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20 Better Sleep Essentials That’ll Have You Waking Up Well-Rested Every Morning

Sweet dreams are made of these.

black man and woman sleeping in bed with white sheets, better sleep essentials
Shutterstock/Prostock-studio

Whether you’re a natural night owl or a genuine morning person, virtually everyone finds themselves staring at the clock, struggling to get enough quality sleep at one point or another. And while getting enough exercise, skipping those late-afternoon Red Eyes, and turning off the TV before bed can help, many people still find themselves struggling to get to sleep—and stay asleep—all night. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best sleep essentials to make sure you’ll start each day feeling refreshed. And if you’re looking to improve your sleep habits overall, check out these 25 Things You’re Doing That Would Horrify Sleep Doctors.


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1 | These blackout curtains

gray room with dark gray blackout curtains, better sleep essentialsHome Depot

Those first rays of sunshine might be great to wake up to, but those motion-activated security lights your neighbor installed beaming through your window is definitely not the way you want to be roused out of your slumber. These blackout curtains not only eliminate light pollution—a major factor in many folks' sleepless nights—but they’re also as easy to install as switching out your current set. Bonus: Since they're keeping the sun from getting in, these curtains can  also help keep any room cooler all day long, as well as reducing the chance your furniture or flooring will fade. And for more easy ways to spruce up around the house, check out these 23 Genius Home Improvement Projects You Can Do in an Hour (or Less!).

Home Depot
$26

2 | This magnesium oil spray

bottle of magnesium oil spray, better sleep essentialsUrban Outfitters

Pre-bedtime rituals can play a huge part in setting yourself up for successful slumber. This body spray combines pure magnesium chloride with lavender and arnica oil to promote a calming and restful sleep.

Urban Outfitters
$14 $10

3 | This smart humidifier

white humidifier, better sleep essentialsNordstrom

Improving the air quality in your bedroom can mean the difference between a restful sleep and sniffling and sneezing all night long. This smartphone-controlled humidifier also acts as an aroma diffuser and silent air purifier, which can help reduce stress and combat allergies morning, day, and night.

Nordstrom Rack
$70

4 | This metronome light sleep aid

hand touching round device on tabletop with analog alarm clock, better sleep essentialsThe Grommet

Guided meditations are great for falling asleep. But stumbling around in the dark for headphones and firing up a relaxation app at 2 a.m. to get things going? Not so much. This lamp will help you soundlessly control your breathing with soft pulses of light that will eventually lull you to sleep.

The Grommet
$59

5 | This plush weighted blanket

stack of three weighted blankets in green, white, and gray, better sleep essentialsBed Bath & Beyond

Whether it’s part of your lazy self-care Sunday or a stress-reducing way to help you fall asleep, weighted blankets have become popular for a reason. Lie down under one of these to feel hugged, secure, and relaxed all night long. And for more easy ways to bliss out, check out these 27 Relaxation Gifts You'll Want to Keep for Yourself.

Bed Bath & Beyond
$130 and up

6 | These reusable silicone earplugs

blue packet and ear plugs on a white background with a cup of coffee, phone, and pen, better sleep essentialsAmazon

You may not be able to stop your neighbor’s dog from barking at every single car that passes at night, but with these super-effective earplugs, you won’t have to.

Amazon
$16 $10

7 | This lavender pillow spray

two brown bottles with brown labels on a bed of crushed lavender, better sleep essentialsEtsy

Some of the better sleep essentials on the market are simple and nature-based. This pillow spray is made with lavender and chamomile, which promote a healthy sleep cycle and help to reduce stress and insomnia.

Etsy

8 | These melatonin-based sleep gummies

bottle of melatonin gummies, better sleep essentialsTarget

Even if they work in the moment, traditional medicinal-strength sleeping pills can leave you feeling groggy and dazed the following morning. These gummies rely on natural botanicals and melatonin to help you fall asleep without the after-effects.

Target
$16

9 | This white noise machine

lectrofan white noise machine, better sleep essentialsAmazon

White noise machines are popular for parents with newborn babies for a reason: They work incredibly well! This machine comes with multiple settings to help you drown out any outdoor noise and create a peaceful, sleepy ambiance.

