There's No Place Like Home for Sleep According to New National Sleep Foundation Bedroom Poll

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Apr 01, 2012, 12:01 ET

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new National Sleep Foundation poll shows that when it comes to sleep, there really is no place like home. The National Sleep Foundation 2012 Bedroom Poll asks Americans about key elements of their bedrooms.

"This poll shows that Americans are taking control of their bedrooms and they are happy with the results," says David M. Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation.

A Good Night's Sleep
How happy? More than three-fourths (76%) of those surveyed say that they had a good night's sleep at least a few nights a week. About Nine out of ten (93%) rate having a comfortable mattress and pillows (91%) as important to getting a good night's sleep, followed closely by comfortable sheets (86%), a quiet room (74%) and bedroom darkness (73%). The poll shows that of people who report having room darkening curtains in their bedroom, 44% report managing light five out of seven nights. Surprisingly, 35% say they have no bedroom curtains or shades.

"Managing darkness in the bedroom contributes to better sleep," says Cloud.

Bedrooms Better Than Quality Hotel Rooms
The poll reveals that a majority of Americans feel that their bedroom is better than a quality hotel room. More than one-half of respondents rate their pillows (62%), quiet room (59%), sheets (56%) and mattress (55%) as better than a quality hotel's.

Still Not Sleeping Soundly
Although the poll shows more Americans are making sleep a priority, too many say that they are still having problems sleeping. About four in ten (41%) report problems with tossing and turning at least a few nights a week. Nearly one-fourth of respondents (24%) say that partner movement disturbs their sleep at least a few nights a week.

Behind Closed Doors
The 2012 Bedroom Poll also provides key insights into what are usually private bedroom decisions, rituals and traditions. For instance, Americans say that when it comes to creating a romantic environment, 73% feel that sheets and bedding are important, followed closely by the mattress (71%). Interestingly, 63% say they sleep most nights with a significant other while more than one-fourth (27%) say they sleep alone. More than three-fourths (76%) of Americans say they make their bed at least a few days a week and more than one-half (56%) say they make their beds every day or almost every day.

Electronics Place in the Bedroom
Despite modern innovations, alarm clocks still have an important place in nearly nine in ten American bedrooms (89%). A majority of those polled (71%) say they have a bedroom television of which 11% say they leave on all night. Almost four in ten (39%) say they have a computer in their bedroom with 3% saying they leave it on all night.

"We'd like to encourage people to be more aware of managing light from screens in their bedrooms," says Cloud. "Turn off TVs and computers in the bedroom."

The poll marks the second time the National Sleep Foundation has conducted a poll specifically on the bedroom and it comes on the heels of its blockbuster Sleep in America poll released last month. The entire report can be found at www.sleepfoundation.org/2012bedroompoll.

"The National Sleep Foundation is actively exploring how the emerging world of sleep science translates to the public," says Cloud. "The Bedroom Poll gives us insight into how people use this information in their everyday lives."

National Sleep Foundation Advice for Good Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping, try the following tips:

Treat your bedroom as your sanctuary from the stresses of the day. Create a comfortable sleeping environment with a quality mattress and pillows that is free of distractions.
Be sure your bedroom is dark when you go to bed and will stay dark until you get the sleep you need. Use light blocking curtains or shades to be sure your room stays dark.
Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Allow enough time to wind down and relax before going to bed.
If you find yourself still lying awake after 20 minutes, get out of bed. Get up and do something relaxing in dim light until you are sleepy.
Avoid exposure to bright light late at night. Dim your lights when it's close to bedtime, and use night lights for nighttime awakenings.
Exercise regularly. Exercise in the morning can help you get the light exposure you need to set your biological clock. Avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime, if you are having problems sleeping.
Use a sound conditioner or ear plugs to block unwanted sounds.
Avoid caffeinated beverages, large meals and alcohol right before bedtime.
No late-afternoon or evening naps, unless you work nights. If you must nap, keep it under 45 minutes and before 3:00 pm.

About the National Sleep Foundation and the Bedroom Poll
The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving sleep health and safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. It is well-known for its annual Sleep in America poll. The Foundation is a charitable, educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington, D.C. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine, professionals in the health, medical and science fields, individuals, patients, families affected by drowsy driving and more than 900 healthcare facilities throughout North America.

The Bedroom Poll was developed independently by the National Sleep Foundation. NSF received financial support from Serta and Ellery Homestyles to conduct the poll. Information about the National Sleep Foundation, the current and other polls and a database of sleep professionals and sleep centers who can be contacted to comment on this story or refer patients to be interviewed can be found online at www.sleepfoundation.org.

Poll Methodology
The National Sleep Foundation commissioned WB&A Market Research to conduct this public opinion poll exploring characteristics of American bedrooms and the perceived effect of the bedroom environment on sleep. A total of 500 telephone interviews and 504 web surveys were conducted. In order to qualify for this study, respondents had to be between the ages of 25-55.

In survey research, the entire population is typically not interviewed, but rather a sample of that population is polled. Therefore, the data are subject to sampling error. The maximum sampling error of the data for the total sample of 1,004 interviews is +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The sampling error will vary depending on the sample size and the percentages being examined in the sample.

SOURCE National Sleep Foundation