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Twin Lamps
Casper Glow Lamp
Reset Your Circadian Rhythms
BIOS Skyview Lamp
Bedside Tea Service
Ember Mug 2 (14 Ounces)
Bedside Humidifier
HealthSmart Cool Mist Humidifier Lamp
Between anxiety and insomnia, I’ve always had trouble sleeping, and I’m not alone. Chances are, you or someone you know is not getting enough sleep, and that can have a serious impact on your health. In the past few years, a few of us on the Gear Team have worked tirelessly to transform our bedrooms into the comfiest, coziest places possible to help coax ourselves into that ever-elusive restful night of sleep.
We’ve tested dozens of sleep products for various guides and reviews–everything from sheets, and weighted blankets to sound machines and sex toys. The best of the best are listed here, and we can attest that each one of these has helped us sleep a little better at night. I hope they help you, or a loved one, too.
Updated December 2023: Updated pricing and availability for most items on the list, added new links to a few products, added the Gravity Original Weighted Blanket, Beats Fit Pro Earbuds, Helix Sleep Midnight Luxe mattress, and updated copy throughout.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides this season, including the Best Gifts to Relieve Stress, Gifts for New Parents, and Great Gifts Under $25.
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Photograph: Casper
Twin Lamps
Casper Glow Lamp
When it comes to gentle, glowing bedside lamps, Casper’s Glow is on the high end of the price spectrum, but for $229 you do get two of the little guys. The compact lamp doesn’t feature much in the way of external controls—there’s just one button on top and another on the bottom. You mostly control it with touch gestures. Twist it to brighten or dim, and flip it over to turn it on or off. It sheds a warm sun-like light that gradually darkens when it’s time for bed. There’s also an app you can use to control the lamp. Tell it when you’d like to wake up and the Glow Lamp will brighten gradually to help you rise and shine.
It’s also a great night-light. If you have to get up in the middle of the night, you can pick it up off its charging base, give it a wiggle to put it in night-light mode, and carry it around like a little lantern.
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Photograph: BIOS
Reset Your Circadian Rhythms
BIOS Skyview Lamp
The BIOS SkyView lamp uses satellite data and an array of internal LEDs to precisely mimic the day and night cycle in your location—the idea being to keep your sleep cycle more regulated. When I first started testing this lamp I was skeptical, but after a couple days with it in my living room, my partner and I found ourselves getting tired and going to bed much earlier than usual.
I can’t say it gave me better sleep, but it definitely had an effect on my sleep cycle. Plus, it’s a gorgeous piece of decor. The daylight colors flow down the lamp’s enormous bulb in hues of blue and white, and as the sun goes down shades of red, purple, and orange creep in to mimic a sunset. It’s gorgeous.
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Photograph: Ember
Bedside Tea Service
Ember Mug 2 (14 Ounces)
Ember’s smart mug is a great choice for coffee in the morning, keeping your cup of motivation warm throughout your workday. But it’s also a surprisingly capable sleep aid. Fill it up with a calming herbal tea (I’m a sucker for Sleepytime) and set it up at your bedside. You’ll have warm sleepy tea waiting for you if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep.
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Photograph: Amazon
Bedside Humidifier
HealthSmart Cool Mist Humidifier Lamp
When you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep, the right lighting is super important. The HealthSmart humidifier lamp is an LED lamp that sheds gentle multicolored light that can help you wind down at bedtime.
The humidifier inside plays two roles to help you fall asleep. First, if you’re stuffy or a little sick, a humidifier can help keep your nasal passages from getting too inflamed while you sleep. It can also be used to diffuse essential oils for a little aromatherapy. Just know that some essential oils can be dangerous to pets.
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Photograph: Gravity
A Different Kind of Mask
Gravity Blanket Sleep Mask
I wasn’t a sleep mask person before I tried this one. Something about having a mask on my face always kept me from getting to sleep. Even the nice cooling ones full of gel beads felt weird on my face. This one, full of the same kind of heavy material as Gravity’s weighted blankets, feels incredible. Just strapping this 1-pound mask on my head makes me sleepy.
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Photograph: Gravity Blanket
Cozy Weight
Gravity Blanket Original Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets are just one of many ways to manage your anxiety, but they’re the only one that actively encourages you to take a nap, which is a big plus in my book. My absolute favorite weighted blanket is definitely the Original by Gravity Blankets. Its covered in a plush exterior that’s super soft to the touch, and it’s securely stitched throughout so you don’t lose any of that interior sand (that’s the part that weighs you down).
If you’ve never tried one, weighted blankets give you a comforting sense of being gently held—like a swaddle for adults. They’re great for anyone with an anxiety disorder (me!) or anyone who generally has trouble falling asleep (also me!).
For more picks check out our Best Weighted Blankets guide!
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Photograph: Beats
Earbuds to Sleep In
Beats Fit Pro
These are designed for being active, not sleeping, but they’re surprisingly comfy to sleep in. The little ear hook keeps them in place even when you toss and turn, and they do a great job of drowning out background noise without sealing up your ears too tight (that awful feeling earbuds can give, like they’re sucking the air out of your head). Plus, they produce deep rumbly bass and richly layered audio.
For more picks, check out our Best Earbuds for Working Out guide.
