
Nicola Appleton
Nicola is the Sleep Editor at Tom’s Guide, where she helps steer the mattress and sleep content published on Tom’s Guide, including our Best Mattress for Back Pain buying guide. With a career in journalism spanning the best part of two decades, Nicola brings experience to the team and the knowledge of what makes a great article, whether that’s a how-to mattress cleaning feature, a deep dive into melatonin gummies, or an in-depth mattress review. As a sleep editor, few better understand how important a decent mattress is to the overall quality of our sleep, and precisely how our sleep impacts our physical and mental health. As well as tackling the vast topic of sleep, Nicola joins the raft of expert mattress specialists at Tom’s Guide, who test and compare a wide range of mattresses in order to guide readers towards the very best options on the market.
Latest articles by Nicola Appleton

What is a nighttime routine for adults and how do they help you fall asleep faster?
By Nicola Appleton last updated
A nighttime routine can help you fall asleep faster and wake up energized — here's what you need to do.

The best Beautyrest mattress sales for April 2025: Save $200 on Harmony Lux beds
By Nicola Appleton last updated
This month's Beautyrest mattress sales feature savings on its Harmony Lux beds, plus pillow deals.

How to remove mattress stains and smells — get rid of pee, vomit, yellow marks and more
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Accidents happen, so here's how to remove pee, vomit, smells, and yellow mattress stains in seven easy steps.

Which Nectar mattress should you buy?
By Nicola Appleton, Ruth Jones last updated
Which Nectar mattress is the bed in a box for you? Here's our guide to the Nectar mattress line-up, tested and chosen by experts.

The best mattress for back pain 2025: 10 expert picks to help you sleep comfortably
By Jo Plumridge last updated
We've slept on and tested all the latest beds — these are the mattresses for back pain that provided pain-free mornings.

Can't sleep? 1 hour of screen time in bed increases insomnia by 59%, study shows
By Nicola Appleton published
Screen time in bed is linked to poor quality sleep, a new study shows — here’s why, plus how to break the habit.

Can you use a mattress topper as a mattress? Yes, but there are risks — here's why
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Want to save money and switch your mattress for a bed topper? We don’t recommend it, here’s why…

7 signs that you have dust mites in your mattress — and why that's bad for your sleep
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Seven tell-tale signs dust mites are lurking in your mattress, plus how to get rid of them quickly.

The luxury hybrid mattress I recommend to everyone drops to its joint lowest price in new Sleep Week deal
By Nicola Appleton published
The Helix Midnight Luxe mattress is a dream for side sleepers, and it's 27% off for Sleep Week.

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress review
By Alison Barretta last updated
We tested the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress to see if it really can deliver "legendary pressure relief" — and justify the price tag.

My husband and I finally found a mattress we can agree on — and it's 27% off in today’s Presidents' Day sales
By Nicola Appleton published
There's $775 off the Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress in today's Presidents' Day sales, and it's a dream for both back and side sleepers.

The best mattresses on Amazon 2025: Our 7 top-rated picks
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Find the best Amazon mattress for your budget and sleep needs, courtesy of our expertly-curated list.

How to return a mattress in a box — what you need to know before Presidents’ Day sales
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Thinking of buying a mattress in a box in the Presidents' Day sales? Here's how to return it if it's not right for your sleep.

I'm a mattress tester with lower back pain — here are 3 beds I'd buy in the Saatva Presidents' Day sale
By Nicola Appleton published
Saatva's Presidents' Day sale has landed, taking $400 off all mattresses over $1,000. This is what I'd buy as a bed tester with lower back pain.

Is sleeping on your stomach bad for you? Yes, but you can fix that — here’s how
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Sleeping on your stomach can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain. But the right mattress can help with all that.

Helix Dusk Luxe Mattress review
By Alex Temblador last updated
Is the Helix Dusk Luxe still one of the most comfortable mattresses for stomach sleepers? Here's what we think.

How to get rid of dust mites from your mattress, pillows and bedding
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Dust mites can aggravate allergies and disrupt your sleep. Here’s how to remove them from your mattress, pillows and bedding.

Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review
By Nicola Appleton last updated
We retested this luxury Helix mattress to see if it still offers the superb pressure relief side sleepers crave

Affordable vs luxury mattress: Should you save or splurge?
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Should you buy an affordable bed or a luxury mattress? Here's how to choose between them, plus what you get for your money.

Don't worry if you keep waking up at night — expert explains why no-one really ‘sleeps through’
By Nicola Appleton published
Rather than focusing on how often you're waking at night, consider instead how rested you feel overall.

Quick! Save up to $569 on the Saatva RX mattress — lowest price of the year
By Nicola Appleton published
A rare Saatva flash sale means you can buy a queen RX for $2,801, which is a huge saving of up to $658.

Why you shouldn't panic if it takes you 20 minutes to fall asleep at night
By Nicola Appleton last updated
This is how long it should take to fall asleep, according to a doctor. Plus why you shouldn't panic if it takes you 20 minutes.

Want to sleep better in 2025? This is the mattress I'd buy in Cyber Monday sales
By Nicola Appleton published
The Saatva Classic will take your sleep from zero to hero — act fast though because this Cyber Monday sale ends soon.
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