Make Life a Breeze with a Wool Doona

 

Life is complicated enough without making more work for yourself. That’s why Halcyon Dreams wants to tell you more about how a wool doona can have a positive impact on your life.

Not only does wool help you sleep better, but it is also easy to care for, so that is one less thing for you to worry about.

Make the best bedding choice

Whether you are looking for a new doona for yourself or someone in your family, wool is the best choice you can make. It is a natural material, which means it’s breathable. Not only this, but wool is clever and works with your body to keep you comfortable.

It has temperature regulating properties, which means it keeps you cool when the weather is hot and warm when the temperatures drop. It can even retain any additional moisture that is created while you sleep. Did you know it can hold up to 30% of its body weight in moisture, only releasing it when the environmental conditions are dry enough to do so?

With this, you might think that your wool doona is sure to get dirty quickly, but it is actually the opposite. Wool is naturally odour-resistant, and it self-cleans, as it would for a sheep. That means less washing for you!

Wash only when necessary

Of course, when you are buying a doona, you want to know that it’s easy to care for. Adding trips to the dry cleaners is probably not high on your list of priorities. At Halcyon Dreams, our washable wool doona lets you clean from the comfort of your home.

That said, you doona doesn’t need washing too often. A spot clean or simple airing is often sufficient to freshen up your bedding. Hang it outside in the breeze or over a large space, such as the bannisters, before placing back on your bed and enjoying its comfort once more.

Should you want to wash your doona, set your machine to a wool setting and use a detergent that is suitable for wool. Once your doona has been washed, hang it out to dry. This is best done in the air on a warm, breezy day. Ensure your doona is completely dry before putting it back on your bed. While the outside may feel dry, the layers inside may still be wet.

Get your wool doona at Halcyon Dreams

You can explore our full range of wool doonas at Halcyon Dreams today.

Create a Cosy Bed for Your Toddler

We all love that feeling of climbing into our own bed when we’re tired. It’s our haven; it’s a place where we feel safe and secure. And the same goes for your little ones. Toddlers and young children love the security and familiarity of their own beds, even though they do seem to be able to fall asleep anywhere and everywhere. However, there are often times when they just don’t want to go to bed. If you’ve experienced this with your child, it may be time to let them help you to create a cosy bed together with a wool doona and some new bedding. 

Why Choose a Wool Quilt for Your Toddler’s Bed? 

Wool bedding is a great option for babies and small children. Why? Because scientific studies carried out at the University of Sydney have shown that it can improve sleep by up to 25%. And we’d all like our little ones to sleep a little better, wouldn’t we? There are several reasons why woollen bedding can help to improve sleep, but the main reason is because wool has the natural ability to regulate our temperature. Just think about it, wool fibres have evolved to keep sheep warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. They are naturally adapted to keep the sheep at a consistent temperature. 

Woollen quilts also have a great ability to absorb moisture, so your little one won’t wake up ‘wet with sweat’. The moisture absorbed by the fibres is released back into the atmosphere to keep your toddler dry and comfortable. 

You may also have heard that wool bedding is hypoallergenic. Dust mites have a hard time surviving in wool, so they simply don’t grow. Therefore, it’s a great choice if your child suffers from asthma or eczema.

How Practical is a Woollen Quilt? 

It’s a good question. The idea of having a heavy woollen quilt which needs specialist cleaning is probably the main reason that many people are put off buying one. However, with modern technology and treatments, it’s now possible to buy a washable wool doona that you can clean in your washing machine. In the past, washing wool may have caused it to ‘felt’ i.e. cause the fibres to bind together tightly and shrink. Today’s modern wool quilts have been treated to ensure that this doesn’t happen. 

Adding the Finishing Touches

Creating a cosy bed is not all about the kind of bedding you use. Your child will be excited to go to bed if their quilt covers and pillowcases are adorned with their favourite characters or colours. Whether your little one is into Spiderman, Frozen or they just love the colour yellow; indulge them by buying bedding sets that they can relate to. Other ideas include putting up canopies or curtains that can be drawn around the bed to create a private hideaway. 

Use your imagination and create a cosy bed for your toddler this winter.

Revamp Your Bedroom for Spring

Spring is synonymous with fresh beginnings. It is a time that often sparks people to do their spring cleaning and bring about any change that may be necessary. Your bedroom is no different, and sometimes it can benefit from being revamped along with the new season. 

