With mounting responsibilities and digital distractions, Gen Y are creating personal solitude spaces on their homes in search of some peace and quiet. What can these ‘man caves’ and ‘she sheds’ tell us about the demands of future homebuyers and home decor shoppers?

Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of sleep to physical and mental health – yet most teenagers don’t get adequate rest. To counter students’ lack of sleep, some schools in the US are offering nap rooms where pupils can chill, unwind and get a little shut-eye.

Science suggests that the most productive thing you can do for your working day is go to bed. And media master Arianna Huffington is shouting this message from the rooftops in her bestseller-cum-business venture, Thrive Global. It’s looking to leverage sleep cycles in the name of higher productivity.

Since the industrial revolution, sleep has been compromised for the sake of productivity. But as studies reveal its importance to physical and mental health, companies are beginning to encourage better slumber. How are tech and medicine stepping in to repay our collective sleep debt?