Why are people falling asleep inside the IKEA showroom?

The world's largest IKEA store, IKEA Pasay City, might as well be called “dreamland” as a number of shoppers find themselves falling asleep in its showroom. Case in point is Shannen Latagan’s three-year old daughter who fell in complete slumber on an IKEA bed during their visit at the IKEA store last December. Her sleep was captured on Tiktok and garnered more than 4.5 million views and hundreds of comments who found the sleeping princess adorable.

@shannails0 Hello @IKEA Philippines @IKEA #fypシ #foryoupage #fyp #IKEA #showroom #ikeafinds #babytiktok #babyfunny #model #viral ♬ original sound - 𝙹𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚐𝚣 ▪︎°☆☆ - ▪︎°☆☆Pogz

Shannen’s daughter is just one of the three IKEA customers who found themselves falling asleep at the IKEA showroom in Pasay. And they are all featured in the brand’s latest campaign, “Wake up! It’s time to sleep.” The campaign encourages FIlipinos to pay more attention to their sleeping habits.

A recent survey by sleep tracking app Sleep Cycle found that the Philippines ranks as the fourth most sleepless country in the world. Based on their data, Filipinos' average hours of sleep range from six hours and 30 minutes to six hours and 45 minutes per day.

Now that is a wake-up call. Getting eight hours’ worth of quality sleep is crucial for overall well-being. This is not just some random recommendation but a scientifically proven necessity. 

According to experts, when we sleep, our brain and other internal organs detoxify. It makes us process things better the following day. It also reduces the risk of chronic, stress-related conditions such as cardiometabolic diseases, diabetes and cancer.

If you’re struggling with getting a good night’s sleep, it’s time to do something about it. With some easy hacks, you can effectively support your mind and body’s need for rest and relaxation. Start with making simple tweaks to your sleeping environment.

Let’s explore some ways to make our bedrooms more sleep-friendly.

Sound

Sound can play a vital role in helping create the right atmosphere for sleep. As lullabies may no longer work on some adults, you can listen to soothing music, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) podcasts, or calming wellness apps to have a long restful night. You can use the SYMFONISK Sonos Wifi bookshelf speaker (P7,790) as you drift off to sleep.

Organization

Decluttering your room can contribute to better sleep quality and lower anxiety so invest in organizers like the SKUBB Box, set of six to compartmentalize your shirts, accessories, and undergarments. You can also put a chair or a MALM Chest of four drawers (P7,990) beside your bed so you can easily place your items instead of scattering them on the floor.

Light

The blue light from electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets make our brains think it is daytime. Psychologically, bringing work to the bed also makes our brains active. Don’t use them for an hour before sleeping and place it far from your bed, ideally, outside your bedroom.

Instead, you can read a book, which has been proven beneficial to falling asleep. Get your room some dimmable lights like the TÄRNABY Table Lamp (P990) and the TRÅDFRI Remote Control Kit (P1,290), which you can turn on and off from a distance. If your windows are facing the sun, make sure to put some blackout curtains for better sleep quality, especially those coming from the graveyard shift.

Temperature

It takes 15 to 20 minutes for a healthy person to fall asleep. Most of us are not that lucky, especially being in a tropical country. A cold room, with a temperature of 60-67°F (around 16-25°C), signals the body to prepare to sleep. The obvious solution is using an airconditioning unit and setting a timer. A cheaper option is having a cold bath before going to bed.

You can also trick your brain into falling asleep with IKEA's wide range of cooling pads and pillows. The KLUBBSPORRE Ergonomic Pillow (P1,590) provides a cooling effect with its gel layer on one side. There’s also the REXBEGONIA Cooling Pad (P490) you can even place it on the refrigerator before use for extra cooling effect.

Comfort

Everyone knows that a comfortable pillow and mattress are important to get proper sleep. At IKEA, you can find the perfect mattress that fits your needs. If you like it soft take the ÅFJÄLL Foam Mattress (starts at P4,990). Those who prefer firm matresses can opt for the VALEVÅG Pocket Spring Mattress (starts at P10,990). As for ergonomic pillows, IKEA has the MJÖLKKLOCKA Ergonomic Pillow (P1,990) which has memory foam for full comfort. Sleeping with a teddy bear or stuffed toy can also have a calming effect to adults having trouble getting into dreamland.

Air quality

Just how many times have you woken up in the middle of the night because it’s humid? Unbalanced humidity levels and unclean air not only can disturb your sleep, it can also affect your health. At IKEA, you can get the VINDRIKTNING Air Quality Sensor (P590) to check the air quality based on particles with stylish and easy-to-use sensor. Match this with the FÖRNUFTIG Air Purifier (P4,290) for cleaner air while you sleep. 

To learn more ways on how to get a good night’s sleep, watch out for IKEA’s “Wake up! It’s time to sleep” campaign. You can also experience IKEA’s sleep solutions at its showroom in Pasay City.

Shop IKEA online from anywhere in the Philippines today, visit www.IKEA.ph or download the IKEA Shopping app on Google Play or App Store. For more details on delivery and other services, visit www.IKEA.ph/delivery.

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Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like IKEA Philippines.