not touching

This can be a sign of high emotional demands from both sides. Both partners are craving attention and intimacy, and both are doing nothing about it. You should listen to one another and talk about your feelings.

13. Sleeping on your stomach

When we sleep on our stomach we hide the front of our body, and that may be a sign of vulnerability, lack of sexual trust and anxiety. You should speak with your partner and if he is the one sleeping this way, use hugs to make them feel protected.

14. One partner dominates the bed

This is a classic case of power play. If one partner sleeps in a starfish position, and even pushes the other to the side of the mattress, it’s a cause for concern and honest conversation. This selfish position tells which partner is dominant in relationship. Also, take a look if your heads are at the same level. Partner whose head is closer to headboard is usually the one who feels like he is in control and has more confidence, while the partner whose head is positioned lower plays a submissive role and probably has a lack of confidence.

The following blog post Couple Sleep Positions Meaning is available on https://thesleepstudies.com

Sleep Dread aka. Fear Of Going To or Dying in Sleep – We Asked Experts About It

Sleep dread is real and nothing to be shrugged of. Over the past few years, we interviewed a few dozen of of sleep therapists and one of the questions was always regarding sleep dread - its causes, whether it's a phobia or not, the forms it can take and finally, what you can do if you can relate to what you'll read you'll see below.

Having a good night’s sleep is vital for our overall health and daily functioning. During the 7, 8 or 9 hours, our brain process information gathered during the day and helps our body heal and re-energize.

Disturbance of this process night after night, leads to chronic discomfort, panic attacks, sleep disorders and it can develop into a sleep phobia known as "sleep dread."

What’s causing the fear of going to sleep?

Sleep dread can be caused by number of reasons, including come conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders or fear of sleep paralysis - https://thesleepstudies.com/sleep-paralysis/ (if you already experienced episodes).

Most commonly, however, it’s a side effect of insomnia.

However, in most cases the main trigger is one simple, everyday thing- fear, irrational and exaggerated fear, to be precise.

How our body reacts to this

When we are scared, our body’s natural reaction is to activate the “flight or fight” mode. This is normal and necessary human reaction, and when it’s reasonable we can benefit from it.

But our sleep is time when we need to go completely opposite from it. Having this mode on when you need to rest is counterproductive. And that’s an understatement. When your mind is telling that you need to be prepared to run from a threat, you can’t rest.

If you do manage to fall asleep at some point, the brain will stay highly alerted during whole time, making the quality of sleep low. Because of the hyper arousal of your nervous system, you will feel more aware of your surroundings, and will probably have nightmares. In this case it’s common to wake up few times during the night, which breaks sleep cycle, so don’t be surprise when you get up in the morning feeling like you worked the graveyard shift.

When mornings feel everything but good

After sleeping in this state you wake up feeling less rested and refreshed. The brain not only didn’t get the chance to store all the data from previous day, but was infused with new information throughout the night.

This leaves you feeling tired, forgetful, and with weakened state of awareness, prone to injuries and accidents during the day. It’s easier to break a glass or cut yourself feeling this way, not to mention more serious stuff.

Bad quality of sleep is often a main reason for the poor performance at job or school, and it also affects our emotional state.

In the long term, disturbance of sleep can play a significant role in causing the variety of health problems, from mood disorders to heart diseases and stroke.

What causes sleep dread

Think about the quality of your life. If you are often isolated and your social life is close to non-existing, this can make you more subjective to influence of bad news. We are social beings; we need to be in touch with each others and share our thoughts and experiences. When a lot of ordinary good things are happening to you on a daily basis, you feel happier and calmer.

If you watch TV and read newspapers, you are probably up to date with all sorts of bad and disturbing news out there. It’s hard to avoid them, to be honest. The world is definitely not a rosy place these days.

This is not something that can be tossed aside. Remember, our brain process information, and the source of information is everywhere. If you think that doesn’t have any effect on you, think again.

Beside that, try to remember all of the movies and TV shows with violent and aggressive scenes in them. Personally, I’ve lost count. And if you are highly sensitive person, or have a wild imagination that likes to visit dark places, even worse. It can take you further and the dread can turn into fear of dying in sleep.

So, even if you’re not suffering from anxiety, or any other mental disorder per se, if you are scared to fall asleep for no real reason, that’s a problem that needs to be taken care of.

The fear of sleeping alone

If you are scared of sleeping because you have bad dreams, that’s one thing, but in most cases, sleep dread gets triggered when sleeping alone.

