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Electric blankets have been around for years, yet only in recent years the advances in technology finally allowed these devices to become safer and more economically viable than conventional heaters.

There are many benefits to using electric blankets and heated mattress pads, including comfort, electricity savings and convenience.

Using a heated blanket could significantly increase the quality of sleep. A perfect sleep environment always has the perfect temperature which varies with every individual. Having to tweak the thermostat every night to create the right atmosphere is cumbersome, and will not always bring the best results, especially when sharing a bed with someone who doesn’t have same temperature preferences. An electric blanket could solve this problem. Many modern devices feature adjustable temperature controls (some even have multiple zones with individual settings), pre-warm timers and automatic shut-off. Climbing into a bed that is “just right” could seriously increase the quality and quantity of sleep, which will have tremendous results on overall well-being.

It is common knowledge that supplying heat to sore muscles relaxes the tissue and alleviates pain and discomfort, relieves aches and increases the blood flow to muscles and joints. An electric blanket or a heated mattress pad can do all of the above with a twist of a dial. Those who suffer from rheumatic diseases will especially appreciate the extra heat. Using an electric blanket to relieve muscle stress is a key component to better sleep.

There are people who just can’t stand being cold. Your bed and the sheets assume the ambient temperature which is always lower than your body’s. Climbing into a cool bed is liked by some people, to others it is 10-15 minutes of extreme discomfort they have to go through every evening. Setting a heated mattress to warm the bed just before you snuggle in will solve this problem once and for all. Imagine always coming into a warm bed no matter what the outside temperature is.

Dust mites and bacteria thrive in sleeping areas. The moisture from night sweat and skin particles are absorbed the mattress creating a perfect living environment for all kinds of microorganisms, stimulating unhealthy conditions right next to your bare skin. A heated mattress pad or a throw can reduce bed moisture by up to 50%, eliminating the need for antibacterial treatment, extending your mattress’ useful life, making your sleeping place healthier and drier.

There are many other benefits, including reducing your heating bill that electric blankets and mattress pads posses. These appliances deserve a little more credit, as their role in a good night’s sleep is quite important.

Before purchasing an electric blanket, I suggest to read the reviews and see what other consumers are saying.

If you have been accepted to college then you are likely to need to find specially sized bedding for the extra long twin beds they use in residence halls. These twin xl beds are the same width as normal twin beds but are 5 inches longer. While that extra length does not sound like much, your bed becomes your couch/guest/dining/tv watching/video game playing and of course bed in a 15 x 15 size room for several months a year.

Don’t freak out as we will showcase to you what special size bedding you need to invest in as well as ways to stretch your limited dorm decor dollars for the end goal of a comfy dorm bed. While not every school uses twin xl beds we have seen statistics show that 90% or more of college dorm rooms use a 39 x 80 size bed – or as we call it a twin xl bed (or xl twin bed). These dorm beds are designed to be used in several ways including loft style bunk beds or the symmetrical room layouts of your imagination.

In general we always liked the non loft bed set up’s because of the practical nature of dorm rooms. For example if you decide to go with loft style bunk beds and your roommate has a friend come over – they will likely want to sit on the bottom bed to watch TV. So if you’re the ‘bottom’ bunk person your space is seriously crimped. The dual or side by side bed layouts allow a functional walkway with equal sides of the room – thus keeping everyone happier.

Not all of your bedding needs to be ‘twin xl’ only some specific items need to be so – especially your sheet sets, mattress pads and for the lucky feather beds. Dorm mattresses are firm and usually covered in a bio hazard like plastic material to prevent spill seepage. This means your sleep experience will be stiff, hot (because plastic does not breathe well) and crunchy at best. So we recommend a couple bed toppers plus your twin xl sheet set to be labeled ‘twin xl’. Items like your comforter would be nice if they were longer but they are not a firm requirement – only your basic bedding is. Actually to call it basic bedding is a misnomer because the bed is basic – those items are added for comfort.

When it comes to adding comfort to your dorm room – we recommend a mattress pad and a feather bed for maximum comfort. The twin xl featherbed needs to measure 39 x 80 and will add 3 to 4 inches on top of your mattress. Feather beds provide soft squishy comfort like home. An xl twin mattress pad on the other hand provides protection from the bed as well as preventing any stray feathers from poking through. As for materials – down and feather blends are the ultimate choice for softness, plus feathers allow air to circulate versus being trapped like plastic or foam. Sometimes finding a twin xl down mattress pad is touch so we recommend even adding an extra twin comforter on top of your twin xl featherbed in place of a mattress pad. This will make the feather bed extra soft and create bed envy amongst the dorm.

Finally sheets are pretty straight forward – make sure you buy two sets for laundry changes and be sure the fitted sheet is 39 x 80. The flat sheet is optional and in a pinch you can grab an extra one from home assuming it matches and you like it.