What do you need for a good night's sleep?
Jan Tan of Singapore home goods store Sojao lightens up our furniture shopping and sleeping habits
I don’t know anyone who consistently gets a good night’s sleep.
But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen, or that it doesn’t exist. I suppose we just have to know the secret. Or stress less.
This isn’t exactly a secret, but I do believe that how we furnish and lay out our spaces can make a difference in how well we live, work, and, well, sleep.
Looking at a room filled with carefully chosen pieces can be enough to make you feel good and rest nicely too.
Not all of us have this luxury, but maybe you just haven’t found the right shops, ways and habits yet?
Enter Sojao in Singapore and Pris Tan and Jan Tan, its co-founders.
“Sojao is a direct-to-consumer home and lifestyle brand that’s all about the best possible night’s rest for our customers as well as everyone behind our best-selling bed sheets,” Jan says.
“We’re committed to using only sustainable and ethical GOTS-certified organic cotton. Naturally soft and safe for both the planet and people, our organic home goods are super durable and get softer with every wash.”
You can find them at Joo Chiat and New Bahru in Singapore, online, and soon in Thailand.
I want this to be a quick and soothing post
So you should get Jan’s tips and insights without me going on and on. Aside from her home- and sleep-related suggestions, she also talks about being a Katong local and the fun things you can do in the neighbourhood during your visit.
Get them here and hopefully they’ll give you something to think about.
Straight from Jan
How I define “home”
“Home is a retreat, an indulgence, a reflection of one’s self, a space to gather, to hide away, to celebrate,” she says.
The home pieces I can’t live without
“I have a desk that I custom-made from two of my favourite local woodworking brands: The Table Guy and Mokko Wood Studio by Alvan Koh. The Table Guy provided the dark walnut slab, while Alvan hand-carved the trestle legs made from beech wood. It was one of my first splurges for my home, but I really wanted to support local businesses, and I see it as an investment for years to come.
“It was very much inspired by my journey with Sojao. It’s incredibly hard for small local businesses and makers in this expensive city, and I feel like more Singaporeans need to rally around our local talents and businesses for us to have more diverse, thriving brands we can be proud of.”
How to create a design aesthetic that feels true to ourselves
“I feel that it’s important to be intentional about what you choose to purchase and to research a brand’s ethos to see if it truly resonates with your core values. Choose to also think outside the box sometimes and take the time to create your own pieces, as the pride you have in something that’s uniquely yours is irreplaceable.”
My checklist for changing or updating my space
“Habits change over time and that’s the main reason for me if I’m looking to change a space. If my environment doesn’t suit my habits anymore, then I’ll look into ways to tweak or improve it to suit my current habits.
“If I had to have a checklist of priorities, it would be: Is it possible to support local? Is it within budget? Will it be a short-term or long-term investment piece?”
What I think of “sleep”
“Sleep is something I very much look forward to each night, and not just for the Sojao sheets, haha. It’s a reset button for every day!
“I feel like by the time you close your eyes, you should have given yourself a pat on the back for the day you had and moved on from anything you might have had regrets or second thoughts about during the day.”
What I learnt to get a good night’s sleep
“I’m a pretty practical person so I’ll share a practical tip. In the process of getting a mattress for myself, I’ve discovered it’s not just the sheets that need to be breathable for a good night’s sleep, but rather the mattress itself as well! A mattress that’s not breathable and too thick might be the reason you feel warm and sweaty in the middle of the night too!
“I’m really glad to have found this local brand called Bayshop, which has its own factory in Singapore that makes breathable and super comfortable organic latex mattresses.”
My best experiences working on Sojao
“It has to be seeing and hearing the encouragement and love for Sojao from our customers. We’re so blessed to be able to make a difference in people’s daily habits by introducing our products into their lives. Bed sheets, towels, loungewear – they are all such personal items because each piece touches a person’s skin countless times a day.
“It’s an amazing feeling when you remember that a Sojao product can bring such comfort to someone in a safe and non-toxic way, because we choose to work with 100 per cent GOTS-certified organic cotton.”
My best lessons from work and with Sojao
Lesson #1: “The right people in their right seats on your team will feel effortless to manage.”
Lesson #2: “It’s important that the business and your personal core values align or it’ll be a struggle.”
Lesson #3: “Being laser-focused and knowing where you want to get to and how you want to get there are so important because there’s going to be plenty of ‘shiny things’ that are going to want to distract you at every turn.
“A Steve Jobs quote that I deeply resonate with is: ‘People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.’”
The great thing about living in Katong
“I lived and went to school in Katong, and my parents were hawkers at Dunman Food Centre around the corner from our Joo Chiat Home Goods Store.
“The journey of opening the store felt like coming full circle for me. I love that this neighbourhood is still so full of local culture and locally owned businesses, so much so that it has become a tourist destination. That’s why we decided to curate local artists and brands with the various pop-ups that we hold at our Joo Chiat Home Goods Store. We’re big on being able to support fellow local brands and small makers and seeing them grow alongside us.”
My recommendations for Katong visitors
“There are too many to name, but a top tip is to really walk the long Joo Chiat stretch all the way from i12 Katong to the Geylang Serai side if you can.
“There’s a Bak Chor Mee hawker stall that I frequent in the basement of Dunman Food Centre. It’s a hidden gem with an elderly hawker who really puts all her love into making every bowl. There’s a wanton mee stall on the second floor that I really love as well; their chili is super spicy and addictive.
“There’s a cafe called 174 Bingo that is a short walk away from Sojao that I go to every time I’m in the area. I got to know the baker/owner, Jas, and her ethos of running her business really resonates with me. Basa Goods across from them is one of the most aesthetic stores in the area and a must-visit too.
“I just love supporting all the small local boutique stores in the area, and I’m really proud of the ecosystem of like-minded businesses here that has sprouted so organically.”
Find Sojao here and on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Tip recap
To make things easier for you to remember:
Tip #1
Try to turn your home into a safe space. (Don’t bring work home too…?)
Tip #2
Go for a brand that shares your values.
Tip #3
Get inspired and create a few pieces to make your home feel more personal.
Tip #4
Reassess your habits and let them guide you in updating your space.
Tip #5
Support local brands.
Tip #6
Budget wisely. Choose investment pieces.
Tip #7
Try to let go of today’s worries for a restful sleep.
Tip #8
Get the most breathable and comfortable mattress you can find and afford.
Tip #9
Help your neighbourhood stay alive and grow. You’ll live well in an area that thrives and makes people happy to be there too.
Tip #10
If you’re visiting Singapore, drop by the Katong-Joo Chiat area. Don’t miss Dunman Food Centre, 174 Bingo and Basa Goods. And Sojao, of course!