Struggling to Sleep? This Mattress Changed Everything For Me

Struggling to sleep? I’ve tried everything —blue light glasses, magnesium baths, even banning my phone from the bedroom. But nothing made as much of a difference as upgrading to the customisable King Living Sleep+ Mattress and Promenade Storage Bed. Here’s how transforming my sleep setup (and a luxe Byron retreat) helped me reset sleep routine—and finally fall in love with bedtime.

Why I Became Obsessed With Better Sleep

It’s no secret that I’ve become a bit of a sleep obsessive lately. After reading Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, I swapped my bright white bulbs for amber ones, cut down on alcohol and caffeine, and started to actually think about how I sleep. But after a whirlwind overseas trip and a serious case of jetlag, I fell back into bad habits. Enter: The King Living Sleep Collection, my new bedtime obsession.

The Byron Sleep Retreat That Changed My Routine

Last year, I was lucky enough to join The King Living Sleep Retreat at the breathtaking Bunker Byron house. It was the kind of getaway sleep dreams are made of: a night away in Byron Bay with a curated mattress menu, personalised sleep consultations with Dr. Carmel Harrington, and the chance to trial King Living’s ultra-luxe bedding. (Cue: B-roll of impossibly chic interiors and fabulous food by Three Blue Ducks.)

Dr. Harrington shared some pearls of wisdom during the retreat, like how to reset your sleep routine; the importance of a consistent bedtime routine and how light exposure impacts melatonin levels. These tips couldn’t have come at a better time—my own routine had been sidelined by long-haul flights and frantic nights working in bed (it’s just SO much more comfortable than the desk).

When the team offered me a chance to trial one of their bed and mattress combos, I decided it was time to reset my sleep game.

The King Living Mattress That Transformed My Sleep

I’m not kidding when I say this bed is a game-changer. See it in action here. I chose the Promenade Storage Bed because they are the bomb for storing off-season coats and bedding. With its low-line profile and padded edges, the Promenade design itself isn’t just stylish —it’s practical. I immediately stashed all our winter quilts in the easy-to-access gas lift hidey-hole and discovered its other function: ‘bed making mode”. With a simple pull towards you, it changes to a chest height position that makes bed-making a breeze (my back thanks you, King Living!).

I opted for Sorrento Whitewash fabric to complement my grey and white interior palette beautifully—the best part? They’re fully removable and washable, so no more panicking over an accidental breakfast in bed coffee-spill (been there, had that heart attack).

How I Personalised My Mattress for Summer (and Jetlag)

The pièce de résistance though? My customised Sleep+ 8000 Mattress. This isn’t your average mattress—it’s a multi-layered feat of design brilliance. At its core is the King Cell Base which contains individually wrapped and zoned KingCell pocket coil springs to minimise partner disturbance. The next layer is a Comfort Layer that you can personalise (Memory foam, latex, Premium Firm or even Dual Side Comfort for couples) and finally you can then select a cover according to the season and your preferences. Being high summer I went with the CoolFit cover that contains Japanese gel infused fibres to draw heat away and regulate temperature.

Here’s my ultimate bed setup for better sleep: add in some Ettitude Bamboo Sheets (they are THE softest), Luna Lux Silk Pillowcases (infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Argan Oil for skin benefits) and the chic Linen Mira Bed Cover from Cultiver, and my sleep setup felt like a luxurious spa retreat. Add in some Ettitude Bamboo Sheets (they are THE softest), Luna Lux Silk Pillowcases (infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Argan Oil for skin benefits) and the chic Linen Mira Bed Cover from Cultiver, and my sleep setup felt like a luxurious spa retreat.

There’s also the AirFit cover that aids with air circulation and breathability (perfect year-round and the WarmFit cover with an inbuilt electric blanket (be still, my beating heart!). You can zip everything off to wash and vacuum (parents and pet-owners breathe a sigh of relief!) and you can even flip the mattress and comfort layer (there’s a firmer side and a softer side) to suit your preferences. And the partner disturbance mattress feature? Big tick from Damo.