Amazon
$50

10 | This over-the-head relaxation pillow

woman with white pillow on her head, better sleep essentialsThe Grommet

Eye masks are great for promoting sleep, and so are weighted blankets. But what if you combine the two to create a noise-reducing, light-eliminating sleep aid? Then it would probably look a lot like the Sleep Crown, which brings them all together in one product.

The Grommet
$168

11 | These sleep and wake up patches

pink and blue packets on white background, better sleep essentialsUncommon Goods

The only thing better than a tool that helps you fall asleep is one that also helps you wake up the morning after. These all-natural patches use melatonin, hops, and valerian root to get you cozy at night and B12, B1, caffeine, and green tea extract to help keep you going through the day. And if you’re looking for more mid-afternoon pick-me-ups, check out The 25 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers.

Uncommon Goods
$12

12 | This aromatherapy diffuser

aromatherapy diffuser, better sleep essentialsBed Bath & Beyond

Closing your eyes to go to sleep at night heightens your sense of smell, which means aromatherapy can be an important tool in your fight against insomnia. This diffuser is compact enough to fit on a bedside table or dresser, but can still store up to two bottles of essential oils at a time.

Bed Bath & Beyond
$40

13 | This aromatherapy essential oil blend

purple box of essential oils, better sleep essentialsTarget

Your brand new diffuser may look pretty, but it’s only as useful as the scents you put in it! This blend contains over seven sleep-inducing ingredients, including lavender, tangerine oil, bergamot, cypress oil, frankincense, and chamomile.

Target

14 | This sleep-tracking mattress pad

man tucking gray sleep tracker under mattress, better sleep essentialsAmazon

The more information you have on how you sleep, the easier it is to address any problems you may have. Using the app included with this below-mattress sleep pad can help figure out what’s disturbing your slumber, including snoring and noise disturbances, and can help coach you towards more restful nights. And if you’re in the market for more gadgets to make your life easier, check out these 23 Awesome Tech Gifts You Must Have.

Amazon
$100

15 | This contoured sleep mask

black sleep mask, better sleep essentialsAmazon

Traditional eye masks are great for blocking light, but pressure right up against your eyes and eyelashes can make them a hard sell for sensitive sleepers. This lightweight mask acts as a personal set of blackout curtains with contoured cups that rise above the eyes, allowing for more comfortable mid-sleep eye movements—perfect for getting some rest when you’re on a flight. And if you’re looking for more products that make getting around that much easier, check out these 25 Must-Pack Summer Travel Essentials Under $25.

Amazon
$12

16 | This memory foam arm tunnel pillow

woman sleeping on white pillow, better sleep essentialsHayneedle

Side sleepers rejoice! This comfortable pillow can help you fall asleep in your favorite position without having to worry about that dreaded pins-and-needles wake-up at some point in the night.

Hayneedle
$85 $64

17 | This personal air conditioner

woman touching white box on desk with laptop and notebook, better sleep essentialsThe Grommet

Setting a cooler overnight room temperature is one of the easiest ways to help promote better sleep, but this can be tricky if you’re a hot sleeper and your partner isn’t. This compact personal air conditioner can fit comfortably on your bedside table—and, better yet, can help avoid any bedtime thermostat arguments.

The Grommet
$99

18 | These sleep-friendly headphones

two headphone headbands, better sleep essentialsBed Bath & Beyond

Using a guided meditation app to fall asleep can be incredibly effective, but waking up to a set of missing earbuds kind of negates the purpose. These soft headband headphones will stay comfortably secure in place, whether you’re listening to mellow music or a calming mantra.

Bed Bath & Beyond
$40

19 | This calming herbal tea

packet of herbal tea, better sleep essentialsUrban Outfitters

Even if aromatherapy or meditation apps aren’t your cup of tea for sleep prep, this ethically wildcrafted herbal blend just might be.

Urban Outfitters
$14 $10

20 | This wake-up light alarm clock

phillips wake up light with yellow light, better sleep essentialsAmazon

Rising with the sun is a great way to use your body’s natural rhythm to wake up feeling refreshed, but not every bedroom is a light-flooded paradise. Luckily, this lamp can replicate the sunrise to help rouse you the right way. Besides, if this can replace your phone as your alarm and get it off your nightstand, you’re bound to sleep a lot more! And if you’re looking to wake up completely au naturel, check out How to Wake Yourself Up Without an Alarm Clock.

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Amazon
$46