It’s proven that women are battling this problem more often than man. They usually don’t have trouble sleeping when their family members or partner are in the house. My friend once told me that she feels safer sleeping when “man is in the house”, and I am talking here about the girl that trained martial arts for years.

This irrational fear comes from the idea that we might get attacked during the night, and staying awake will keep us safe. When there are no men to protect us, we must rely on ourselves. This feeling of vulnerability makes our primal fears alive.

We can talk about the century’s old roll of women being a “weaker sex” embedded in our minds, but it’s not just that. For this we can also thank a huge number of movies with highly aggressive scenes that include women getting attacked in the middle of the night in their beds. We are not accusing anyone, this is a simple fact.

How to threat sleep dread and stop it from happening again

Bear in mind that even if you get rid of your fear for a night, or week, the feeling itself casts a very long shadow that can affect you for months or even years, and can make sleep dread episodes reoccur at any time.

This problem needs to be approached directly and systematically. You really need to work on this, by yourself or with doctor’s help.

It takes time, but it’s worth it.

Let’s start simple, small steps

Minimize the flow of violent images and stories that comes to your mind. If you watch a lot of horror movies or crime shows, stop doing that, or at least don’t watch them right before you go to bed. You don’t need to have a sleep phobia to feel frightened to fall asleep after watching some of those, so think logically. Good idea is to move the TV from your bedroom, if you have one there. If you really can’t stop watching movies at night, switch to something relaxing and funny.

Restrain yourself from short-term solutions, like sleeping with your TV on, or lights on, or asking your friend to stay the night. It may help you once, but not in the long run. You can’t erase the fear this way, it will keep coming back.

If you don’t exercise, this is something you really need to consider doing. Not just because of obvious health benefits, but as they say “make your body tired and the brain will follow”. When we exercise, our bodies release serotonin and dopamine, hormones that are responsible for feeling of happiness. With tired body and happy mind it’s a lot easier to hit the bed.

Meditation, positive affirmations and mindfulness have a strong positive influence on our mind. If you think that’s a bit silly, let’s talk about how silly it is to deprive yourself from sleep due to irrational thoughts.

Fight the bad thoughts with positive ones. You already know that the sleep dread is caused by fears that are not justified, that negative state of mind didn’t come from nowhere. Change the way you talk to yourself, and you will change the way you see the world. Practicing yoga, keeping a journal in which you can write down things you are grateful for every day, or just saying positive phrases few times a day like “I am safe in my home”, can be really helpful.

You should also work on your bedtime routine. Your sleep time should be sacred, literally. In general, your bedroom should be dark, well aired and peaceful, so that vibe can be transferred to you. Make your bedroom as cozy as possible, and avoid using computer or telephone before going to bed. Take a bath, or read a nice, relaxing book, or play some of your favorite music. There is even music for sleeping; tracks with calming sounds that help you fall asleep. If you like to sleep with radio on, you should do it, but because you are enjoying it, not because you are terrified of sleeping in silent room.

A more serious approach to sleep dread

In cases of anxiety disorders that affect sleeping and cause insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven to have great results. In sessions with the therapist the focus is on indentifying the fear and getting over it. Your doctor will lead you to confront the actual cause of the problem and together you will work on establishing a healthy sleeping routine. The key thing is to stick to the therapy even if it’s hard to handle in the beginning.

In some cases, medications like alpha-blockers are prescribed to keep the sympathetic nervous system under control.

We believe that consulting with your doctor is the way to go, and that with a right treatment you can overcome sleep dread. This is something it should be discussed with psychologist, especially if you are already battling some type of mental disorder. It can be solved and there is no need to panic.

If the situation is less serious, natural ways we talked about are proven to be effective (even doctors agree on this), and you should try at least one of them.

One step at a time...

We understand how troubling sleep dread can be, and that’s why we worked very carefully on this guide. We hope you will find it useful and follow the advices.

If you are experiencing the fear of sleep, or have a story related to it, please share it with us in the section below.

Don’t be scared to go to bed. Good night

The article Sleep Dread aka. Fear Of Going To or Dying in Sleep – We Asked Experts About It was originally published to www.thesleepstudies.com

Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review

The review of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch memory foam mattress has been “in the pipe” for over 8 months now.

We took our time because we wanted to make sure that the analysis is the most complete it can possibly be.

