While most excitedly await the few hot and sunny days we are granted in the UK every year, there are some downsides to the soaring temperatures and sun-soaked days which is most intensely felt at night when we try to sleep. And the sleep won’t come because of how hot and bothered the body is - that’s why it’s useful to know a trick or two how to keep a bedroom cool during hot weather.
These tips will help you sleep better during summer nights and generally be able to stay in the bedroom for an extended period of time without fainting, even during the day. But it is at night that our physiology most needs a cool environment for a restful sleep.
‘Although sunny days are perfect for catching some rays, one of the potential negatives of hot weather is the disruption it causes to our sleep,’ explains Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist and sleep expert at And So To Bed. ‘When the room is too hot or your covers are too thick, you can struggle to reduce your body temperature, which makes falling asleep much harder. We also may wake up from the heat and struggle to go back to sleep again.’
From the right bedding to utilising the right tech such as the best fans and the best portable air conditioners, this is how to stay cool in your bedroom when the heatwave hits.
How to keep a bedroom cool in hot weather
‘The British summer is something many of us pine for, however, hand in hand with summer comes issues with trying to sleep,’ says Rex Isap, CEO and sleep expert at Happy Beds. ‘It’s important to understand that, to sleep, you need your room to be at the correct temperature, which is neither too hot nor too cold. Our body raises and lowers our temperature to the environment, but an increase in body temperature can make you feel more awake and alert – hence the sleep struggles. But, there are things you can do in your bedroom to help keep it cool and get that much-needed rest.’
So here are 28 of our top tips to not only stay cool in your bed, but in the whole room – all approved and recommended by experts.
1. Invest in pillows and duvets with natural filling
It’s not just about the covers of your best pillows and best duvet for the summer that will benefit from being made of a natural material. The filling itself will further enhance that benefit.
‘Purchasing pillows and duvets made of natural materials rather than synthetic are optimal for a cool night’s sleep,’ says Holly Castle, brand manager at John Cotton. ‘Cotton, for example, is a natural, breathable material that allows for air flow to pass through. While many of us know about the benefits of cotton bedding, few of us think about how our duvet and pillow filling can also be important to keeping cool.’
‘Cotton has a lower thermal conductivity than synthetic and other natural materials, meaning that it does not conduct heat and therefore is the ultimate choice for bedding materials during the warmer summer months. It’s important when purchasing your cotton duvets and pillows that you ensure the filling is also made of natural and not synthetic materials,’ she says.
Another natural material as far as bedding filling goes that is highly recommended for summer is wool which allows for heat and humidity to disappear and lets the body better regulate its temperature.
As Holly recommends, lightweight cotton-filled duvets are the best when it comes to summer temps. This 2.5 Tog design from John Lewis is ticking all the necessary boxes and is currently enjoying much popularity on the retailer's site.
Named as the best overall pillow in our best pillows guide, this Woolroom design is perfect for body temperature regulation and therefore for the summer months.
Similarly to the Woolroom's pillow, this wool-filled duvet from Floks was declared the best summer duvet by our reviewers. It is highly rated for feeling far more luxurious than any other wool duvet, despite being something of an investment.
2. Remove the duvet altogether
While there are plenty of summer duvets to choose from, if even those feel like too much you can simply remove it and stick with only the duvet cover itself or a flat sheet instead – ideally opt for one made from linen for its cooling and moisture-wicking properties.
‘You can simply use a flat sheet in place of a duvet as this will provide the protective feel without the stuffiness,’ says Brian Dillon, interior expert at Crafted Beds.
He adds, ‘Linen bed sheets are light, breathable, and super soft, making them ideal for use during a heatwave. They’re also a great eco-friendly option! They're great at absorbing and evaporating moisture and increasing airflow, helping you to stay cool.’
3. Opt for light colours
If you favour darker bedroom colour schemes, you might want to consider brightening up the bedroom at least with some light-coloured bed linen during the hot weather.
‘In summer, avoid dark bedding colours which can absorb light and make your bed hotter than it needs to be. Lighter sheets can reflect light and help with your attempts at sleep by reducing the risk of absorbing sunlight and heat. There’s a reason homes in hotter climates are often white,’ Rex at Happy Beds says.
Brian at Crafted Beds continues, ‘Only the bravest of souls will leave the house in a black t-shirt during a heatwave. Bringing that knowledge indoors will help keep you cool during periods of high temperatures. Think bright white bedding and light natural tones for scatter cushions and any bedroom furnishings.’
