SLEEPING IN A NATURAL AND CALMING ENVIRONMENT

I love natural materials, they make me feel a closer connection to nature even when I am indoors and they have a calming effect on the soul. My grandfather was a furniture maker and wood turner, my mum is an excellent knitter and my dad can turn his hand to creating anything – from furniture to decorative painting. So I have always been surrounded by handcrafted homewares, wood, plants and natural fibres all my life. At home here, we replace items throughout the house as they wear out – with handmade and ethical alternatives.This includes creating a calming bedroom for the colder seasons. I have swapped out my bedside table for a plant and now leave my phone in the office so it’s not the first thing I see when I wake up. Having suffered from allergies (hayfever, dust mites, pets) and asthma since I was a child. It seems to make sense to have less stuff in each room, then there are fewer places for the dust to lay. Although my allergies and asthma have eased off over the years, the cold weather can make my breathing a little more uneasy and I keep an inhaler with me at all times. Plus natural remedies to tackle an irritated nose and throat. Combine that with renovations raising the dust levels – trying to keep all our bedding fresh and dust free has been quite a challenge.Using natural and holistic ways to keep the dust down with eco cleaning products has been a help. Our friends also recommended getting a wool duvet and pillows as they had invested in some and were really happy with the change. Then last month the folks from Woolroom got in touch to see if I would like to try out some of their hypoallergenic bedding and I am so happy they did. Wallis (below) was actually the first one in the household to try everything out!The pillow feels as if it had always been mine, no awkward first-night neck aches – a first. The duvet feels lighter compared with the heavy polyester one we had before, but very cosy. Wool has amazing qualities, my mum has been a wool enthusiast forever so it’s not news to me that these incredible fibres absorb and desorb moisture whenever necessary to keep the sheep dry and healthy. When used for bedding, the dry environment created by wool fibres inhibits bacteria, fungus and dust mites (wahoo!) amongst other things. Animal welfare and the environment are always top of our list when investing in new items for our home. We eat a plant-based diet and only use ethically and responsibly sourced natural fibres. Wool is a renewable resource and sheep need to be shorn annually to keep them healthy, happy and pest free in the hotter months. So to make use of the excess of these amazing fibres makes total sense. Plus – it is biodegradable and kinder to the environment than oil-based synthetics, which contribute to global pollution.I am super keen to stick to organic textiles wherever possible in our home, so chose Woolroom’s luxury bedding range, encased in a high thread count, unbleached organic cotton outer. Made with a blend of 100% British organic alpaca & wool fibres quilted between organic unbleached cotton for the ‘best natural sleep experience’ and maximum eco-credentials. Our mattress has a natural cotton cover but is memory foam so it is not compatible with an electric blanket. I love a toasty hot bed but don’t like all the wires or the thought of being plugged into the electrics anyhow! So we have added a cosy mattress topper to add an extra layer of warmth and comfort. When we get into bed it immediately feels softer, cosier and warm, like a woolly cloud. If you were to only add one natural fibre addition to your bed I would highly recommend it be a wool and alpaca mattress topper. This thing is the best.As this bedding is entirely natural, it shouldn’t need cleaning too often. Just like woollen blankets, simply hanging the bedding out in the fresh air can do it the world of good. That is my kind of maintenance! When we do come around to cleaning it outer covers can be machine washed at home and the inner sealed pillow can be taken to the dry cleaners.This collaboration is an honest review in my own words in exchange for the above-mentioned products (I would happily buy) from Woolroom. All words are my own and I can honestly say I enjoying being in bed more than ever, the only problem is – I don’t ever want to get up. Give them a try for the ultimate dust free hypoallergenic sleep!