Essentials for a good sleep

Overhead view of a person sleeping on a bed in a dark room.

What's unwelcome for some, a luxury to others and a necessity for all? Sleep, of course! Without it we just can't function. But what does it take to create the ultimate slumber zone? Take a look at our round-up of the six essentials for a better night's sleep.

There's nothing like a good sleep to set you up for the day. According to the most recent IKEA Life at Home Report, for many of us, getting a good sleep (or even a nap) is vital for our wellbeing. The key ingredients for good rest are darkness, comfort and most important, the right temperature. With the help of a few affordable solutions, you can create the sleep sanctuary of your dreams that will have you hitting the snooze button.

Darkness rules

A woman stands in front of a bedroom window, next to a bed. She is fixing a pair of light coloured curtains.

A view of the edge of a bed in a beige bedroom. Next to the bed is a window with half lowered roller blinds and a pair of beige curtains.

Shut out the light

Room-darkening curtains not only block out the world outside when you crave privacy, but also create instant darkness when you need to grab forty winks.

ANNAKAJSA room darkening curtains

Create a blind spot

Layered window treatments elevate the style of a room and offer even more light control – a must for light-sensitive sleepers. Blackout blinds keep out daylight and bright city lights, while sheer or thicker curtains add texture and shade from the sun.

TREDANSEN block-out cellular blinds

Quiet please!

Next to the edge of a headboard, a shelf and a SYMFONISK Wifi bookshelf speaker are attached to the wall. An open book sits on top of the bookshelf speaker.

Sound asleep

It's not always easy to find peace and quiet when it's time for a snooze. When you can't find the silence you need, soothing sounds or relaxing music are great ways to block out annoying sounds, not to mention aid relaxation. The SYMFONISK WiFi bookshelf speaker allows you to stream your favourite sounds from your bedside and also makes a great shelf for bedtime reading!

SYMFONISK WiFi bookshelf speaker

Air quality matters

An UPPÅTVIND air purifier stands on a chest of drawers, next to a vase of flowers.

A breath of fresh air

Did you know that good air quality can lead to better sleep? Air purifiers clean indoor air, filtering out allergens, pollutants and pollen particles, that help you to breathe easier.

UPPÅTVIND air purifier

Just the right room temperature

A SMÅSPORRE duvet is folded on a bed with a dark background.

Not too hot, not too cold

According to experts, the perfect sleep temperature is between 13 and 20°C. Hot summer nights can have us tossing and turning, but it’s hard to fall asleep if the room is too cold. Temperature control duvets and mattresses can help create just the right sleeping temperature.

SMÅSPORRE duvet, light warm

Comfort counts

A bed with a VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress in a room with a rattan bedside table and lamp nearby. In the background are two large windows and lots of lovely hanging plants.

A KLUBBESPORRE ergonomic pillow and a folded duvet sit on top of a bed in a bedroom.

Just a few more minutes

The right mattress can make or break a good sleep. A firm mattress offers even support, which is good for back sleepers. Side sleepers however, might find a mattress with comfort zones that allow shoulders and hips to sink in while supporting the spine the perfect base.

VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress

Rest your weary head

Pillows play an equally important supporting role, and it's not just about firmness or plumpness, but also the filling. From feathers to foam, high to low, a good pillow or two is the perfect bedtime companion.

KLUBBSPORRE ergonomic pillow

Keep it tidy

A child's bedroom with light wooden walls, a bed with dotted bedding, and a cat pillow. VESSLA storage boxes and a plush elephant are under the bed.

A bedroom with a white PLATSA bed frame in the centre. The frame has shelves and a wardrobe unit at the end of the bed, which creates a division between the bed and the rest of the room.

Decluttering dreams

What's that dark figure hiding in the corner? Or that large strange lump lurking on the floor? Piles of clothes can be a real nightmare, and according to the IKEA Life At Home Report, clutter is something thing that keeps us awake at night.

Under beds, over wardrobes and behind closed doors, we have plenty of decluttering solutions to keep bedrooms tidy and bogeyman free.

VESSLA storage crates with castors

Your space, your stuff

Privacy is important, especially for room sharers. The PLATSA bed frame offers plenty of clutter-busting storage, as well as a subtle room divider all in one – perfect for small bedrooms or open-plan sleep spaces.

PLATSA bed frame with doors and drawers

And so to bed

With decades of bedroom experience, and even our own IKEA Comfort Lab, we know a thing or two about sleep. Visit your local IKEA store or click the link below for more sleep-inspired products and ideas.

Time to sleep