Nicola Appleton
Nicola Appleton is Sleep Features Editor at Tom’s Guide, specialising in quality news content surrounding sleep and wellbeing. Nicola cut her teeth as a journalist in a busy newsroom in Bristol, UK, 15 years ago as part of a team at Britain's largest independent press agency. Since then, her job as a journalist has taken her to the States, to Sydney, and then back to Blighty, where she has written and edited features for a whole host of prominent British and international brands, including The Independent, The Sydney Morning Herald, HuffPost, Refinery29, Stylist and more. As well as tackling the vast topic of sleep, Nicola will be joining the raft of expert mattress reviewers at Tom's Guide, helping steer readers towards the very best mattresses on the market.
Latest articles by Nicola Appleton
Best mattress protector 2024: waterproof, cooling and zipped covers compared
By Cynthia Lawrence, Grace Franks, Nicola Appleton last updated
Keep your mattress clean, dry and allergen free. Here's our guide to best mattress protectors for every bed, lifestyle and budget.
Don’t wait for Memorial Day — I found 3 of the best cooling mattresses on sale up to $1,859 off
By Nicola Appleton published
Can't wait for Memorial Day to buy your luxury cooling mattress? Tempur-Pedic, Avocado and Leesa have gone early with their sales — and the discounts are epic.
Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review 2024
By Nicola Appleton published
Does the Helix Midnight Luxe provide better side sleeping support than its predecessor? We slept on it for seven weeks to find out...
The best organic mattress 2024: Natural beds for a non-toxic sleep
By Jo Plumridge last updated
The best organic mattresses and all natural beds to buy online, as rated by certified sleep experts.
Helix Midnight vs Amerisleep AS3: Which is the best side sleeper mattress for you?
By Nicola Appleton published
We compare the Helix Midnight and the Amerisleep AS3 mattress in terms of comfort, design and price to help you choose between them.
Best cheap mattress 2024: quality budget beds under $500 for a queen
By Claire Davies last updated
We've found the best cheap mattress for every sleeper, with affordable queen size mattresses for under $500.
I'm a hot sleeper — Tempur-Pedic’s best cooling mattress is worth the splurge in epic 30% off sale
By Nicola Appleton published
Yes, the Tempur-Pedic Tempur LUXEbreeze is still expensive even at 30% of, but if sleeping hot is wreaking havoc with your sleep it's well worth the investment — here's why.
Save 30% on Brooklyn Bedding’s best cooling mattress for hot sleepers
By Nicola Appleton published
Save up to $799 on the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, one of the best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers, in a 30% off flash sale.
Doing this before looking at your phone each morning helps you fall asleep fast at night
By Nicola Appleton published
Doing this one crucial thing before you check your phone in the morning helps you fall asleep faster at night, say experts.
7 signs of bed bugs in your mattress — and whether it can be saved or not
By Nicola Appleton published
Think you have bed bugs in your mattress? Learn the telltale signs and symptoms, plus when a mattress can be saved and when it's time to buy new.
The best Beautyrest mattress sales for April 2024: up to $800 off with new deals
By Nicola Appleton published
The new Beautyrest mattress sale will save you up to $800 off the Beautyrest Black, plus save 50% when purchasing any two Beautyrest Pillows.
This is the worst sleep position for back pain, according to a chiropractor
By Nicola Appleton published
Sleeping in this position is ‘almost guaranteed’ to make your back pain worse, says a chiropractor. Here’s how to stop.
I've slept on a pillow-top mattress for the last three weeks — here's why I'll never sleep on anything else again
By Nicola Appleton published
Now that I’ve slept on the Helix Midnight Luxe and its sumptuously plush pillow top, I can’t ever go back. Here’s why.
Quick! Buy a queen size Tempur Adapt mattress topper for just $251 in the Amazon Big Spring Sale
By Nicola Appleton published
The Tempur-Adapt mattress topper boasts 3 inches of NASA-developed Tempur foam — and it's currently 40% off in the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
Best mattress in a box 2024: Expert-rated boxed beds
By Claire Davies last updated
Choose the best mattress in a box for your budget with our expert buying guide and bed-in-a-box reviews.
The best mattress for back pain 2024: With expert advice from chiropractors
By Alison Barretta last updated
Our roundup of the best mattresses for back pain, featuring beds our expert testers have slept on themselves while experiencing back pain.
The best cooling mattress 2024: cool beds for hot sleepers
By Claire Davies last updated
Our expert guide to the best cooling mattresses to stop overheating and ensure you get a refreshing night's sleep.
The best luxury mattress 2024
By Sarah Finley last updated
Looking for the best luxury mattress? Bring luxury hotels levels of luxe into your own bedroom with our guide to the best mattresses on the market.
The best firm mattress 2024, approved by sleep experts
By Alison Barretta last updated
The best firm mattresses for proper spinal support, rated by our top sleep testers and with advice from a chiropractor.
The best mattress for side sleepers 2024: Reviewed by experts
By Claire Davies last updated
We review 2024's best mattresses for side sleepers at a range of prices, from affordable to luxury.
The best smart beds and smart mattresses 2024
By Claire Davies last updated
2024's best smart beds for better sleep, custom cooling and adjustable comfort.
5 signs your mattress is too firm, plus how to make it softer
By Nicola Appleton published
A mattress that is too firm can cause hip, shoulder and neck pain, plus tingling in the hands and feet. Here’s how to make your firm mattress softer.
I tried TikTok’s viral sweater sleep hack — here’s what happened
By Nicola Appleton published
The viral TikTok sweater sleep hack is a DIY version of the Sleep Crown pillow — but is it just as good? I tried it and here’s what it did for my sleep.