4. Switch your sheets
Having a summer and winter set of bedding is an easy way to transform your bedroom for the warmer months. Opt for natural and breathable fabrics, so you don't find yourself sticking to your sheets in the middle of the night.
'Linen, bamboo, and cotton are soft and breathable which is perfect for the summer heat', says James Wilson, sleep expert at MattressOnline. 'They also draw away moisture more effectively' he says, which is great if you want to avoid waking up to a damp bed.'
Knowing the best thread count for sheets is also a gamechanger. Look for a thread count of 200-400, as this means they will be lightweight and single ply.
‘Pure cotton sheets have sensory benefits and, being naturally breathable, help to regulate your temperature and moisture levels while you sleep,’ explains Lucy Ackroyd, head of design at Christy. ‘Try Percale as opposed to Sateen sheets, as they’re made with a looser weave and therefore are much more breathable.'
Meanwhile, Molly Freshwater, co-Founder of Secret Linen Store, makes a case for linen bed sheets, 'For those hot summer nights, consider bed linen made from natural fibres such as 100% cotton or linen, rather than synthetic poly-cotton blends. Embrace the airy lightness of linen sheets. Linen's exceptional absorbency and airflow properties make it the ultimate choice for staying cool on warmer nights. Its unique weave ensures air circulation, preventing clinginess and discomfort.'
Everybody is obsessed with the Piglet in Bed bed linen at the moment. And that includes the whole Ideal Home office. Whether it's the gingham bedding trend that this brand started or its beautiful linen like this bundle, we love it all, despite their higher price points.
Having this duvet cover and matching pillowcases dressing my bed, I can attest to the comfortable and cooling feel of the crisp cotton percale the bed linen is made with. Apart from that, the embroidered looped edges in a contrasting stitch make this design truly unique.
As much as we love linen bedding, we know it can real pricey real fast. But Soak & Sleep's French Linen Bedding is our Sleep Editor, Amy Lockwood's, top pick when it comes to relatively affordable linen.
5. Stick to separate duvets
Find that your partner disturbs your sleep? Maybe their body temperature runs warm or the hot weather causes them to toss and turn - whatever the reason, separate covers could be the solution.
'Use different covers if you are sleeping with a partner; although it might still be tempting for some to snuggle up to your significant other, their body heat will only transfer to you, so use separate covers and if you can and swap out your duvet for a thin cotton sheet', says James.
Buying two additional single duvets for the summer months also means you'll have spares on hand for guests throughout the year, so the purchase feels even more justified.
6. Utilise fans to push hot air outside
You may already use a fan in your bedroom but did you know about this top tip to use it even more effectively during the summer?
‘In the evening, face the fan outwards with the windows open to blow all of the hot air out of the room,’ suggests Nic Shacklock, head of marketing and brand development at Online-Bedrooms.
‘This little-known hack relies on air pressure to effectively push hot air outside of open windows while simultaneously pulling in cool air,’ adds Core Sash Windows’ managing director, Sean Mac Anbhaird. ‘While the fan blows warm air outside the window, open any windows on the opposite side of the house. This will create a wind stream, allowing a cool, fresh breeze to flow through your home.’
Just don’t forget to keep your lights off or a few creepy crawlies may make their way indoors.
Molly at Secret Linen Store adds an extra hack on top of that, 'For an extra cooling effect, add a bowl of ice in front of the fan. As the fan blows over the ice, it will help cool the air further, making your room more comfortable.'
7. Use your trickle vents
If insects are making their way into your bedroom when you have the window open, you might want to consider using your window’s trickle vents instead.
‘Their purpose is to allow air to trickle into your home to increase ventilation, without making your home too hot, too cold or compromising on security,’ outlines Jo Trotman, marketing manager at The Residence Collection. ‘By leaving your trickle vents open during the summer, air can travel freely throughout the home without letting in the hot and humid air as well as keeping out those pesky flying insects.’
8. Open the attic
No matter if you live in a top-floor flat, a Victorian three-story home or you have a regular set-up, the fact is as simple as this - heat rises. This means that your bedroom is likely to be the warmest spot, especially at the end of the day. This can be even more stuffy if the room is south-facing or has limited windows.
One way to move some of the heat away from your bedroom is by opening the attic. According to James, 'opening your loft hatch is one way to allow heat to escape somewhere else'.
Lofts are often cooler and dark, so it's a great way to add some extra ventilation to the top of your home.
