
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

The best mattresses on Amazon 2025: Our 6 top-rated picks to shop this Prime Day
By Nicola Appleton last updated
If you plan to do your mattress shopping at Amazon, here are six of the best ones you'll find on sale during Prime Day — all tested by our expert reviewers.

Tom's Guide AI Awards 2025: 17 best AI tools and gadgets right now
By Alex Hughes published
Laptops, smartphones, chatbots and more - these are our picks for the best AI devices and tools in 2025

The best Beautyrest mattress sales for June 2025: Last chance to save up to $200 on Harmony Lux beds
By Nicola Appleton last updated
This month's Beautyrest closeout mattress sales cut price of Harmony beds, plus 50% off pillows with select mattresses

Three nights of poor sleep can increase your risk of heart disease, study shows
By Nicola Appleton published
Study shows that three nights of poor sleep can impact cardiovascular health.

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.

Should you buy the Helix Midnight Luxe in the Memorial Day mattress sales? I reviewed it, here’s what I think
By Nicola Appleton last updated
The Helix Midnight Luxe offers pressure relieving support for side sleepers. But is it worth buying in the Memorial Day sales? I tested it, here’s what I think.

Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review: Superb pressure relief for side sleepers
By Nicola Appleton last updated
Does the Helix Midnight Luxe offer unbeatable pressure relief for side sleepers? Our team put it to the test

I finally tried the Saatva Classic and was blown away — but there's a different luxury hybrid mattress I'd buy in the Memorial Day sales
By Nicola Appleton published
As a side sleeper I love the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress, and there's 27% off plus a free bedding bundle ahead of Memorial Day

Is the updated Helix Midnight mattress any good? I’ve been sleeping on it for a week — here’s what I think so far
By Nicola Appleton published
The Helix Midnight is a hugely popular mattress for side sleepers. Is the updated version an improvement on the original? Here’s what I think after sleeping on it for the past week.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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