Create a calm, restful oasis to help encourage sleep. Use soothing colors for walls and bedding. Bright colors can be too energetic when you are trying to wind down.
A good one should keep you comfortable all night long, and provide support for your neck and back. Try this test. Fold your pillow in half. If it stays that way, it's time for a new one. If it bounces back, you're good to go.
As they age, mattresses become less supportive, which can affect sleep. Consider a replacement every 9-10 years. If yours sags, leaves an impression where you sleep, or has you rolling toward the center of the bed, it's probably time.
Invest in heavy drapes or shades. Unwelcome light can make it hard to get to sleep, or wake you up before you're ready. Even the glow of electronics can disrupt sleep, so take laptops and digital devices out of the bedroom before you go to bed, or cover them up.
A fan not only helps keep your room cool (which is the best temperature for sleep), it also creates white noise to block outside noises you can't control.
Put a glass of water and a box of tissues by the bed so you won't have to get out of bed if you need them.
A humidifier keeps the air moist, so you can breathe better through the night and won't wake up with a dry scratchy throat.
Keeping plants and flowers around can have a calming effect on you.