Refresh your bedding this spring

A great way to revamp your bedroom is by freshening up your bedding. Your bed is the centrepiece of your bedroom, and all too often we can neglect this one key area.

You should replace your duvet about every five years. If you can’t remember the last time you bought yourself a new duvet, it is probably worth investing in a new quality wool doona.

With the average person getting around eight hours sleep a night, you spend a lot of time in bed and therefore it is important to invest in quality bedding that will allow you to get the best possible night’s sleep. 

Is it time for new bedding?

If your duvet is looking a little limp and lifeless, it is probably a sign that it could do with being replaced. Similarly, if your duvet is discoloured and the filling is not evenly spread across the whole duvet, it probably means it is time for a new one. 

Why choose wool for your doona?

Purchasing a washable wool doona has many benefits for your health. This is because it is made from natural fibres and therefore helps to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter, as well as offering you the perfect protection for the other seasons. Wool wicks away any unwanted moisture in the night, helping to keep you cool and comfortable, and therefore allowing you to have a restful night’s sleep. 

For this reason, wool duvets are also great for those who share a bed and may like to be different temperatures during the night. As the wool adapts to your body, it will suit both of you. Clever.

Natural fibres also stay cleaner for longer, so they are a lot better for your overall health, especially when you consider the amount of time you spend in bed. 

The other great news is that when you purchase your doona from Halcyon Dreams, our wool duvets are washable so you will be able to keep them fresh and smelling beautiful.

Don’t forget your pillows

Along with your duvet, you should also replace your pillows. Pillows can harbour skin cells and can also house dust mites if they are not regularly replaced. Like your duvet, you can tell when your pillow needs replacing by feeling and seeing if it is looking thin and has seen better days.

Step into spring feeling refreshed

This spring replace your duvet and feel fresh for the season ahead.

6 Things to Consider When Buying a Doona

As we head through autumn and glimpse winter looming on the horizon, it’s time to consider upping our game in the bedroom stakes. And by this, we mean buying a new quilt to cope with chillier months ahead. However, before you make your purchase, here are 6 things to consider when buying a new doona.

There are many different types of doona on the market from the traditional Australian made quilt or wool quilt to mass-produced polyester quilts, so how do you know which one to choose? 

1.    Down Quilts for Downunder

For anyone who feels the cold, a down quilt is an excellent choice. Down is lightweight but warm and has the highest fill power of all the fillings available. However, if you prefer a heavier weight doona, a washable wool quilt may be the perfect solution. With its natural insulating qualities, wool will allow your skin to breathe and wick away moisture while keeping your body at the optimum temperature.

2.    The Natural Option

While wool and down are both natural options, if you tend to overheat or live in a warmer area, you may want to choose a cool fibre such as cotton, Tencel or bamboo. They’re not only ultra-absorbent but have a silky, luxurious feel and look.

3.    Synthetic Quilts for Sensitive Souls

While wool may be hypoallergenic, people with allergies may find that microfibre or polyester quilts are the best option. Many modern quilts come have an anti-allergy treatment applied during manufacture and today’s technical fibres also have the ability to wick moisture away while retaining their fullness and softness.

4.    Regular Airing and Cleaning

All quilts will build up dust, dirt, dead skin cells and dust mites during use and so will need regular airing to remain fresh. Simply hang your quilt in the sunshine to get rid of stale smells and dust. You’ll also need to have your quilt cleaned on a regular basis to prevent staining and dust mite infestations. Choosing a washable quilt may mean that it’s easier to clean although most home washing machines won’t be able to accommodate anything larger than a single sized quilt.

5.    Choosing the Correct Size 

While it seems sensible to buy a single quilt for a single bed and so on, if you find that your quilt is in a pile on the floor each morning, you may fare better with the next size up. Choosing a larger size may also help prevent arguments with your sleeping partner if they tend to hog the covers.

6.    Don’t Forget the Finishing Touches

When buying a new quilt, don’t forget the finishing touches. A new set of bedding will make your bed feel fresh and clean, while a few extra pillows and cushions will give your room an air of luxury and make it the place that you love to retire to after a busy day.

6 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a 5-Star Hotel Room

The bedroom is the one room in the house where you can let your imagination run free and create a space that truly reflects your taste. It’s the place where you go to rest after a stressful day, so why not take some ideas from luxury hotels and turn your bedroom into your ultimate sanctuary? 

