Nicola Appleton

Nicola Appleton

Sleep Editor

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

A woman wearing a party hat sand tinsel is sleeping on the sofa

How to survive Christmas party season without sacrificing your sleep

By Nicola Appleton published

Yes, you can cut loose at the office Christmas party without losing a wink of sleep — here’s how.

Sleep
Nest weighted blanket

Why a weighted blanket is the perfect Christmas gift for the person who has everything

By Nicola Appleton published

A weighted blanket can ease anxiety symptoms, helping your loved one to rest easily and peacefully.

Sleep
A lady sleeps on her side while wearing a Tempur-Pedic eye mask

Quick! These five best eye masks for sleep make perfect stocking stuffers

By Nicola Appleton published

Looking for the perfect present for your tired loved one? These are the five best eye masks for sleep to shop now.

Sleep
Image shows the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress on a wooden bedframe next to a tall green houseplant and with a Holiday Flash Sale badge overlaid in blue

5 luxury mattresses to shop now to have the perfect Christmas morning

By Nicola Appleton published

Give yourself the gift of sleep this Christmas with 5 luxury mattresses to shop now — but you’ll have to be quick.

Mattresses
A woman lays on top of the Birch Luxe Natural mattress

Wow! Save up to $499 on the Birch Luxe Natural Mattress — buy now and get it for Christmas

By Nicola Appleton published

Give yourself the gift of a luxurious night’s sleep this Christmas with the Birch Natural Luxe Mattress, now up to $499 off.

Mattresses
A child cuddles her teddy bear while sat on top of the Helix Kids Mattress

Quick! Save 30% on the Helix Kids mattress in best ever flash sale

By Nicola Appleton published

The award-winning Helix Kids Mattress drops by 30% in best ever flash sale.

Mattresses
The Emma Hybrid Comfort Mattress shown on a black bedframe

Quick! Emma's best hybrid mattress drops to just $329 — get it in time for Christmas

By Nicola Appleton published

Sleep well this holiday season with 55% off an Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress.

Mattresses
The DreamCloud Hybrid is shown on the left of the image and the Purple Original mattress is show on the right

DreamCloud vs Purple: Which is the best mattress for you?

By Frances Daniels published

We examine the key differences between DreamCloud Hybrid vs Purple Original, comparing comfort, design, price, and more.

Mattresses
A caucasian woman sleeps on her stomach in a white bed

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. Here’s how to fix that.

Sleep
A woman with red hair yawns while holding a large mug with both hands

7 signs that you’re in sleep debt and don’t even know it

By Nicola Appleton published

From poor memory, low moods, and difficulty concentrating — these are the seven key signs that you could be in sleep debt without even realizing it.

Sleep
The DreamCloud hybrid is seen on the lefy of the image on a light blue background, the Helix Midnight Luxe is seen on the right hand side on the image on a dark blue background

DreamCloud vs Helix: Which luxury hybrid mattress is best for sleep?

By Jo Plumridge published

It’s DreamCloud vs Helix in this luxury hybrid mattress head-to-head

Mattresses
Woman asleep wearing eye mask

What is sleep debt and can it ever really be paid back?

By Nicola Appleton published

Sleep debt, also known as sleep deficit, is when you get less sleep than your body needs. It's possible to pay back some sleep debt, but not all. Here's how.

Sleep
DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is seen on the left of the image on a light blue background, the Caspeer Hybrid is seen on the right hand side with a dark blue background

DreamCloud vs Casper: Which luxury hybrid mattress is the best for sleep?

By Grace Franks published

DreamCloud takes on Casper in this hybrid head to head — but which mattress is best for your sleep?

Mattresses
Stearns & Foster Lux Estate mattress in a floral bedroom with orange lamps

Give the gift of sleep this Christmas with these last-minute Cyber Monday deals

By Nicola Appleton published

Pillows, weighted blankets, mattresses and more — a sleep writer's pick of the best Christmas sleep gifts still discounted in the Cyber Monday sales.

