Singaporeans Are Taking Sleep Very Seriously Now — There’s Even A Store Dedicated To It

Sleep has quietly become the latest wellness obsession, from silk pillowcases to calming bedtime rituals. As Metro marks its 69th anniversary this March, its new SLEEPLAB concept at Paragon turns better rest into an entire retail experience.

If your nightly routine involves scrolling TikTok in bed and promising yourself “just one more episode” on Netflix, you’re not alone. Before you know it, it’s past midnight.

Ask anyone in Singapore how they slept last night and chances are the answer will be the same: “Not enough.”

Between late-night scrolling, early morning alarms and packed schedules, good sleep often feels like a luxury. In a city that runs on early commutes, long workdays and the occasional late-night supper run, rest often ends up at the bottom of the priority list.

But lately, something interesting has been happening. Sleep, once treated as an afterthought, has quietly become a full-fledged lifestyle category.

People are investing in better mattresses, swapping cotton pillowcases for silk, experimenting with calming scents and tracking their sleep cycles with wearable devices. The idea is simple: if we spend nearly a third of our lives asleep, it probably deserves more attention than we’ve been giving it.

And now, that growing fascination with better rest is showing up somewhere unexpected: the department store.

Yes, really.

A space designed around better sleep

As part of its anniversary refresh, Metro has launched SLEEPLAB, a new sleep-focused retail concept at Metro Paragon that brings together products designed to support better rest in one dedicated environment.

Spanning 10,000 square feet, the space brings together bedding, sleepwear, calming scents, nighttime skincare, lighting solutions and wearable technology. Everything is centred on the idea that better rest should be intentional, not an afterthought.

Instead of searching different parts of the store for sleep-related products, visitors can explore them in one place. Bedding, scent and lighting are presented together so shoppers can see how these elements influence the way they wind down at night.

One of the highlights is Tréca, the renowned French luxury mattress maker whose handcrafted mattresses are exclusively available at Metro Paragon.

Founded in France in 1935, Tréca has long been associated with European luxury hospitality, with mattresses featured in prestigious hotels and palaces around the world. Each mattress is traditionally handcrafted in historic French workshops using carefully layered materials designed to support comfort, breathability and proper spinal alignment.

For those who appreciate craftsmanship, it’s the kind of brand that turns a mattress from a simple household purchase into a long-term investment in better rest.

SLEEPLAB also features JAJU, a Korean lifestyle brand from Shinsegae International known for its clean, minimalist aesthetic and thoughtfully designed home essentials. Its sleepwear and bedding pieces emphasise comfort and simplicity, making the nightly wind-down feel a little more intentional.

Bedding and home décor label Casamia also features in the space, bringing decades of expertise in comfort-focused home textiles designed to make everyday living feel a little more considered.

Nighttime skincare is part of the experience as well. Luxury beauty house La Mer brings its restorative skincare rituals into the bedtime conversation, highlighting how evening skincare can become a calming transition from the busyness of the day.

The space also includes wellness-focused products such as science-backed supplements from MitoQ, reflecting how sleep today is increasingly supported through a holistic approach that includes lifestyle, skincare and nutrition.

Completing the experience is The Theatre of Seven Dreams, an immersive LED installation designed to complement the sleep-focused environment and encourage visitors to slow down as they explore the space.

A new way to discover beauty

Sleep isn’t the only category Metro has been rethinking.

Beauty shopping has evolved as well. Concepts like Minimuse are designed to make it easier for shoppers to explore new products before deciding which ones deserve a permanent spot in their routine.

If you're a fan of all things beauty, try the Minimuse sample experience. Pick and mix three to five beauty samples and place it a chic pouch of your choice before deciding which full-sized products to invest in. 

Think of it as a relaxed way to explore new beauty discoveries while still keeping trusted favourites in the mix.

Fashion finds you won’t see everywhere

Fashion is seeing a similar shift.

Shoppers are increasingly drawn to labels that feel less predictable. The appeal lies in finding pieces that aren’t stocked in every mall or worn by everyone else at the office.

Metro has been bringing in fashion brands from across the region, introducing labels like Atelier Nain and Innit that are well known in their home markets but still relatively under the radar in Singapore.

The department store is quietly evolving

For many Singaporeans, department stores were once places you visited with a specific mission. You might go to buy bedsheets, replace kitchenware or pick up a last-minute gift.

Today, the way people shop has changed dramatically.

Products are discovered through social media, recommendations from friends or the occasional late-night online rabbit hole. Increasingly, shoppers are drawn to retail spaces that offer inspiration and ideas rather than simply rows of products.

Concepts like Minimuse and SLEEPLAB show how department stores are evolving. The experience is less about ticking items off a shopping list and more about exploring new ideas and experiences.

Because better sleep might be the ultimate luxury

In a city that prides itself on productivity, rest has started to take on new importance.

Where wellness trends once focused heavily on fitness or skincare, the conversation has expanded to include recovery, relaxation and mental well-being. For many people, improving sleep quality feels like the next logical step.

Which might explain why a space dedicated entirely to sleep suddenly makes sense.

Sometimes the best upgrade to your daily routine isn’t another productivity hack.

It’s simply getting a better night’s rest — visit Metro Paragon to experience it for yourself.