Lauded for its stress-busting, sleep-inducing benefits, a quality weighted blanket could well be your shortcut to tackling issues such as insomnia, anxiety, stress and an overactive mind. A weighted blanket utilises Deep Touch Pressure Therapy (DTP), which produces a calming effect whilst helping your nervous system switch from ‘fight or flight’ to ‘rest and relax’. With its top-of-the-line design and luxurious look, each of the quality weighted blankets by LEVIA delivers a restful sleep experience. It also impresses with its high-quality construction, stylish appearance and very comfortable feel. Absolutely worth buying.
Weighted blankets are a hot topic of conversation at the moment, and with the benefits of weighted blankets, it is easy to see why. Research has shown that deep pressure stimulation: an even gentle pressure applied across the body, triggers the production of serotonin, often referred to as the happy hormone; whilst simultaneously reducing the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and boosting levels of melatonin, helping you achieve a deep calm. This calm state leads to deeper sleep cycles, allowing you to achieve satisfying rest and wake up feeling fresh and revitalised.
LEVIA makes one of the best quality weighted blankets to buy to help relieve stress and anxiety, combining therapeutic effects with comfort so you can finally have the good night’s sleep you deserve. LEVIA definitely ticks all the boxes for a premium weighted blanket: quality construction and materials, intelligent details such as small chambers to help keep the glass beads in place, a selection of machine-washable covers and loops to ensure the blanket stays put in the cover. It comes in two sizes and three weights for adults, and you can choose from more than ten colours for the cover.
LEVIA weighted blankets use the natural force of gravity to help relax and reduce stress. The scientific trigger is called Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation” (DTP) and is linked to improved sleep, increased relaxation and overall well-being.
Founded in Germany in 2018, LEVIA is a dynamic company focusing on healthy and natural sleep. It focuses on developing products that promote sleep and relaxation. The company offers high-quality weighted blankets that may naturally improve sleep, reduce stress and increase overall well-being.
So start sleeping better with a weighted blanket made by LEVIA.
Stress and anxiety: The No. 1 barrier to a good night’s sleep
Sound sleep is one of the three pillars of good health, along with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
According to the American Sleep Association, nearly 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder. In Europe, 50 million adults have difficulties initiating or maintaining sleep.
Common sleep disorders, such as insomnia, can affect every aspect of your life, including your relationships, school and work performance, health and mental well-being. Not getting enough quality sleep can hurt your quality of life.
It drains your mental abilities and puts your physical health at real risk. Sleep deficiency may increase the risk of heart diseases, weakened immune system, hypertension, gastrointestinal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression. It will also affect the treatment and recovery of physical diseases.
A quality weighted blanket may improve your sleep independently – effectively, completely natural and scientifically based.
What is a weighted blanket?
Weighted blankets have been used for years in the medical community to successfully treat patients with a variety of conditions, including autism, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, and other illnesses.
Immersing the nervous system in a feeling of physical and emotional comfort, weighted blankets utilise a technique that is known as Deep Pressure Stimulation and Touch Therapy. Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation (DPTS) is firm, but gentle squeezing, hugs, or holding that relaxes the nervous system. The healing effect of deep pressure touch stimulation is observed in our hormones too. It is known to increase serotonin (the feel-good hormone) and melatonin (the sleep-good hormone) while decreasing stress levels of cortisol. The effect on the body is the same when using a weighted blanket, which is linked to better sleep and improved well-being in general.
A weighted blanket is essentially a therapeutic blanket that can weigh anywhere from two to 11 kilos (single blanket). Research suggests a target of 7% to 12% of your body weight. Most weighted blankets are made from fabric with quilted pockets that are filled with glass beads or plastic pellets to add weight. The pockets stop the glass beads from gathering in one area and distribute the weight evenly across the blanket.
Many people find that adding a weighted blanket to their sleep routine helps to reduce anxiety and promote calm.
Do weighted blankets work – the scientific proof
Anecdotally, fans of weighted blankets report better sleep, reduced anxiety and a greater sense of well-being and there is scientific proof to back up the claims. There are independent studies showing that using a weighted blanket can lead to a calmer night’s sleep with less movement and better sleep quality.
In 2020, the specialist journal ScienceDaily published the study of a Swedish research team that examined the effects of therapeutic blankets on sleep and psychiatric disorders over a period of one year. A total of 120 participants (68% women and 32% men) had been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder such as major depression or anxiety disorder in addition to clinical insomnia.