9. Use a dehumidifier
If your bedroom feels particularly stuffy and humid, it may be time to invest in or use a dehumidifier. ‘Dehumidifiers eliminate moisture from the air, making the warm temperatures feel more bearable as moist heat causes the most discomfort,’ says Quotezone.co.uk’s expert Helen Rolph.
‘A room will feel cooler and more comfortable if the humidity is low,’ she continues. But it is worth bearing in mind that ‘dehumidifiers increase electricity costs, so it’s best to opt for a model that conserves energy by switching off when the humidity drops below a specific temperature.’
10. Opt for LED
Warm weather is a great opportunity to save money on your energy bills, and making the simple switch to LED lightbulbs will also help your home to stay cool - sounds like a win-win.
'Traditional light bulbs give out most of their energy as heat and in an already baking hot room, additional heat is the last thing you need,' says Greig Millar, energy expert at OVO.
The warmth of your lightbulbs might be a small factor, but every little helps when it comes to sleeping better through the summer. Greig recommends to 'check which bulbs need a replacement throughout your house' as it could just cool a room down enough to make you sleep peacefully.
11. Choose the right mattress
Knowing how to keep a bedroom cool starts with choosing the best mattress that will help regulate your body temperature while you sleep.
'There are a number of mattress options available that can help you to regulate your body’s temperature,' says Jonathan Warren, director at Time4Sleep. 'Generally speaking, a mattress with a high content of natural fillings such as wool, cotton or bamboo is often a great choice for those suffering to sleep in the heat as they tend to be cooler as well as being naturally hypoallergenic.
Adam Black, co-founder of Button & Sprung, continues, 'A mattress constructed of pocket springs with natural materials such as wool will respond and react to your body temperature. These materials are nature’s own temperature regulators and are kind to your overall health as well as being a sustainable and recyclable option for the planet.'
Jonathan adds, 'Other options to consider are new generation elite gel memory foam mattresses that include intelligent temperature regulating technology to help keep you cool in the summer and warm during the winter. These mattresses include a temperature regulating cool gel that adjusts with your body temperature to ensure you’re never too hot or cold during the night, allowing you to have a truly blissful night’s sleep.'
12. Switch your bed linen to silk
Another great material to keep you cool is silk. ‘Silk is one of the best materials to help sweaty sleepers get to sleep easier,’ says Nicholas Auckland, home heating expert at Trade Radiators.
‘As well as being a beautiful and luxurious fabric, silk is breathable and is therefore an excellent choice for bed linen all year round, especially during the summer months. Its unique composition means that it wicks away, rather than absorbs moisture, keeping you both cool and dry all night long,’ Georgia Metcalfe, creative director and founder of French Bedroom, agrees.
‘As a breathable fabric, silk sheets will help to naturally regulate your body temperature too, offering the perfect antidote to hot and humid evenings and ensuring you wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated all year round.’
13. Close windows during the day
You might be surprised to hear that leaving your bedroom window open during the day is not recommended if you're looking to keep a bedroom cool. The experts say it's better to keep the window closed, to stop hot air from filtering into the room.
'Keeping your windows closed during the day will stop the heat coming in and reduce the temperature of your room,' says Hope Bastine, sleep expert at Simba. 'Once the sun sets and the temperature drops, open them back up for a 'slightly' cooler breeze.'
14. Add a cold 'hot' water bottle
One of the best hacks to keep a bedroom cool is to use one of the best hot water bottles for the exact opposite of what they're intended for. Use as a cold water bottle instead, pop it between your bedsheets and enjoy a nice cold temperature while you sleep.
'Adding cold water to hot water bottles and chucking them in the freezer will create insulated ice packs that you can pop in your bed to keep the temperature comfortable,' says Brian at Crafted Beds. 'If you don’t have hot water bottles to hand, you can fill some clean socks with uncooked rice and freeze them for a few hours. This may sound unusual, but they’re a soft alternative to ice packs that makes them great for taking to bed during a heatwave.'
To use the frozen hot water bottle hack safely, only keep it in the freezer for short periods (around 20 minutes), and definitely don't use boiling water.
15. Consider your sleeping position
You may not have realised but the position that you sleep in could be impacting how hot or cool you feel in bed. ‘Side sleeping is best as the amount of contact between the mattress and your body is smaller. However, sleeping with your arms and legs stretched out increases the surface area so that sweat can evaporate and cool you faster,’ according to the sleep experts at Bed Kingdom.
‘The next best position for a cool night’s sleep is the log. This is a side sleeping position that has the legs straight down and not tucked up. These positions are best because they allow a greater portion of your body to have fresh air as you sleep.’
