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 sleeping soundly in bed after using different sleep techniques to banish her Sunday Scaries

7 sleep techniques to banish the Sunday Scaries and help you fall asleep fast

By Nicola Appleton published

From The Military Sleep Method to guided breathing, use these sleep techniques to banish your Sunday Scaries for good.

Sleep
A man in a blue shirt goes mattress shopping during the biggest sales event of the year, Black Friday

3 reasons to buy a mattress in this weekend's sales — don't wait for Black Friday

By Nicola Appleton published

Stock levels are high, shipping is fast and the deals are red hot. We’re calling it — now is the best time to buy a new mattress, not Black Friday weekend.

Mattresses
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid mattress shown in bedroom

Don't wait for Black Friday — save $400 on this luxury hybrid mattress right now

By Nicola Appleton published

Tom’s Guide exclusive Black Friday Saatva sale sees $400 knocked off mattress orders of $1,000 and more — see below for exclusive access.

Mattresses
Avocado Green Mattress, featuring a woman and baby on said mattress

Avocado Green's best organic mattress is $270 off for Black Friday — here's why I'd buy it

By Nicola Appleton published

Avocado just shaved 10% off of their best selling organic mattress in their Black Friday sale, taking the price of a queen down to $1,799.10.

Mattresses
An electric blanket spread over a bed

Can you use an electric blanket on a memory foam mattress? 5 do's and don'ts

By Nicola Appleton published

High heat can damage a memory foam mattress, so take these precautions when using an electric blanket to stay warm.

Mattresses
Woman wearing beige shorts while vacuuming her white mattress

The 5 health risks of not cleaning your mattress properly — and how to avoid them

By Nicola Appleton published

Respiratory issues, allergic reactions and bacterial infections are health conditions that can be born from not cleaning our mattresses often enough.

Mattresses
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress on a yellow background

7 ways you’re damaging your memory foam mattress — and what to do instead

By Rachael Penn published

Getting it wet is just one way you could be ruining your memory foam mattress – here's why

Mattresses
Nectar vs Tempur-Pedic mattress comparison image shows the Nectar Memory Foam on a blue background and the Tempur-Pedic Cloud on a dark blue background

Nectar vs Tempur-Pedic mattress: Which memory foam bed should you buy in the Black Friday sales?

By Jo Plumridge published

We compare the Nectar Mattress and Tempur-Pedic Cloud across all key areas ahead of the Black Friday mattress sales.

Mattresses
Saatva Classic mattress placed in front of an open fire with a snow covered mountain in the background

3 best early Black Friday mattress deals that include free removal of your old bed

By Nicola Appleton last updated

When you purchase a new mattress from Cocoon by Sealy, Saatva, or Stearns & Foster Studio this Black Friday, they will remove your old mattress and foundation for free.

Mattresses
A woman lifts the edge of her white mattress topper placed on top of a white mattress

Can you use a mattress topper as a mattress? Yes, but there are risks — here's why

By Nicola Appleton published

Thinking of skipping the mattress and just sleeping on a bed topper? Here's what you need to know before first...

Mattresses
Helix Midnight mattress

Huge Black Friday mattress sale takes 25% off everything at Helix

By Nicola Appleton published

Helix is slicing the price of all mattresses, including the Helix Midnight Luxe, by 25% ahead of Black Friday.

Mattresses
The Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress placed on a grey bedframe in a white bedroom with a Black Friday sale bade overlaid

Leesa launches early Black Friday sale with up to $750 off its best hybrid mattresses

By Nicola Appleton published

Leesa has launched its early Black Friday mattress sale, with up to $750 off mattresses plus you'll get free pillows.

Mattresses
Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress comparison image shows our sleep editor lying on her side on the Midnight original on the left and the Midnight Luxe on the right

Helix Midnight vs Midnight Luxe mattress: How to choose in the Black Friday sales

By Nicola Appleton published

Torn between the Helix Midnight and Midnight Luxe mattress? Here's five key differences to help you choose between them

Mattresses
The Helix Midnight mattress for side sleepers placed on a light wooden and fabric bed frame in a grey bedroom

I’m a sleep writer – this is why I’d buy the Helix Midnight mattress this Black Friday

By Nicola Appleton published

Created specifically for side sleepers, this is why the Helix Midnight is my memory foam mattress of choice this Black Friday.

Mattresses
DreamCloud Premier Rest Hybrid Mattress on a beige bedframe in an opulent looking bedroom with a black friday mattress deals badge overlaid on the image

Get $1,700 off DreamCloud’s best Saatva mattress rival with this Black Friday mega deal

By Nicola Appleton published

The Premier Rest is DreamCloud's most luxurious mattress and a close rival to the Saatva Classic, and it's now up to $1,700 off .

Mattresses
A woman eats breakfast in bed

Nutritionists reveal the 5 best (and worst) foods for sleep — it’s good news for carb lovers

By Nicola Appleton published

Stock up on sweet potatoes but cut out the citrus — these are the foods that are impacting the quality of your sleep.

Sleep
The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress on a grey fabric bed frame placed against a yellow wall

The Nectar Mattress drops to its cheapest price yet in early Black Friday deal

By Nicola Appleton published

Black Friday begins early at Nectar with a 40% off flash sale on the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress and hybrid beds.

Mattresses
A photo of a couple lying on an Avocado Green Eco Organic Mattress

America’s cheapest organic mattress gets a price cut in pre-Black Friday sale

By Nicola Appleton published

America’s most affordable organic mattress is on sale, proving that sustainability doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Mattresses
Man in brown shirt and grey shorts carries a white bed bug infested mattress down a flight of stairs

How to dispose of a mattress with bed bugs – 3 vital steps

By Nicola Appleton published

Your options are limited, but here’s how to safely get rid of a bed-bug infested mattress.

Mattresses
A bare white mattress and two pillows sit on top of a beige bed in a pale grey bedroom. In the front of the picture, there is a green Black Friday Shopping banner.

Should you buy a mattress on finance in the Black Friday sales? A money expert explores the pros and cons

By Rachel Wait published

A mattress can be expensive, so many turn to financing. But this isn’t always the right approach, as a money expert explores here.

Mattresses
A man with dark hair rolls his eyes in frustration and holds a pillow to his ears because his partner is snoring

Could a new mattress save you from a sleep divorce? These 5 might...

By Nicola Appleton published

Buying a mattress that caters for the needs of two different people could save you from a sleep divorce. Here's how...

Mattresses
The Nectar Premier Copper cooling mattress placed on a grey fabric bed set against a white wall, with price drop sale badge overlaid in blue

Nectar's best cooling mattress gets a 33% price cut ahead of Black Friday

By Nicola Appleton published

The Nectar Premier Copper Hybrid cooling mattress is a game-changer for anyone who overheats during sleep, and it's on sale right now.

Mattresses
bedtime revenge procrastination: a man scrolls on his phone in bed when he should be sleeping

Revenge bedtime procrastination is harming my sleep — here's how I'm putting a stop to it

By Nicola Appleton last updated

I’m starting to realize that what I’m actually doing by forgoing sleep is punishing my already-frazzled nervous system.

Sleep
Woman wearing beige shorts vacuuming her white mattress to get rid of bed bugs

Ask the expert: Will vacuuming my mattress get rid of bed bugs?

By Nicola Appleton published

Bed bugs are making an unwelcome resurgence, so we quizzed the pest control experts on the best wat to eliminate them from our mattresses.

Mattresses
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