The Nightly Routine That Helps Me Sleep Better

Week 1: Getting Back on Track

After a week of trialling my King Living bed and jetlag protocol, I’ve already noticed a difference. Those first few nights were a little challenging—I tossed and turned, but my husband, Damien, barely noticed thanks to the mattress’s partner-disturbance technology.

As I shared in part two of my Youtube Sleep Series Video. We know that the ideal temperature for sleep is 18.3 degrees C so the aim is to keep as cool as possible. We’ve been using the King Living CoolFit cover on our mattress, with its Japanese gel-infused fibres that draw heat away—an absolute lifesaver in Sydney’s summer heat. (Definitely a contender for the Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers Australia Award.)

The cover pairs beautifully with the latest fabric innovation which are even silkier than bamboo sheets. Mynt are a blend of pine, eucalyptus and mint and they’re super cool, slinky and antibacterial.I find aircon too hotel-like but a ceiling fan makes the temperature just right.

Tips From Sleep Experts You’ll Actually Want to Try

To complement the epic setup, I followed advice from sleep expert Olivia Arrazello, who shared her pre-bed protocol:

One hour before bed: reduce light exposure and wear blue light glasses. (I like Baxter Blue)
Take a warm bath with Salts & Co Pure Magnesium Flakes Bath Salts (already a nightly ritual for me).
Try supplements like magnesium glycinate and Reishi mushrooms (I like Life Cykel drops, so much easier to take than powder).
Read for 20 minutes with low light (a paperwhite Kindle on a low or no light setting is okay).
Charge your phone in another room—a game-changer for avoiding late-night doom scrolling.

The result? I’ve felt calmer, more refreshed, and ready to tackle my day—even when jetlag threatened to derail me.

Week 2: Fine-Tuning My Sleep Routine

By week two, I was fully immersed in my King Living Sleep experience. I swapped the CoolFit cover for the AirFit cover, which is breathable and temperature-regulating, and flipped the mattress to its softer side—perfect for side sleeping.

And then on Thursday, we actually had a cool snap, so I was able to try it out The WarmFit cover, complete with an integrated electric blanket (yes, you can wash it!). It’s indulgent and practical, so I don’t have to choose between warmth and my beloved mattress topper. I used it just to heat the bed before I jumped in and can confirm it was super cosy. With my old electric blanket you could feel the coils through the sheets and I always felt a bit “princess and the pea” about it. With this one, the heating element is undetectable and I love that I can just throw it in the machine.

And finally, as you can see in Sleep Diaries Part 3, I also doubled down on my magnesium routine trying “Magnesium Drenching”. After taking Magnesium glycinate powder after dinner (I like JS Health), I also switched from Epsom salts to magnesium citrate in my nightly bath (I buy Salts & Co Pure Magnesium Flakes Bath Salts from Amazon) then layered on magnesium cream all over my body and spraying my feet with Brillo Beauty Magnesium Spray before bed.

Week-by-Week: What Changed After Two Weeks of Better Sleep

Transforming my sleep routine has been about more than just upgrading my bed—it’s been about creating a space and habits that genuinely support rest and recovery. The customisable mattress let me fine-tune comfort to suit my sleep needs, while cooling covers and breathable bedding helped me stay comfortable even during hot summer nights. Adding small but impactful rituals—like wearing blue light-blocking glasses, magnesium baths, charging my phone outside the bedroom, and winding down with meditation—has made all the difference.

Final Verdict: Is King Living’s Sleep+ Mattress Worth It?

If you’re looking to improve your sleep, start with the basics: a supportive mattress, temperature-regulating bedding, and a consistent nighttime routine. Simple changes like these can lead to a deeper, more restorative sleep—and a more energized you.

And if you’re ready to transform your sleep too, head to King Living. Trust me, your nights—and days—will thank you.

Words by Sigourney Cantelo; Photography by Camilla Quiddington.