We consulted experts (both of memory foam and sleep therapists), we gathered a large pool of information from owner feedback and we directly contacted people already sleeping on the Shiloh - as many of them as we could.

It took about 4000 work hours, but we believe that the detailed analysis you’ll see below is a one-stop shop on all the information you’ll ever meet about the Shiloh.

On the other hand, we made an effort to present the results in simple and concise way. The bottom line is that it should only take a few minutes of your time to get a good feel on whether the Shiloh might be the right mattress for you.

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Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review - all quality ratings

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It was clear from the get-go that the Sleep Innovations Shiloh is a top-tier mattress. We say that because for a product of this type (layered all-foam), there is one aspect that’s critically important and that’s the quality of the foam.

For an average buyer, a typical fact sheet can be confusing, misleading even. It’s easy to say that the foam is “high-quality.” But what does that mean to a person that’s not particularly savvy when it comes to the industry lingo?

Foam quality goes well beyond the density and firmness. That’s why the fact that we know the type of foam Sleep Innovation uses was an important factor.

Top to bottom US-made

Outsourcing is not a minus on its own but, based on what we’ve seen when it comes to memory foam, there is a pattern. The quality ratings of the foam with the same density and firmness start to vary with prolonged use.

We revisit and update the quality ratings at 1, 2 and 5-year marks. Based on what we’ve seen, the gap in ratings (shape retention and structural integrity) appears at these time milestones.

Statistically speaking, those ratings speak in favor of US-made foam. To be clear, we don’t want to make and blanket statements, and there are companies out there that import foam that stands its ground when compared to a US-made product.

To simplify - all we want to say here is that an average buyer can be more comfortable with spending money on US-made foam that passed all the rigorous testing and obtained the staple quality certificates.

That’s what the Shiloh is made of and, if you ask us, it’s a big plus.

What we expected to see

Having in mind that sleep innovations are making an effort in their advertising to stand out from the crowd by stressing that there is no one-size-fits-all mattress, we expected the Shiloh to be top-tier.

Why?

Because a company like this wouldn’t risk their reputation by putting a product on the market that’s sub-par compared to the manufacturers they’re trying to distinguish themselves from.

What do we mean by that?

The Shiloh is designed to be a good fit for most people. In a market where many companies simply make one mattress and advertise it as one-size-fits-all, Sleep Innovations is an exception.

They make a range of mattresses for different body frames. The Shiloh is their flagship product with the widest appeal - average to large person.

In other words - it’s designed to find the sweet spot between comfort and support.

Airflow and heat dissipation of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch

The foam used to make the Shiloh is patented, with cell structure designed to improve airflow and heat dissipation.

We wouldn’t go as far as describing it as “cooling”, but the heat dissipation numbers we’ve seen do justify the claims the company makes. In that quality aspect, it belongs to the top 5% of mattresses we ever analyzed.

Firmness vs. support

If you prefer an extra soft feel, this mattress might not be right for you. In terms of firmness, we would describe it as medium.

That doesn’t mean much in its own

When you’re looking to buy a mattress, the proper analysis should include “firmness versus support” rather than each of these separately.

Based on the pool of numbers we have, we’d say that 8 out of 10 people will find this mattress to be “just right.”

Here’s why

Shiloh is not just a lump of foam. The layers work together to balance between firmness and support.

This means that the top layer (2.5 inches thick SureTemp foam) is there to allow your shoulders and hips to sink just enough for proper spinal alignment. The SureTemp foam is trademarked by Sleep Innovations and 3rd-party tested to do what the company claims in the advertising.

The base layer is denser and thicker (9.5 inches). It’s the base that’s “responsible” for the structural integrity, shape retention and support.

To be more precise

Putting it simply - for body frames ranging from medium to large, the Shiloh is at the sweet spot. The base is just firm enough so that your spine doesn’t arch downwards, while the top has enough “give” to prevent the spine arching upwards.

That especially goes for side and back sleepers.

Hot versus cold sleepers

In terms of heat dissipation, the only scenario where Shiloh might not feel right is if you’re an especially cold sleeper and the temperature of your bedroom is also low.

In all other scenarios, the mattress does a solid job of both dissipating heat and not trapping the cold. The user satisfaction numbers we’ve seen were slightly higher with people more concerned about heat retention.

Sagging and edge support

Before we get into this, let us this mention that we have separate statistical model when we rate this quality aspect in all-foam models (different formulas from those we use for innerspring and hybrids).

Why?