Already after the first four weeks of use, the users of the therapy blanket showed less insomnia than the control group without a heavy blanket. After 12 months of study, the weighted blankets were effective for 92% of the participants, and 78% showed a significant improvement in their existing limitations. Even after this study period, the majority of the participants voluntarily preferred a weighted blanket for sleeping.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorders came to the conclusion that “a weighted blanket that’s more than 10% of a person’s body weight has been found to provide beneficial, calming effects”. The same study had also concluded that adults who slept with the weighted blanket found it easier to settle into bed and woke up feeling more refreshed due to better sleep quality. These people have also reported relief of pain, lower anxiety and improved mood.
Benefits of weighted blankets
If you have been wondering if a weighted blanket could work for you, chances are it will. Quality weighted blankets can help in a variety of situations and for many different health-related issues – but here is a quick rundown of some of the most notable therapeutic benefits of weighted blankets:
REDUCE STRESS & ANXIETY: Weighted blankets may help manage feelings of stress and anxiety. Since stress and anxiety often interfere with sleep, the benefits of weighted blankets may translate to better sleep for those suffering from stressful thoughts.
FALL ASLEEP FASTER & STAY ASLEEP LONGER: The sensation of sleeping beneath a weighted blanket releases ‘happiness hormones’ that can improve sleep quality and duration, providing the feeling of safety, relaxation and comfort.
IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY: Weighted blankets use deep pressure stimulation, which is thought to stimulate the production of a mood-boosting hormone (serotonin), reduce the stress hormone (cortisol), and increase levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. This may help improve overall sleep quality by achieving a deeper, more natural sleep cycle.
CALM THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: When the autonomic nervous system is overactive, it can lead to anxiety, hyperactivity, and a range of other issues. Weighted blankets can put your nervous system into “rest mode” — mitigating the effects of anxiety, such as shortness of breath or quickened heart rate, whilst providing a sense of calm and peace.
As you start to sleep more routinely and naturally, your overall health can improve significantly, and you should notice more energy in your day-to-day life.
What makes LEVIA weighted blankets unique
Though weighted blankets and restful sleep go hand-in-hand, the team at THE GREAT ADDRESS thinks the LEVIA weighted blanket is in a class all its own. Having tested various weighted blankets, we chose the LEVIA blanket as our absolute favourite option on the market for its luxurious, soothing feel and premium-grade materials and construction. Some of its stand-out features include:
PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: LEVIA’s weighted blankets are defined by premium construction and enduring style.
MADE IN EUROPE: The “Made in Europe” label continues to be seen as a guarantee of quality and innovation. LEVIA’s weighted blankets are designed in Germany and produced in Europe.
HIGH-QUALITY, NATURAL MATERIALS: Made responsibly, LEVIA only uses natural, renewable raw materials. The brand also makes a promise to source only OEKO-TEX certified cotton. Known as the seal for confidence in textiles, the OEKO-TEX certificate stands for harmlessness to health, environmental protection and product durability.
INTELLIGENT DETAILING: Each quality weighted blanket is designed with many thoughtful details that guarantee it will look and feel spectacular. The unique 5cm x 5cm small chamber construction offers the perfect weight distribution, while 12 loops hold the internal blanket that contains the weighted material securely to the LEVIA’s outer cover.
FINE WORKMANSHIP: LEVIA works closely with selected manufacturers in Portugal and Turkey to produce the brand’s weighted blankets and covers. These small family businesses have mastered their craft down to the last detail for generations: The fabrics are woven especially for LEVIA in the in-house weaving mills and then sewn by hand, which guarantees particularly high-quality and clean processing. In order to maintain this high quality, the production is only carried out in small editions and exclusively for LEVIA.
THE PERFECT WEIGHT: The LEVIA blanket is available in three weights – 7kg, 9kg and 11kg (gross weight with the cover) – that are tailored to suit different bodyweights too. There are also two weights for children (over five years old) and adolescents: 3kg and 5kg. The ideal weight of the blanket should be approx. 7-12% of your body weight. This ratio is perfect for the stimulation of relaxation. It triggers the sensation of feeling hugged, relaxed, protected and ultimately, sleepy.
A CHOICE OF SIZES: With two different sizes to choose from, LEVIA allows you to get a weighted blanket tailored to your needs. Choose from either 140cm x 200cm or 155cm x 220cm. LEVIA KIDS weighted blanket for children and adolescents are available in two sizes; 100cm x 135cm and 140cm x 200cm.