Alison Jones, sleep expert at Sealy UK concurs, 'as you are trying go expose more of your body to the air around you, avoid tucking your legs up while you sleep. Instead, keep them straight to allow more of your body to be open and exposed to the air.'
16. Invest in a cooling mattress topper
'If you can’t afford a new mattress or if you just want to preserve your mattress, consider buying a mattress protector or topper designed to help keep you at a comfortable temperature,' says Dr Greg Potter, sleep, nutrition and metabolism expert at The Fine Bedding Company. 'Using one will help protect the mattress in the long term, especially from perspiration you’ll enviably emit during the hottest months of the year.'
The best cooling mattress toppers can be made of latex, wool, gel memory foam, or other materials that draw heat away from you while you sleep, making them an ideal addition to the bed during warmer weather. Try one for yourself and see the difference it makes.
17. Keep a spray bottle on your bedside table
'We fill old spray bottles with water and spray faces and necks to cool down,’ says Ideal Home's Editor-in-chief, Heather Young. Dig out any see-through bottles you might have left over from trips abroad, improvise with a plant mister, or pick up some new spray bottles at Amazon.
A quick spritz of water can reduce the temperature of the skin and the air around you because the droplets use some of the heat in the air to evaporate. Make it extra refreshing by adding a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil to the water.
18. Give your feet a cold water bath
'I give my feet a cold water bath before I go to sleep,' shares Rebecca Knight, Deputy Editor (Digital) at Ideal Home. 'It helps cool you down and is supposed to calm your nervous system too to help you get to sleep more easily.'
'Having a bowl next to your bed allows you to soak your feet right before bed and quickly dry off with a towel, allowing you to drift off to sleep almost straight away,' says Brian from Crafted Beds. 'This is a great and easy step to add to your summer wellness routine, just make sure that the water isn’t too cold as your body may go into more of a "survival mode".'
19. Cool your pillows before bed
The best pillows are an important factor to consider when looking at ways to keep a bedroom cool; they are where we rest our head and where we're most likely to feel hot after all. Instead of constantly having to swap over to the 'cool side' of the pillow, you can make it cooler all round by adding a gel insert, like the one recommended below.
Dr Lindsay Browning at And So To Bed recommends putting your pillowcase folded up in a zip lock bag and popping it in the freezer a couple of hours before bedtime. 'To keep your bed cooler in the summer, try the pillowcase in the freezer hack. By keeping pillowcases in a plastic bag in the fridge or freezer during the day and putting them back on before bed, it creates an immediate cooling effect on your skin, helping to reduce your body temperature and make you feel more comfortable in a hot environment. Also, the sensation of coolness can be soothing and help you relax.'
You can do the same with socks, too – just like under-floor heating can make us feel much warmer, cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body.
20. Make bedtime more of a ritual
Try giving your bedtime routine more attention if you're consistently missing out on a good night's sleep. 'Make the whole process of going to bed more of a ritual by giving yourself a luxurious turn-down service before bed,' suggests Millie Hurst, Senior Content Editor at Ideal Home.
'Pull back the bedsheet, turn on a lamp, put a glass of water by your bed and spritz pillows with a pillow spray. Then, go and have a cool shower (this lowers your core body temperature) before gliding into bed feeling that bit more zen.'
21. Block out the light
Installing blackout blinds is one of our top bedroom design tips for better sleep, and they were made for warmer weather. Shutters will also come into their own, blocking the light while letting in the air.
'Consider factors such as which direction your window faces,' says Jason Peterkin, director at 247 Blinds. 'For example, a south-facing room will benefit from thicker, thermal materials to help keep it cool. Generally speaking, wooden Venetian blinds and plantation shutters are great for keeping the temperature down in the home as they allow you to adjust the amount of light filtering into the room by altering the size of the gap between the slats.
The wood also acts as a natural heat conductor, helping to keep the warm air out during the summer months. If you want to completely block out the sunlight, opt for blackout blinds. The thick fabric will not only help to regulate the temperature of the house, but also ensure you get a better night’s sleep during the brighter months and lighter mornings.'
22. Change your duvet
'As well as making sure you have the right sheets for summer, you should also make sure you have the best duvet too,' says Lucy Ackroyd. 'During these hotter months, a lighter tog of 4.5 is recommended. If you like something a little heavier but still breathable, try a 10.5 tog.'
Knowing when's the right time to switch to a summer duvet is a gamechanger, as you won't feel the increase in external temperature as much.
