From affordable high-thread-count sheets to snuggly dressing gowns, Marks & Spencer has long been our go-to when it comes to bedroom buys; and now the launch of its in-store Sleep Shop, dedicated to all things dreamy, is good news for the 38% of Brits who feel they don’t get enough sleep.
“We know how important sleep is to our customers,” says Karen Thomas, head of design for home and beauty at Marks & Spencer. “So although we’ve been selling bed linen since the 1970s, this current trend for thinking about sleep as an essential pillar for health and wellness feels very timely. Everyone has different sleep needs, whether it’s a customer who likes to be warmer than their partner, or the changing of the seasons or a stressful period causing disturbed sleep. Hopefully in the Sleep Shop we are addressing all of these things.”
Marks & Spencer is a brand known for blending comfort and design – whether that’s in underwear or shoes – and it’s an ethos that extends to its bedding too. “The Comfortably Cool range is something I’m particularly proud of because it feels very cutting edge,” says Thomas. “It uses a Tencel cotton blend that is a sustainable fibre derived from eucalyptus trees. It has naturally wickable properties, so it helps to regulate body temperature. The fact that it feels really silky and luxurious is a bonus.” Another fabric Thomas is excited about is the aptly named DreamSkin. “This is a super-soft cotton, exclusive to Marks & Spencer, which is designed to soothe sensitive skin,” she says. “It’s approved by the British Skin Foundation, so we know it works.”
M&S’s new Sleep Shop pillows, aromatherapy and linen
The Sleep Shop, which will be in 30 Marks & Spencer stores across the UK – with bedding available in more than 150 stores – will also have a curated selection of lifestyle products to help you get your beauty sleep. “We know our customers see their home as a sanctuary to retreat to after a busy day, and having a good self-care routine before bed can really aid sleep,” says Thomas. “So we’ve carefully chosen products that contain calming ingredients to set you up for bedtime. There’s the Ragdale Hall Sleep Bath Elixir, which is infused with the scent of lavender and blended with bois de rose, clary sage and geranium. Another product that has had a fantastic response from customers is the This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray.”
Thomas says that working on the Sleep Shop has improved her own bedtime habits. “Before I worked on this project, I didn’t realise how important it is to have that wind-down time before going to bed,” she says. “Now I make the effort to turn off my phone, get into loungewear, light a candle, run a bath. It makes such a big difference to how easily I drop off and how rested I feel in the morning.”
But good bedtimes can’t happen without the basics, and finding the perfect mattress can be enough to lose sleep over. The Sleep Council – an organisation that raises awareness of the importance of a good night’s sleep to your health – recommends lying on a mattress for 20 minutes before buying it, and that’s something Thomas says customers are welcome to do in store. “We encourage people to spend some time to get to know the products and find the best one for them,” she says. “We also have specially trained staff in the Sleep Shop who can answer questions. A lot of people don’t realise that it’s not just about the mattress – you might need a different mattress topper, or a different pillow too.”
Thomas says the company is proud of their rigorous testing regime. “We put the mattresses through their paces in a lab and they do all sorts of weird and wonderful strength tests to help us understand the maximum use you can get out of them,” she says. Like jumping on the bed? “Some are like that. We also do user trials with the team, where we get to take home the products and try them out ourselves.” Does she have more pyjamas than she knows what to do with? “I’m more of a fan of the bed linen actually – my laundry cupboard is overflowing.” We’d expect no less.
The Dream Team
Karen Thomas’s picks for your best sleep ever
Comfortably Cool Pillowcase, £8
‘I tend to get quite hot at night – and this also washes brilliantly’
Waffle Dressing Gown, £15
‘This has a satisfying snuggly texture and a lovely, heavy weight to it’
Apothecary Calm candles, £7.50, and diffusers, £15
‘I love the lavender scent so I have loads of these in my home because they’re really relaxing and spa-like’
The M&S Sleep Shop has everything you need for a great night’s sleep. To find out more, go to marksandspencer.com/l/the-sleep-shop or visit a Sleep Shop in your local store