Mattresses
Saatva Classic mattress is next to an open fire , there is a cyber monday deal stamp in the corner of the image

Saatva launches Cyber Monday sale but our VIP mattress discount is better — here’s why

By Nicola Appleton published

How to use our exclusive Saatva Cyber Monday sale offer to save $400 on the brand's three best luxury mattresses.

Mattresses
Image shows the Avocado Green Mattress on a wooden bedframe with a Cyber Monday mattress sale badge overlaid on top

Missed the Black Friday mattress deals? 7 of the best have rolled into Cyber Monday — here's what's good

By Nicola Appleton published

7 of the best Black Friday mattress deals are alive and kicking in today's Cyber Monday sales – here's what we recommend.

Mattresses
Purple Original vs Purple Plus Mattress comparison image shows the Purple Original on the left and the Purple Plus on the right, with a Cyber Monday mattress sales image overlaid

Purple Original vs Purple Plus: Which boxed mattress should you buy in Cyber Monday sales?

By Rachael Phillips published

We look at the key differences between the Purple Original and the Purple Plus mattress to help you choose between them in the Cyber Monday sales.

Mattresses
Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed on a grey bedframe in a blue bedroom with a Black Friday mattress deals badge overlaid

3 Cyber Monday mattress deals I recommend to couples on the verge of sleep divorce

By Nicola Appleton published

Helix, Sleep Number and Brooklyn Bedding – three mattresses I recommend to help couples sleep soundly in the same again this Cyber Monday.

Mattresses
A white mattress placed on a beige bedframe with a green Black Friday mattress sales shopping badge overlaid on the image

5 'last chance' Black Friday bedding deals to protect your mattress from bed bugs, mold and stains

By Nicola Appleton published

Bought a new mattress in the Black Friday sales? Keep it in pristine condition with these top five bedding deals.

Mattresses
The Saatva Classic mattress photographed on a fabric bed frame with a Black Friday mattress deals badge overlaid on the image

Quick! Black Friday’s 11 most popular mattress deals are still live this weekend

By Nicola Appleton published

It’s not too late to buy a new mattress in the Black Friday mattress sales — the 11 most popular deals are still live.

Mattresses
A lady is seen laying on an Allswell x 10 mattress with a Black Friday mattress sale tag placed on top

Selling out fast! I've found the cheapest Black Friday mattress deal — it’s just $100 for a queen

By Nicola Appleton published

This Allswell starts at just $70, but you’ll have to be quick – it’s selling out fast.

Mattresses
The Saatva Rx mattress on a grey bed frame in a luxury bedroom with a black friday mattress sales tag overlaid in black

I’m a sleep writer with back pain — this is the Black Friday mattress deal I’ve been waiting for

By Nicola Appleton published

The Saatva RX is designed to ease chronic back pain, and it’s $400 with our exclusive Black Friday deal.

Mattresses
Man in a blue t shirt lies across the Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress, with black friday mattress sales tag overlaid on image

Emma, Nectar, Purple and more — 7 best queen mattresses for under $700 in Black Friday sales

By Nicola Appleton published

Nectar, Emma, Bear and more — the 7 best queen size mattresses for under $700 in the Black Friday sales.

Mattresses
Saatva and Puffy mattress comparison sees Saatva mattress on the left and the Puffy mattress on the right

Saatva vs Puffy: Should you buy a luxury hybrid or memory foam mattress this Black Friday?

By Jo Plumridge published

Compare the key differences between the Saatva Classic and the Puffy Cloud before you buy this Black Friday.

Mattresses
Saatva vs Leesa mattress comparison image shows the Saatva Classic on the left and the Leesa Legend Hybrid on the right

Saatva vs Leesa: Which luxury hybrid mattress should you buy in Black Friday sales?

By Jo Plumridge published

We compare the Saatva Classic and the Leesa Legend Hybrid to help you choose between them in the Black Friday mattress sales.

Mattresses
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