It’s because you can’t reasonably expect the same level of edge support from foam and mattresses that have a thick wire encircling the edges.

To put it simply - it only makes sense to compare apples to apples.

With that said, this mattress belongs in the top 10% in its category.

What this means for you

It means that the edge support is nothing to write home about, but we also don’t see it as a red flag. It’s solid enough to sit on the edges as you preparing for sleep, but you might find it too soft to read a book or watch TV show while seated on the very edge.

Motion isolation of the – only a secondary factor

This is where Shiloh truly shines. With the layered structure in mind, this doesn’t come as a surprise.

To be honest, the motion isolation properties contribute less towards our final ratings than other quality factors. We all remember those commercials with a bowling ball dropping on a mattress without spilling a glass of wine.

It is impressive when you see it, but how many times did you actually wake up because your sleep partner was moving too much. Our guess is – not many.

The bottom line here is that Shiloh has excellent motion isolation properties, but we wanted to be clear that we find other quality aspects more important.

Durability and longevity of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch

There’s confusion with the terminology here and we want to address that first. You might see a Sleep Innovations Shiloh review on other sites lumping these two aspects together, which is not the way to go about it.

Here’s difference

Durability describes how much pressure and weight a mattress can take without compromising the structural integrity.

Longevity describes, as the word itself indicates, how long the mattress is expected to live.

As we mentioned, our ratings reflect 1, 2 and 5-year milestones.

Rating a mattress in these two categories is tricky because we don’t have enough clear-cut data and it comes down to the warranty terms.

Let’s try to be as precise as we can

Typically, this type of mattress from other brands is covered by a 10 year warranty (even the ones that cost much more).

We’re stressing that because Shiloh comes with a 20-year warranty. Sleep Innovations estimates the serviceability the last as long as 15 years (given that you sleep on it every night).

Off-gassing, smell and safety certification

This is an important one because it’s not only about the smell. It’s more about long-term safety.

This is where the fact that the foam is US-made following strict safety standards is a big plus for the Shiloh.

The crucial part here is that it carries the Centripur label, which means that it’s tested to be free of:

• Traces of heavy metals (mercury, lead, etc.)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs – these are flame retardant chemicals and while Shiloh is flame-retardant, none of these are used in manufacturing.
• Phthalates
• Ozone depleting chemicals
• Volatile Organic Compounds (these are typically responsible for significant off-gassing)

Even the manufacturing process is environment-friendly. For the finished product that will arrive at your doorstep, this is not a big deal. But if you like the idea of sleeping on a mattress that was made with minimal footprint on the environment, this does deserve a mention.

Mandatory factory air out

With most foam products, there will be an initial smell that lingers around your bedroom. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to dissipate.

None of that here

This is one of the few mattresses we’ve seen with a mandatory factory airing out.

For you, this means that there is no initial smell and no need to wait or air out the mattress on your own. That part is taken care of in the factory and the product is shipped with zero smell.

No need for add-ons

We see this one way to often - you get the mattress and your enthusiasm about it is quickly curbed because you feel you need an extra topper or pad for it (most often because it feels too hot).

Here, the top layer is designed to eliminate the need for a topper. In fact, the company advises against using any add-ons because they can interfere with the breathability.

Maintenance

Since the structure is not symmetrical, the mattress should not be flipped.

Many of us are still trapped and the perception that flipping a mattress will prolong the lifespan. With modern mattress technologies and materials, it’s not so simple.

Here’s why

With mattresses that shouldn’t be flipped, the manufacturer has to be extra careful, especially when they offer a 20-year warranty.

This means that they have to make sure that the structure can take the prolonged use and maintain shape. Otherwise, they would be faced with people claiming their warranties too often, which would affect their bottom line.

The important part here is that the numbers we’ve seen when it comes to foam breaking or develop indentations with prolonged every-night use are low.

Rotation

The mattress is symmetrical (top to bottom) which means that you can rotate it but, based on what we’ve seen, the number of people who feel the need to do it is very low with the Shiloh.

This ties into the analysis above and means that the number of people who saw structural issues is also low.

To put it simply - there are no indentations or the uneven surfaces forming over time that would call for the mattress to be rotated.

What does the warranty cover?

When you see a long warranty like this, you should be careful and make sure that you read the fine print. In some cases, a company can “dilute” the warranty terms and you might end up with additional cost when making the claim.

