For most of you, Daylight Saving Time started last Sunday. Which means most of us — except those of us here in Arizona — lost an hour of sleep Sunday night when time ‘sprang forward.’ If you haven’t caught up on those shortened zzz’s yet, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) and Select Blinds have some tips for you.
Corresponding with the start of Daylight Saving Time each year, the NSF introduced Sleep Awareness Week to remind us how to make beneficial changes in our sleep routines to improve our sleep and overall health. Here are some things you can do:
- Maintain a comfortable bedroom temperature.
- Avoiding eating, caffeine and alcohol before bedtime.
- Sleep on a comfortable mattress, supportive pillow and breathable sheets.
- Minimize exposure to noise and natural light while you sleep.
That last point is where we can help. SelectBlinds.com offers a variety of blackout and room darkening blinds to keep sleeping areas quiet and practically light-free. In the dark about picking the best blackout shade? Wirecutter can shed some serious light on that question, too.
The curators and creators of “best of” lists for everyday items people shop for, Wirecutter journalists spent 25 hours on research, interviewed five industry experts and tested 12 models to find the best blackout blind for you. Their conclusion? (Drum roll, please.) Our very own Select Blinds Classic Cordless Blackout Shade!
“We like cellular shades because they look good, effectively block light, and are easy to install. Our panel unanimously agreed that the Select Blinds Classic Cordless Blackout Shade is the one they’d most like in their homes,” writes Wirecutter’s Jack Smith. “The polyester shade looks and feels noticeably better in quality than other shades we considered. Among the shades we tested, it has one of the widest selections of sizes and colors, and it’s covered by a three-year warranty, the longest of any model we considered.
“If you’re interested in a version of our pick that offers additional insulation and durability, you might consider getting the Select Double Cell Blackout Shade. And if you’re looking for a shade that combines traditional and blackout shade functionality, consider the top-down bottom-up Premium Light Filtering/Blackout Cordless Shade.”
Read Wirecutter’s complete guide here. If you need any more help in choosing a room darkening or blackout shade, check out our own Buying Guides for bedroom, nursery and home theater window coverings.
“We like cellular shades because they look good, effectively block light, and are easy to install. Our panel unanimously agreed that the Select Blinds Classic Cordless Blackout Shade is the one they’d most like in their homes,” writes Wirecutter’s Jack Smith. “The polyester shade looks and feels noticeably better in quality than other shades we considered. Among the shades we tested, it has one of the widest selections of sizes and colors, and it’s covered by a three-year warranty, the longest of any model we considered.
“If you’re interested in a version of our pick that offers additional insulation and durability, you might consider getting the Select Double Cell Blackout Shade. And if you’re looking for a shade that combines traditional and blackout shade functionality, consider the top-down bottom-up Premium Light Filtering/Blackout Cordless Shade.”
Read Wirecutter’s complete guide here. If you need any more help in choosing a room darkening or blackout shade, check out our own Buying Guides for bedroom, nursery and home theater window coverings.
Still having trouble falling asleep? Reading in bed always helps me. See if you can identify with any of the findings of this year’s Sleep in America poll, the NSF’s annual review of current sleep topics.
Have any other tips for a good night’s sleep? Leave them in the comments below.
Sweet dreams.
