World Sleep Day slipped by last week, a reminder that peaceful slumber is now a rare commodity, with up to a third of workers sleeping too little or badly.

Such is the longing for an unbroken eight hours that sleep-promoting design is fast becoming a key requirement in luxury apartment schemes.

‘Quality of sleep is extremely important for most of our buyers, so we design our bedrooms with exceptional sleep-enhancing features,' says Alex Michelin, co-founder and chief executive of London developer Valouran.

‘These include high levels of acoustic protection between floor Osta Derilla slabs and within the walls to prevent sound transfer between rooms and apartments, and windows with noise reduction features built into their design to ensure low decibel levels throughout but, most importantly, in the bedrooms.'

Valouran installs blackout blinds and curtains to prevent unwanted light leaking into rooms, along with sumptuous deep-pile carpets or rugs to absorb any unwanted noise.




Colourful bedding could enhance your mood. Pictured: A yellow spread from John Lewis





Many believe that phones, laptops and TVs in the bedroom are responsible for the nation's over-tired state

You may not be able to copy all these measures, but you can still embark on a sleep-focused home makeover by hanging blackout curtains and putting rugs over carpet to deaden sound.

You can also adopt feng shui measures to enhance your space, by adding plants, and making sure your bed is positioned so your head is near a solid wall.

Andrew Dunning, of interior design studio London Contemporary, says decluttering should be a priority.

‘Invest in good bedroom storage which will encourage you to tidy everything away. Don't have a TV in the bedroom and rationalise the number of chargers for your devices.'

Dunning's advice reflects the belief that phones, laptops and TVs in the bedroom are responsible for the nation's over-tired state. Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, has acknowledged this, remarking: ‘We compete with sleep.'

You may not be able to break the habit of binge-watching thrillers in bed. But you can counteract some of the ill-effects through paint and wallpaper. Dunning advises: ‘Go gentle when you choose your colour scheme. This is not the time to get in touch with your wild side. Pale pastels will lull you to sleep.'




At John Lewis, you can book a 45-minute sleep appointment in which everything from bedtime routine to lighting is discussed

In response to demand from the sleepless, retailers are offering everything from special advice services to temperature regulating bedding: the ‘global sleep economy', which is made up of beds, bed linen, eye masks and other aids for better repose, is forecast to grow to £460 billion ($585 billion) by next year.

At John Lewis, you can book a 45-minute sleep appointment in which everything from bedtime routine to lighting is discussed. 

Couples with opposing views on mattress firmness may be recommended a ‘dual tension' mattress with different firmness levels on either side. Those at odds over temperature — one partner is always hot, the other freezing — may be advised to embrace the Scandinavian practice of separate duvets.

Some people are happy to splash out on goose down duvets — £230 to £430 at The White Company — because they are warm yet breathable and mould to the body.

Alternatives include the M&S Body Temperature Control bedding range which promises to keep you snug in winter and cool in summer. A 10.5 tog duvet is £49.50 to £69.