We looked closely and saw no red lights here, the company does what it promises - covering the full cost related to any warranty claim (replacing or repairing the bed).

These terms cover any issues with the fabric, stitching and, most importantly, potential structural defects.

Bounce-back - secondary

What we mean by “bounce-back” is the time it takes for the surface to get back to its original shape when you get up.

There are two ways to look at this:

The first one is absolute (comparing it to every mattress out there) and the second one is comparing it to mattresses in its price range.

If you do the former, it’s fair to say that there are products out there with higher bounce-back ratings. They do, however, cost much more.

If you do the latter, this puts the Shiloh in the top five products in its price range.

Similar to the motion isolation, we don’t see the bounce back is a crucial factor simply because nobody ever said, “I got up to go to the bathroom and when I got back my mattress wasn’t completely flat.”

That’s why our statistical model includes the bounce-back only as a secondary factor.

The “history”

The mattress hit the market back in 2010 (May 15, to be more precise) and was initially known as the Sleep Innovations SureTemp. So if you see it under that name, don’t get confused, it’s the same mattress.

The name SureTemp was a way for Sleep Innovations to stress the trademarked foam used for the top layer.

Cover quality

Wear and tear at the seams - testing the stitches

The number of garment issues reported by the owners we talked to was lower than those we’ve seen in 93% of other mattresses.

To be subjective for a moment, we prefer the quilted cover over the smooth one. It feels more rugged and durable and looks more luxurious. But when it comes to the numbers, we’ve seen no substantial difference in abrasion %s or stitching.

We rate the quilted cover at 92/100 and the smooth one at 90/100. These numbers are based more on our experience than the actual testing (the data pool we had here wasn’t big enough to do that). Apart from the aesthetic appeal, we find that the rugged covers are typically superior in terms of stain release.

Value for money

When all said and done, this is the category that probably does the best job of reflecting overall quality.

If you didn’t take the time to read the full analysis, let’s reiterate.

In most quality aspects, the Shiloh 12-inch performed superiorly compared to mattresses in its price range and, most of the time, it tested just as well as mattresses that cost anywhere from the 200 to 400% more.

Our rating of “value for money” is 95/100, which puts it in the top 6%.

We have five descriptive categories that we use to rank mattresses in terms of value and the Shiloh belongs to the top one “Worth every penny and then some.”

Updates to our Sleep Innovations Shiloh review

As per our regular schedule, we update the ratings quarterly, unless we see an indication of a significant quality change or learn about a change in the manufacturing practices.

We do it to make sure that our ratings always reflect the actual situation on the market. This means that you can be confident that the information you're seeing is fresh and relevant.

If you have questions or an experience you'd like to share (if you already own this mattress or if you get it after reading this), do get in touch, we have a $1000 yearly giveaway of sleep product for all interviewees who contribute to making our ratings more accurate.

To join it, all you have to do is contact us and we'll take it from there.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies team

Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review was first published to https://thesleepstudies.com

How to sleep with long hair – Best way to win the “tangled battle”

Each person with long hair knows this problem very well. You go to bed and every night you are “attacked” by your own hair. Or you have a peaceful night, but in the morning your hair looks flat and lifeless, your locks are squashed and you desperately want to call your hairdresser, but usually there is no time.

Here, we're going to present you with some solutions that might help you win this tangled battle.

How to sleep with long hair - our list of 7 tips

Her majesty- the bun

I have long hair and this is my personal favorite. It’s the easiest and quickest method to keep my hair tamed during the night, and it doesn’t change the shape much. It also looks really cute when I wake up (Brigitte Bardot style).

Of course, some people find it uncomfortable, and it can be, especially if you have a really long hair. Good solution for that can be putting the bun really high or maybe even leaning in front of your head. Also, bedtime hairstyles are probably the only fashion approved opportunity to use scrunchies and not elastic bands, since they are a lot less damaging to your hair.

Braid it all the way

If your hair is very long and it’s not layered this could work great for you. It takes more time to make, and some time to practice if you are not familiar with it, but it gets easier and faster after the first couple of times.

Do it on dry hair, leave some of it upbraided in the bottom and make it loose to avoid adding stress to your hair and split ends. This is also a great way to get a waved hairdo if you want to, and if you have locks it might get them tamed and more defined.

Some of my friends do have a problem sleeping with braids on, because it can make hair frizzy, but that depends of quality and type of your hair. It would be best if you can try braiding for one night and see if it works out for you. Also, think about using some anti-frizz hair product, especially if you have a problem with that in general.