From choosing a colour palette to creating the most comfortable bed complete with a sumptuous woollen underlay, here are 6 ways to make your bedroom feel like a 5-star hotel room.

1.       Decide on a Colour Scheme

While many hotels choose neutral colour schemes, you don’t need to be restricted to beige, white or grey unless you really want to. Have some fun in your room and experiment with paint samples and wallpapers to create a colour scheme you really love. 

2.       Plan Your Space

Hotel rooms often have clearly defined areas, depending on the amount of space they have available. If your room allows, create an area for sleeping, maybe add a reading space with a chair and lamp, and an area to dress. Work out which activities you plan to do in your room and plan the space accordingly. 

3.       Add Layers of Comfort

Having a well-ventilated, quiet room is the key to restful sleep. You may need to add air-conditioning if you live in a hot climate or it may be necessary to add extra insulation, both to keep the room at a constant temperature and to muffle external noises. 

Install a luxurious deep pile carpet or rug to cushion bare feet, hang fabric on the wall and think about changing your wooden headboard for the padded variety. You’ll may also want to add extra layers of luxurious fabrics to your bed, such as a wool underlay and duvet, together with pillows, cushions and throws. 

4.       Dim the Lights 

Hotel rooms rarely have just one ceiling light and a couple of bedside lamps. The designers know that the correct lighting is key to creating a relaxing environment. 

So think about extras such as three-way switches that turn on bedside lamps from the doorway, installing a light in your closet to shed light on your clothes, individually controlled reading lights and, of course, dimmer switches.

If you have an ensuite bathroom attached, you’ll need extra bright light particularly above your makeup/shaving mirror, but you may want to think about adding LED lighting strips around or under the vanity unit or bathtub for extra impact. 

5.       The Bed

Of course, the most important aspect of any bedroom is the bed, so buy the best you can afford. Add an Australian wool underlay to keep your body at an optimum temperature and protect the mattress and buy top quality bedding, such as 300 thread count sheets and duvet covers. 

Top it off with a throw that can double up as blanket when you want to snuggle up in your chair and read. 

6.       The Finishing Touches

Add your favourite art and photographs, fresh flowers and plants and any other items that reflect you and your personality to make the room unique and personal. Then lie back and enjoy all your hard work – in your luxury 5-star bedroom.

Is There A Difference Between a Wool Underlay and a Wool Topper?

Many of us are aware of the advantages of sleeping on a wool underlay rather than on one made of down, foam or polyester but with so many different products on the market; we’re often confused about whether we should be investing in an Australian wool underlay or in a woollen topper. 

So if you’ve been wondering if there a difference between the two, read on for our advice. 

The Visible Differences Between Wool Toppers and Wool Underlays

The easiest way to tell the difference between a wool underlay and a topper is by using your eyes.

An underlay has wool visible from the outside which makes it look more like a rug and is fitted to your mattress by way of a cotton skirt, much in the same way as you fit an elasticated sheet. 

A woollen topper looks more like a quilt as the woollen filling is encased inside a quilted cotton cover which is fitted to your mattress with four corner straps. 

So Why Use an Underlay Rather than a Topper? 

An underlay is used as a layer of cushioning between the mattress and your sheets to give more comfort as you sleep and protect the mattress from moisture, sweat and spills. This will help your mattress to remain cleaner and will extend its lifespan. 

The underlay also helps to spread your body weight more evenly which may help to reduce pressure on specific areas of your body, plus the natural fibres will help to keep your body at its optimum temperature throughout the year. 

However, underlays made from wool are often more expensive than woollen toppers because they are reversible. During the hot months, you can reverse the underlay so that you rest on the cotton side and then reverse it back to the wool side as it gets colder.

Wool toppers are primarily designed to protect your mattress from dirt and sweat. While the woollen filling does offer additional softness and comfort, you don’t have the advantages of being able to lie directly on the wool. 

This, of course, may be a benefit for anyone who has an allergy to wool and makes it a particularly comfortable option for summer use.

In addition, as toppers are not reversible, they often cost less than an underlay, plus they do tend to be lighter in weight too. 

The Choice is Yours

Whether you choose a woollen underlay or topper is down to personal preference and budget. While underlays tend to be more expensive, you do get all the benefits of sleeping on wool.

However, if cost is a consideration or you are irritated by woollen fibres, a topper may be a better option for you. 

But whichever you choose, you’ll still have the experience of sleeping on 100% Australian wool and the benefits that sleeping on natural fibres brings.