REMOVABLE BLANKET COVERS: The LEVIA blanket comes in a set consisting of an inner weighted blanket and a choice of skin-friendly cotton or flannel covers. All covers are OEKO-TEX certified and are woven and hand-sewn in Portugal. The cover made of climate-regulating cotton is the perfect companion for the whole year – cooling and refreshing on hot summer nights and soothingly warm in the cold winter months. Made of fine natural flannel cotton, the cosy cover introduces a seriously soft, luxe feel to your bedding.
STYLISH COLOURS: LEVIA’s covers come in a variety of colours, and therefore fit into every bedroom and living room. The flannel covers are available in grey, blue or silver, and there is a special winter edition with three colours. The cotton covers come in six colours: black, blue, gold, white, turquoise and peach.
WASHABLE: Both the heavy inner blanket and the cotton or flannel covers can be machine washed, subject to your washing machine’s weight limit.
30-DAYS TRIAL SLEEP: The effect of the LEVIA weighted blanket varies from person to person. It is therefore essential to test the weighted blanket yourself. For your peace of mind, you can put the LEVIA blanket through its paces for 30 days and nights, thanks to the #sleepeasy guarantee. If you do not like it for whatever reason, you can send the blanket back within 30 days – without any discussion.
WARRANTY: LEVIA grants a 12-month warranty where the brand promises to carry out all repairs and/or replacements free of charge relating to material or production faults.
Premium construction
LEVIA promises that all its blankets are made of the finest materials, produced to European standards and are the best in their class in terms of quality and workmanship. Guaranteed to deliver complete comfort and top performance, the LEVIA weighted blanket’s greatest strength is its unique construction:
7 LAYERS: For the perfect sleeping experience, the quality weighted blanket combines seven layers into a streamlined design that distributes the weight evenly to your body:
The inner layer – Glass beads: In order to give the LEVIA blanket its weight, high-quality, harmless glass beads are used – an advantage over manufacturers who fill their blankets with plastic beads.
The middle layer – Polyester & cotton: 550 grams of polyester are used as the filling. In addition, another thin layer of cotton prevents the glass beads from escaping through the seams of the weighted blanket.
The outer layer – Cotton: The heavy blanket is surrounded by soft cotton fabric. Cotton is ideal for the outer shell – it is easy to care for, breathable, skin-friendly and temperature-regulating.
MORE AND SMALLER CHAMBERS: The LEVIA blanket has up to four times as many chambers as conventional weighted blankets to ensure optimum weight distribution. The total weight of the LEVIA blanket is distributed across 1,120 small chambers (or 1,364 in the LEVIA XL), each measuring 5cm x 5cm. This ensures that the tiny glass beads inside the blanket are evenly distributed. Compared to blankets with 10cm x10cm chambers, the LEVIA’s glass beads cannot move in the chambers, thus ensuring an improved sleeping experience.
MORE LOOPS: Due to the extra weight inside the blanket, it tends to slip in a regular bed cover.
Therefore, the heavy blanket can be linked to the LEVIA blanket covers to prevent this from happening. In contrast to many other heavy blankets with only six to eight loops, The LEVIA quality weighted blanket has impressively 12 loops for a perfect hold. The duvet cover can be easily attached to the inner blanket to prevent it from sliding around or bunching up.
Sustainable & transparent practices
LEVIA stands for “Made in Europe” quality as an innovative German company. The brand embodies sustainability and pays great importance to use sustainable materials in its collections, as well as concentrating on packaging materials, supplier selection, and fair production. LEVIA pays attention to high-quality materials and workmanship to ensure that the company’s weighted blankets offer superior comfort and perfect performance.
The label is dedicated to keeping its ecological footprint as small as possible – starting with choosing materials to plastic-free packaging and climate-neutral shipping. Thanks to the carefully selected network of production partners, the brand ensures shorter transportation routes within Europe, reducing its environmental impact. LEVIA makes sure that no plastic packaging is used when packaging the products. For example, the LEVIA weighted blanket is shipped in a reusable bag made from recycled cotton. By deliberately avoiding plastic packaging, the company has saved over six tons of plastic since 2018.
If stress and nighttime anxiety regularly disrupt your sleep, a weighted blanket could be a game-changer
Trouble sleeping? With the focus on high-quality construction and precise weight distribution, paired with premium fabrics and attractive design, the LEVIA blanket is the perfect companion on restless nights.
There is no better feeling than cocooning yourself in a weighted blanket. This luxury weighted blanket truly has the ability to change the way you sleep, naturally.
DISCLAIMER: Features published by THE GREAT ADDRESS are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programmes.