Keep it low

If your hair is medium length, you could probably benefit the most from this quick solution. Just tie your hair into a low ponytail, it will keep it from your face and it will be less tangled in the morning.

It doesn’t really do much in comparison to the “magic of the braid” and your hair might loose its volume, especially in the roots, due to all of the hair weight just falling down flat. In all the scenarios above, it’s best to use scrunchies, or elastic bands with no metal parts on it (very important), because they can damage the hair.

Keep it high or bring some pineapple

A great option if you want volume especially at your roots. High ponytail keeps your locks from being squashed, your hair is out of your way and, as mentioned, volume won’t be something you should worry about.

The downside is that it can put pressure on your roots so they might ache.

The pineapple is a great alternative. You need a clip with a big grip to loosely grasp the hair at the top of your head. This way you’ll avoid the stress that binding inflicts on your hair and you’ll have a nice hairstyle the next day.

Stick with the loose hair

If you don’t have a problem tossing around much in your sleep, this could actually work out nice for you.

If you manage to sleep with your hair falling from the side of your bed, you will keep you locks intact. You won’t have to tie up anything, it’s very comfortable, but you hair is surely going to get tangled, at least a bit. This might help if you have oily scalp, because it let’s your hair breathe.

Cover it

This is maybe the best option for layered hair that refuses to stay in ponytails. It’s best if you use satin cap or a big scarf.

If you go for the cap, fold the edge of the cap all the way so you don’t have an imprint of the elastic band on your forehead. It might be a problem finding one that won’t slip off your head during the night.

If you go for the scarf, there are a lot of YouTube tutorials teaching you ways to tie it. It looks very fashionable actually, so you might want to bring that look outside of your bedroom. The nightcap, however, will make you look silly, for sure, but if it’s comfortable who cares, right?

Nights in white (or any) satin

Speaking of satin, no matter how long your hair is, satin or silk pillowcases are the best to sleep on. They are the least damaging materials for your hair and, let’s be honest, satin does give a touch of luxury to your bedroom, and a little luxury never hurt nobody.

Think about investing in one.

You can see our recommendations here - https://thesleepstudies.com/best-silk-pillowcases-sheets-comforter/

Back to you

Maybe you’ll choose to stick with one style that you are most comfortable with, or you’ll decide to change between the styles and that way you’ll end up with different hairdos each morning.

Personally, I’m all about diversity.

Whatever works the best for you is the way to go, but try some of these and have fun with it.

The article How to sleep with long hair – Best way to win the “tangled battle” is available on https://thesleepstudies.com/

Vellux blanket

If you’re in the market for a Vellux blanket, your search ends here.

The quality analysis you’re about to see is fruit of over 6, 000 work hours.

It took us about 7 months to put this guide together – we interviewed material technology engineers and analyzed over 3000 user experiences.

We also made an effort to include different types and sizes (from the Original Vellux to the premium plush designs in all sizes - Twin, Queen and King).

Vellux blankets – info of Top 5

Vellux Original blanket

This is the blanket that most people have in mind when they mention Vellux. It’s the staple product from the company and by far the most popular.

The most likely reason for that is the balance between price and quality.

The company advertises this blanket as “America’s most trusted.” While we’re not sure about the statistics they used to make the claim, it definitely seems to have a solid backing user satisfaction numbers we’ve seen in our analysis.

Current user satisfaction rating of the Vellux Plush blanket is 87%. This means that nine out of 10 people who get it found it to be worth the money.

The shape retention, durability and longevity put it in the top 5% of all blankets we reviewed (respectively rated at 92, 93 and 90 out of 100).

You can see what owners are saying about the Original Vellux below.

Vellux plush blanket

The runner-up in popularity among users is the Vellux Plush.

The difference between the plush and the Original comes down to the weight and loft. The plush is a bit heavier per square inch and extra cozy.

The density of the Plush is a bit higher - 330 GSM (grams per square meter). This makes it about 50% heavier than the Original.

Who will choose it?

The answer to that is in the analysis above – it will be the choice of people who prefer the safe and calming feel of a heavy weight blanket.

The difference in all other quality aspects, including price, is nothing to write home about. It costs a peg more, but we don’t see the slightest difference being any kind of an influence to a purchase decision.

The user satisfaction is practically the same as that of the Original.

Vellux Micro - the lightest

The only Vellux labeled as “lightweight” is the Micro.

