Lamplight should glow rather than shine, like this vase design (£12, Habitat), which riffs on the classic Glo-Ball.
Fabric shades give a softer light: these (£145, Twentytwentyone) will fit on the smallest bedside table, or stand on the floor.
For those who like to read, the cuboluce (£68, from ambientedirect.com) lightens and darkens as the lid opens and shuts with a flat, smart snap that sounds soothingly conclusive.
An eye mask can be handy, especially if you can’t close down those recharge lights on the laptop or phone. This one (£6.50, Soak & Sleep) is a bargain.
Why not charge your phone downstairs and treat yourself to a nice alarm clock? (Remember those?) This one (£28, Aria) won’t tell you the time if the room is quiet, unless you ask it to.
No one wants to be reminded that yet another sleepless second has ticked by, so opt for a tick-free clock. This one (£27, from 4alarmclocks.com) is ideal.
Noise is often out of our controlk, but not with earplugs – try these psychedelic ones (£2.82, by Moldex, from amazon.co.uk) for colourful dreams.
You need somewhere to lay your book, but bedside tables can be expensive. A cheaper option can be to repurpose a side table such as this one (£65, Habitat).
I recommend keeping any of Marilynne Robinson’s brilliant books to hand. They are beautifully written and very slow, and when I need help sleeping – forgive me, Marilynne – I sometimes turn to Gilead (Virago, £7.19).
If your pillows feel flat, or you know they are old, get some new ones. The same applies to duvets. This “Savoy” pillow (£55, Beaumont & Brown) is “the pillow of choice for hotels like the Connaught, Claridges, Limewood and Gidleigh Park”, but its prices are comparable to The White Company.
If you don’t have a mattress topper – as opposed to a thin mattress protector – invest in one. They can be pricey but this (from £110, John Lewis) is a good-value option.
Bed linen is a divisive subject. I like a flat, matte weave, such as the percale by Descamps (from £42, from french-brand.com). It’s excruciatingly expensive, but it does appear in sales. Cologne & Cotton has plain and printed matte sheeting, too (from £7.20), and washes well for much less money.
