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 child cuddles her teddy bear while sat on top of the Helix Kids Mattress

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.

Mattresses
A woman with red hair yawns while holding a large mug with both hands

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.

Sleep Problems
The DreamCloud hybrid is seen on the lefy of the image on a light blue background, the Helix Midnight Luxe is seen on the right hand side on the image on a dark blue background

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

Mattresses
Woman asleep wearing eye mask

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.

Sleep Problems
DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is seen on the left of the image on a light blue background, the Caspeer Hybrid is seen on the right hand side with a dark blue background

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?

Mattresses
Stearns & Foster Lux Estate mattress in a floral bedroom with orange lamps

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.

Mattresses
Saatva Classic mattress is next to an open fire , there is a cyber monday deal stamp in the corner of the image

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.

Mattresses
Image shows the Avocado Green Mattress on a wooden bedframe with a Cyber Monday mattress sale badge overlaid on top

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.

Mattresses
Purple Original vs Purple Plus Mattress comparison image shows the Purple Original on the left and the Purple Plus on the right, with a Cyber Monday mattress sales image overlaid

Purple Original vs Purple Plus: Which boxed mattress should you buy in Cyber Monday sales?

By Rachael Penn 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.

Mattresses
Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed on a grey bedframe in a blue bedroom with a Black Friday mattress deals badge overlaid

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.

Mattresses
A white mattress placed on a beige bedframe with a green Black Friday mattress sales shopping badge overlaid on the image

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.

Pillows & Bedding
The Saatva Classic mattress photographed on a fabric bed frame with a Black Friday mattress deals badge overlaid on the image

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.

Mattresses
A lady is seen laying on an Allswell x 10 mattress with a Black Friday mattress sale tag placed on top

Selling out fast! I've found the cheapest Black Friday mattress deal — it’s just $100 for a queen

By Nicola Appleton published

This Allswell starts at just $70, but you’ll have to be quick – it’s selling out fast.

Mattresses
The Saatva Rx mattress on a grey bed frame in a luxury bedroom with a black friday mattress sales tag overlaid in black

I’m a sleep writer with back pain — this is the Black Friday mattress deal I’ve been waiting for

By Nicola Appleton published

The Saatva RX is designed to ease chronic back pain, and it’s $400 with our exclusive Black Friday deal.

Mattresses
Saatva and Puffy mattress comparison sees Saatva mattress on the left and the Puffy mattress on the right

Saatva vs Puffy: Should you buy a luxury hybrid or memory foam mattress this Black Friday?

By Jo Plumridge published

Compare the key differences between the Saatva Classic and the Puffy Cloud before you buy this Black Friday.

Mattresses
Saatva vs Leesa mattress comparison image shows the Saatva Classic on the left and the Leesa Legend Hybrid on the right

Saatva vs Leesa: Which luxury hybrid mattress should you buy in Black Friday sales?

By Jo Plumridge published

We compare the Saatva Classic and the Leesa Legend Hybrid to help you choose between them in the Black Friday mattress sales.

Mattresses
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
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.

Mattress Care
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

Mattress Care
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
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
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