A good night's sleep is high on the list of priorities for people of all ages, lifestyles and professions, but even the slightest hindrances in your bedroom can reduce your quality sleep time and keep you from drifting off.

Leading Cheshire developer Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West has teamed up with experts in the field The Sleep Council, to come up with their top tips on how to improve your sleep.

Steve Jackson, Operations Director at Barratt and David Wilson North West, said: “We're working with The Sleep Council to help give advice on how changing small behaviours and decor in your bedroom can really make a difference.

“One of the many advantages to purchasing a new build home is that you're getting a blank canvas that you can make your own. Incorporating some of these tips into decorating your home is sure to improve the whole household's quality of sleep.”

Barratt and David Wilson Homes and The Sleep Council's top suggestions are:

Time for a technology detox

It may be hard for a lot of people to hear, but to ensure a good night's sleep be sure to avoid using technology just before going to bed. Switching off your TV and putting your phone on silent (but don't forget your alarm!) will help you drift off and resist the urge to check your Facebook at 2am.

Add ambiance for a sleep-friendly room

Certain smells and possessions can help to make your bedroom become more of a haven in your home and help you to drift off easily. Why not try lighting candles or using a lavender reed diffuser to keep your room calm and relaxed. The Sleep Council also recommends family photographs, flowers and ornaments, as these will help to create a room that's pleasant and soothing.

Tidy room = tidy mind

Having a cluttered bedroom can often hinder a good night's sleep, especially for busy families who don't get time to tidy up before hitting the hay. Try not to treat your bedroom like the rest of the house and keep clutter at bay so you're not left picking up laundry before bed.

Shut out the light with blackout blinds

Now that the mornings get lighter a lot earlier on, make it a priority to get blackout blinds or curtains if you don't have them already. This helps to keep you relaxed and means you won't be woken up by blinding sunshine at 5am. If you don't like the idea of getting blackouts why not try an eye mask instead?

Keep things cool

With summer fast approaching and the sun (finally) shining across the UK, it's important to keep your bedroom cool. The Sleep Council recommends a cool temperature of around 16-18° C (60-65° F) to help you drift off as it's not too hot or too cold.

“Creating – and maintaining – the perfect sleeping environment can play a huge part in how well you sleep”, said Lisa Artis, spokesperson from The Sleep Council, “The right environment is one that is cool, quiet, dark, clutter free and with a comfortable bed. Assess it regularly to see if there is anything you can do to improve it which in turn might help you to improve on the time you are asleep.”

Barratt and David Wilson Homes currently has properties available in the county at the following developments:

• Bollin Park, Adlington Road, Wilmslow, CHESHIRE, SK9 2BJ
• Charlotte Place, Townfields Road, Winsford, CHESHIRE, CW7 4AX
• Weaver View, Townfields Road, Winsford, CHESHIRE, CW7 4AX
• Gilbert's Cross, Moss Lane, Elworth, SANDBACH, CW11 3WZ
• Haddington Park, Nantwich Road, Tarporley, CHESHIRE, CW6 9UN
• Lea View, Village Street, Sandymoor, RUNCORN, WA7 1XF
• Scholar's Place, Hassall Road, Alsager, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST7 2HL
• Lloyd Mews, Dunnocksfold Road, Alsager, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST7 2TJ
• Stapeley Gardens, London Road, Nantwich, CHESHIRE, CW5 7LH
• Winnington Village, Winnington Avenue, Northwich, CHESHIRE, CW8 4EE
• Kingsbourne, Waterlode, Nantwich, CHESHIRE, CW5 5BS
• Black Firs Park, Black Firs Lane, Congleton, CHESHIRE, CW12 4QQ

For more information about any nearby developments, please call the Barratt and David Wilson Homes sales team on 0844 811 3366 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. For further information about Barratt/David Wilson Homes please contact Ruby Harrison  on 0116 247 1777 or ruby@unsworthsugden.co.uk
2. Barratt and David Wilson Homes is part of Barratt Developments PLC, a FTSE100 company
3. Barratt Group sold 17,395 homes in the year to June 2017, making it the biggest housebuilder by volume in Britain
4. Barratt was awarded a maximum five star rating for the ninth consecutive year in the 2018 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey
5. Site managers working for Barratt Group won 74 awards for quality workmanship in the 2017 NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. Barratt has won more Pride in the Job awards than any other housebuilder for the last 13 years