Wirecutter - How to get a better night of sleep

Sarah Kobos

It's Sleep Week, which means we’re talking all things sleep at Wirecutter. Enjoy a selection of our best sleep-related stories below, and check out exclusive deals on Wirecutter-approved gear to help you sleep comfortably.

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A silk eye mask, a Jurassic Park music box, and a headlamp are just a few of the things that rest alongside us on our nightstands.

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Bedtime routines are sacred, personal practices that calm us after a long day and prepare our bodies for a healing night of rest. The items we use to get a good night’s sleep, the comforts we keep close by, and the books we read in the waning hours of the day all offer a glimpse into life at its sleepiest. Here’s a peek at what we keep on our own nightstands.

It doesn’t always make sense to splurge on a pricey mattress. To save you the headache (and back pain) of wading through all the options, we found some comfortable, budget-friendly mattresses around $500 or less.

After our latest round of testing, we’ve added the Zinus Cooling Swirl, the Zinus Green Tea, the IKEA Hesstun, and the Novaform ComfortGrande as our new picks.

Zinus mattresses consistently emerged as favorites for our panelists. The Cooling Swirl Hybrid has a notably spring-forward feel, while the Zinus Green Tea gives more of a classic memory-foam hug. If you have a bit more to spend, the IKEA Hesstun is a firm innerspring mattress we recommend for stomach- and back-sleepers. If you prefer a more cradled, cushy feel, we loved the Costco NovaformGrande.

Read more in our guide to the best cheap mattresses.