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Photograph: Google
Mini Noise Machine
Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
Just say, “Hey Google, play rain sounds,” and the Nest Mini will play you a gentle rain shower loop until you tell it to stop. As white-noise machines go, that’s about as easy as it gets. You can even set up a routine in the Google Home app to play a particular white noise or music playlist at a particular time to help you go to sleep and a different one when it’s time to wake up.
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to be wary of bringing an always-on microphone into your bedroom, but the Nest Mini really can help you get a better night’s sleep. Having one on a bedside table is nice, because the mute button is within easy reach.
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the HomePod Mini is also great for this!
Check out our favorite sound machines for more help with “white noise.”
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Photograph: Jambys
Snuggle Pants
Jambys Pajama Shorts
These are the softest, stretchiest, comfiest boxer-style shorts you’re likely to find anywhere. They’re plush to the touch and even have pockets. Even on these cold winter nights, they’re a constant companion of mine. As a warm sleeper who often kicks off the blankets in the middle of the night, it’s nice to have sleepwear that’s comfy and breathable without being too warm or stifling.
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Photograph: Casper
Like Sleeping on a Cloud
Casper Nova Mattress
Casper’s Nova mattress has been an absolute joy. I’m a picky sleeper, and a mattress that’s too soft or too firm will keep me up at night. Casper’s Nova is right in the middle, fitting for a hybrid mattress with springs, foam, and a plush—but not too plush—pillow top. It’s honestly so comfortable that it’s hard to get out of in the morning. The springs are soft but springy and contour to your body perfectly. This one also keeps me cool in the middle of the night, even when sleeping with a partner.
Check out more of our favorite mattresses here.
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Photograph: Helix Sleep
Cooling and Luxurious
Helix Sleep Midnight Luxe Hybrid Mattress
If you have trouble sleeping and you’ve tried tons of other mattresses, this might be the pick for you. It’s packed with features designed to reduce back pain, keep you cool with a layer of gel foam, and do everything it can to get you to sleep. The hybrid in the name refers to the fact that it has not only six layers of foam of different densities, but also wrapped inner springs for extra support and structure.
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Photograph: Parachute
Modern, Classic Sheets
Parachute Linen Sheet Set
If there’s one thing you should invest in when trying to get a better night’s sleep, it’s a good set of sheets. Linen sheets are kind of an extravagance. They age well, get softer over time, and are extremely durable—but they are pricey, and these linen sheets from Parachute are no exception. They’re designed for longevity, and they have a well-earned reputation.
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Photograph: Nest
Heavy but Comfy
Nest Wool Comforter
The right comforter makes a big difference when you’re a notoriously restless sleeper. I’m a fan of weighted blankets, and while this merino wool comforter isn’t weighted specifically, it does have a good solid weight to it. It’s soft, plush, and airy, but heavy enough that sleeping under it feels like wrapping yourself in a warm hug. The wool filling is cozy and warm, but it’s also breathable, so you don’t get sweaty underneath.
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Photograph: Parachute
Napping Companion
Parachute Cloud Cotton Quilt
If weighted blankets aren’t your taste but you’d like a good napping blanket, the Cloud Cotton Quilt from Parachute is a killer choice. It’s stretchy and soft and just heavy enough that it drapes comfortably over your body without weighing you down. It’d be perfectly at home folded up on the back of a couch or at the foot of a bed. It’s also a great blanket for houseguests sleeping over.
My favorite way to use this plush and cozy quilt is to fold it up and lay it down on the floor like a big body pillow. Seriously, you’ll never have a better nap.
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Photograph: Thuma
Build-a-Bed
Thuma Wooden Bed Frame (No Tools Required)
A mattress is important, but a bed frame can be just as important. Thuma’s platform bed frame is super sturdy, made from solid wood and fitted together with cleverly designed joints. Those joints offer the bed just enough give to let it settle into itself, but not so much that it creaks or makes noise when it’s getting a good jostling. It’s remarkably quiet and makes me feel a lot less self-conscious about tossing and turning in the middle of the night. After three years of sleeping on this bed, and moving with it two times, it’s still in perfect condition. This one is the gift that really does keep on giving.
Did I mention you can build it in about 10 minutes without a single tool?
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Photograph: Dame
An Adult Lullaby
Dame Pom Flexible Vibrator
Let’s be real here. When you’re trying to get to sleep, sometimes the best thing you can do is give yourself a little extra self-care. Dame’s Pom vibrator is a personal favorite. It’s small, powerful, and versatile. Packed with a wide variety of vibration patterns and intensities, it’s a great toy for people of all genders and sexes—whether you’re playing solo or with partners. Pom just feels friendly and approachable, and is a good choice whether it’s your first sex toy or your hundredth.
Check out our sex tech buying guide for an in-depth look at toys and tech for every body.
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Photograph: bilalulker/Alamy
The Gift of Music
YouTube Premium Subscription
Music streaming services are a great way to help yourself or a loved one get a better night’s sleep. Spotify and Apple Music all have playlists of dedicated rain sounds, ocean sounds, or other white noise that can help you relax and unwind at the end of the day. I prefer these to buying albums of relaxing sounds because streaming services offer a wider variety of tunes.
YouTube Premium is also a great option (and it includes YouTube Music) if you’re more visually inclined. Having a TV on all night isn’t too bad if it’s just displaying a serene river scene on a 10-hour loop.
