The UK has just celebrated the summer solstice, the day with the most daylight hours of the year, and on top of that, many parts of the country are currently experiencing a heatwave with temperatures predicted to soar to 36°C to 40°C.
That's a *lot* of heat and light, and whilst we don't want to wish away the summer weather, there's no denying that when it comes to how to sleep better, a bedroom that's too hot and too bright can play havoc with a good night's rest.
Little wonder then that savvy Dunelm shoppers have been quietly snapping up a £6.50 solution that transforms a hot, bright bedroom into a blissfully cool, dark oasis.
This budget-friendly heatwave solution is under a tenner.
In many parts of the UK, the sun will rise before 5am during the remainder of June, and when the weather is as hot as it is right now, that means four whole hours of blazing hot sun shining into your bedroom pre-9am.
Curtains and blinds help, of course, but they can still let plenty of heat and light into the room, and with experts keen to point out that blocking light from a room is one of *the* best ways to keep a bedroom cool during a heatwave, it's no surprise that many of us are looking for additional solutions.
The Dunelm Blackout Temporary Pleated Blind is just that. This pleated paper blind is no-drill and can be trimmed to size and stuck to a bedroom window in a jiffy. And, if you have a tiny bit more to spend, but want one delivered faster, Amazon has a similar no-drill pleated blackout blind for £11.99.
Super quick and easy to install, they're the perfect solution if you're looking for a temporary fix to the excess heat, and equally useful if you rent and want to avoid a permanent blind, or aren't yet confident in your DIY skills.
No wonder Dunelm shoppers can't stop raving about them. 'Worth every penny,' says one 5-star reviewer on the Dunelm website, 'they block the light and heat out really well and are easy to trim to size. I am genuinely really impressed by them. They are a bargain too.'
'Absolutely perfect to block out the morning sun and such an amazing price,' says another happy owner. 'These honestly work so well,' shares another reviewer, 'brilliant at keeping the bedroom dark and cooler.'
And as Dreams sleep expert and author of the Good Sleep Guide, Sammy Margo explains, a dark bedroom is exactly what's needed to combat the high temperatures of this week.
In a heatwave, 'the best way to prevent your bedroom from turning into a greenhouse is by blocking out direct sunlight during the day,' advises Sammy. 'You can use blackout curtains or blinds to help keep the heat at bay and reduce overall room temperature.'
'Keeping windows closed during the hottest parts of the day and only opening them once the air cools in the evening can also make a noticeable difference,' adds Sammy.
And whilst Dunelm shoppers might be applauding the performance of the Dunelm Blackout Temporary Pleated Blind, it isn't the only option on the market. I've rounded up a few quick delivery options below that will help you to darken your bedroom and beat the heat this week.
Alternatives
If you want the benefits of Dunelm's temporary blackout blind, but with the added bonus of super speedy delivery, this Amazon option offers it all for just a little more money. Plus, it comes in a range of colour options.
Again, it's more expensive than Dunelm's paper blind, but it's also a lot more durable, and I've found this stick-on PVC blackout blind with suction cups a game-changer for blocking out the light in a bedroom.
This window blackout film has over 8,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, with owners praising how easy it is to apply. However, unlike a blind, you can't roll it up and down to let the light in when you want.
