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
Nectar vs Emma: Which hybrid mattress will suit your sleep?
By Jo Plumridge published
From price, design, comfort and more, we explore the key differences between the Nectar Hybrid and the Emma Hybrid Comfort.
Last chance! Save $765 on one of the year's best organic mattresses at Awara
By Nicola Appleton published
Awara has just slashed $765 off the Natural Hybrid, which means you can buy one of the year’s best organic mattresses at a fraction of the price.
The unhygienic reason why you shouldn’t make your bed in the morning
By Nicola Appleton published
Fully making your bed in the morning could be turning your sleep space into a bacterial breeding ground – here’s why.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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