Are you another person who would rather crawl under the wool early than go out? Then you are in good company!
According to the new IKEA Sleep Report 2025, more and more people see sleep as one of life’s greatest pleasures. But strangely enough, we still sleep too little on a massive scale. Fortunately, the report also shows that with a few smart changes in our bedroom and habits, we can improve our sleep quality. Wondering how you, according to IKEA, can turn your bedroom into a true paradise for sleep? Read on!
The sleep gap: why we don’t sleep enough
According to the report, we want to sleep an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes longer than we actually do. Pretty intense, right? The consequences aren’t just bags under your eyes. Chronic lack of sleep also affects your health, mood and even the global economy (less sleep = less productivity). And worst of all, the busier we are, the less well we sleep. Stress, screen time and irregular rhythms all too often throw a spanner in the works.
To be clear, it is not the sleep quantity that matters! More important is sleep quality! Learn more in this, 11-minute, YouTube presentation from the University of the Netherlands, recorded by Merijn van de Laar.
Your bedroom as a secret sleeping tool
A restful bedroom works wonders. This makes a real difference, according to the IKEA Sleep Report:
- Comfortable bedding: consider breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen.
- A good mattress: support and comfort are essential.
- Proper temperature and air quality: fresh air = better sleep.
- As little clutter as possible: a tidy bedroom makes for a tidy head.
Tip: Work with layers: an airy plaid, several pillows and, of course, a fine duvet cover in your favorite fabric.
Screens in bed: a difficult relationship
We all know it, and yet we do it en masse: one last scroll before sleeping. But did you know that, according to this latest report, 72% of people take their phone to bed? And that this causes sleep time to shift by an average of 40 minutes?
Do you really want to sleep better?
➡️ Put your phone outside the bedroom. Use an old-fashioned alarm clock instead of your smartphone.
➡️ Or listen to a calm podcast or a good audiobook instead of scrolling endlessly?
Sleeping together = sleeping better
It might surprise you, but people who sleep together score better on average for sleep quality than solo sleepers, according to IKEA! And no, it doesn’t matter if you are spooning, back-to-back or even just together under one duvet without physical contact. The social connection helps you sleep deeper and more restfully.
Fun fact: Only 2% let pets sleep in bed with them.
Power naps and evening rituals: small habits, big effect
A short power nap of 20-30 minutes can work wonders without disrupting your nightly sleep. Parents of young children especially know how nice such a quick nap can be.
In addition, fixed rituals before bedtime are worth their weight in gold. In professional jargon, we like to call it sleep hygiene. Make sure you go to bed and get up at roughly the same time every night. This helps your body get into a natural sleep rhythm. The same little rituals every night? They might seem boring, but they signal to your brain and body that it’s bedtime. Valuable small things of importance with a grand impact. Think of:
– Brushing teeth
– Reading for a bit
– Listening to music
– Lights out, peace on
Build your own ‘sleep cocoon’
The perfect bedroom is restful, cozy, and practical. According to the IKEA Sleep Report, people scored highest on sleep satisfaction when they:
- used comfortable bedding
- had blackout curtains
- created a quiet, cool environment
- had less clutter in the room
Small changes, big results. Think, for example, of extra storage space to neatly tuck away clothes and belongings, or a soft rug to keep your feet warm. Naturally for sale at… well, exactly! 🙂
Summary: your checklist for tonight
Want to get started right away? Here is your 5-step plan according to the IKEA sleep report:
✅ Fresh sheets on your bed
✅ No phone next to your pillow
✅ Calm music or a book instead of screen time
✅ Tidy up the bedroom for a tidy mind
✅ Maintain regular bed and wake-up times (even on weekends!)
What can we remember? Well, that by investing in your bedroom and your sleep rituals, you can see immediate returns in your health and happiness. So turn off that phone, pull a lovely fresh duvet cover over your bed and dream big. And of course, you can change the word IKEA to the local bed specialist in your neighborhood. Because a good bed can really be found in many places!
Source: https://www.ikea.com/global/en/our-business/reports/sleep-report-2025-250210/