It weighs 2 pounds (full/queen size), which is slightly lighter than the Original and about 60% lighter than the Plush.

Both sides are brushed, making it extra soft and resistant to pilling.

Who will choose it?

It will be the choice of people who prefer light blankets.

Let us also mention that the price point is the lowest of all the blankets we listed here.

Vellux Lux blanket – heaviest & currently rated highest by owners

The Plush Lux is the heaviest product on the list. The Queen size weighs 5.2 pounds.

The added weight comes from the extra loft filled with premium poly fibers.

The finish velvet -like finish is not compromised by the extra weight.

Who will choose it?

The Vellux Plush Lux is currently the highest-rated product on the list (by the users) - 96/100, in spite of the fact that the cost a bit more than the standard Plush or the Original.

We have been reviewing sleep products for more depth than a decade now and we only seen user satisfaction this high in a handful of them. That’s probably all you need to know about the Plush Lux.

Read more:

Vellux Sheared Mink

In terms of weight, this blanket is somewhere between the Plush and the Plush Lux.

The Queen weighs 4.35 pounds and the King size weighs 5.25 lbs.

To density (GSM) is also somewhere in-between – 378 grams per square meter.

Bottom line

The user satisfaction numbers of Sheared Mink are second only to the Plush Lux (95 vs. 96 %).

Size per size, the price point is slightly lower than the Lux.

Reference info

What is it made of?

Vellux is made of polyurethane.

In the manufacturing process, two layers of polyurethane are reinforced with webbing layer or scrim bonded between them. After that, an adhesive is added, which gives the base color of the blanket & nylon fibers, that are passed trough the electrostatic field, are added to the adhesive. The electrostatic field binds the fibers. This is the reason why these blankets are so soft.

Featuring a 1 inch two needle self hem way of sewing, these blankets do not come in bound or stitched alternatives.

The best thing about these blankets is their durability. They can be machined washed many times, and there will be no shrinking, pilling or any other problem, that we often have with blankets made from other fabrics.

Vellux Original blanket – frequently asked questions

There was a problem with chemical smell when you first open the blanket? What to do about it?

Machine washing and airing it out should remove any odor your blanket may have. They also become even softer after wash.

Will this blanket be enough to keep you warm in below zero temperatures?

This usually depends on the heating in your house. My wife is always cold, so she uses another cover on top of the blanket.

Is this blanket dust mite proof?

Yes. As we said, the these blankets are hypoallergenic, there for it’s perfect if you have allergies.

Does this blanket fit the king size bed?

The one in king size does.

Can I use this blanket through all seasons?

Yes, absolutely, you can use it all year long. It’s warm, but really light weighted, so using it in the spring won’t keep you over heated.

Is this blanket water resistant?

No. Fabric is not treated for water resistance.

Where is it made?

It’s imported (outsourced to China). This is not a negative per se. Over the past decade we’ve been monitoring the manufacturing practices of different companies, especially the outsourcing facilities and quality control. We know the facilities the company uses and we don’t have any negatives to report about the manufacturing.

Repair

You should try to stitch it together using a needle and a matching thread. If that doesn’t help, take it to the tailor’s.

Would this blanket work as a rug, if I include a rug pad underneath it?

We'd definitely say "no".

Is there a possibility for the blanket to be destroyed in the washing machine?

They are made to be machine washed. Although, there is a possibility that something might happen to it, but that has more to do with a washing machine. If you have a machine that tends to make some problems, try using a laundry bag. Just put a blanket in it and wash it that way.

Vellux blanket King size

Since we first published the guide, one of the most common questions we’ve been receiving is about the size available - especially the King.
The short answer is that all the products that we listed are available in three sizes: Twin, Full /Queen and King.

Vellux blanket on Amazon

Another common question is where to get to the listed products and be sure that you’re getting the real deal.

Most major online retailers (like Amazon) and store chains like Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, Kohl’s etc carry the whole Vellux line.

Storage

The important part about storage is avoiding the use of vacuum bags. We have seen user experiences reporting that, if left without air or in a hot space for prolonged periods of time can damage them (even de-laminate the whole thing).

So avoid airtight bags and hot-area storage.

Ask us anything

If you still have question or feel like there's information we haven't covered in the guide above, feel free to ask us anything that pops to mind. To do it, either use the comment section or email us directly.

You'll hear back from us within a day.

The Sleep Studies Team

Vellux blanket is available on TheSleepStudies