'Also, get rid of blankets on the bed and store them in breathable cotton storage bags or rolled up in cotton sheets,' adds Robert Lancaster Gaye, the co-founder of luxury linen brand, Tielle Love Luxury. 'Sweaty plastic or non-breathable bags can cause mildew to form.'
23. Welcome nature into the bedroom
House plants have never been so popular, and now the hot weather will give us even more excuse to add to the collection, as the best plants for the bedroom can actually help lower the temperature of the space. 'Indoor plants can help cool a house in warm weather, as they consume hot air for their natural processes,' explain the team at Stelrad.
'When an atmosphere heats up, plants will often release excess water into the air from their leaves – as a result, they cool themselves and the surrounding environment. Some of the best ones include rubber plants, Chinese evergreens, palms, mother-in-law’s tongues and ficus benjaminas.'
24. Head to a different room
Some rooms of the house are naturally cooler than others. Remember that heat rises, so you might find downstairs areas less oppressive on a warm night. North-facing rooms also tend to be a lot cooler than those in the rest of a property. Even if you can't relocate your bedroom permanently, it might be worth sleeping on a sofa bed or air bed.
25. Switch off the lights
'Plugged in devices and lightbulbs emit heat and contribute to the overall temperature of a room,' says Thomas Høegh Reisenhus, sleep specialist and sleep counsellor at TEMPUR®. 'Turning everything off is better for the environment and prevents stimulating blue light, which can make you feel more awake. Remove all laptops, screens and phones from your bedroom to avoid distraction should you wake in the night.'
Switching off the lights during your wind-down routine will help keep a bedroom cool, plus it's a good way to save energy - win-win!
26. Use cool technology to sleep smarter
Even if you don't try out the fan hack above, investing in a fan or even one of the best air conditioners is a sure way to keep a bedroom cool this summer. Quiet tower fans with timers and a choice of settings are the smart choice if you struggle to fall asleep, but desk fans and pedestal fans will do the job nicely, too. If it's really hot, put a shallow bowl of iced water in front of the fan to cool the air.
'Put a bowl bucket or even plastic containers filled with ice water directly in front of a fan. As the ice melts the breeze from the fan will pick up the cool air coming from the ice’s surface,' explains the team at Stelrad. 'This will recreate a cool breeze, similar to an air conditioning unit. Alternatively, a wet flannel or small, damp towel placed over a fan works just as well.'
27. Wear the right clothes to bed
'What you wear to bed has a huge effect on how well you sleep. Loose fitting, well-ventilated cotton pyjamas are the best option,' says sleep expert Hope. 'Avoid synthetic materials that will cling to you at night. Cotton has moisture absorbing properties that will help keep the sweat from your body and ultimately allow for an improved level of comfort.'
Wearing cotton nightwear is actually better than wearing nothing at all, as natural fabrics will absorb any perspiration.
28. Stay hydrated
‘When it’s hot we’re more likely to lose water by sweating as we sleep,’ affirms Nic. Which is why it is incredibly important to stay hydrated during the warm weather. ‘Drink water regularly during the day, but not too much at night,’ suggests Rebecca Mayes, sleep expert at Harrison Spinks.
‘Staying hydrated throughout the day will mean you don’t disturb your sleep with a trip to the bathroom, as well as ensuring you stay cool while you sleep,’ she adds. ‘About half a pint just before bed will ensure you’re hydrated throughout the night and keep a glass of cold water by your bed in case you wake up hot and uncomfortable.’
FAQs
Why is it hard to sleep in the heat?
We know that it's important to keep a bedroom cool if we want to have better quality sleep, but you might be wondering why that is exactly - after all, in the winter, one of the best feelings is snuggling up under a duvet and getting toasty warm while we drift off.
'As we fall asleep our body temperature naturally drops,' explains Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist and sleep expert at And So To Bed. 'When the room is too hot, or your covers are too thick, you can struggle to reduce your body temperature, which makes falling asleep much harder.'
Ideally, the temperature in your bedroom should be around 15-18°C, and it helps if your body temperature is nice and cool too. 'Having a warm shower or bath before you go to bed can help to trigger your body's natural cooling response,' says Sam from California Shutters. 'A cool shower can also help to lower your body temperature and make you feel cooler.'
What are some natural ways to sleep better?
- Keep a cool head – getting worked up is only going to compound the problem, as thrashing around will make you hotter. Keep perfectly still and maybe try meditation techniques.
- ‘Cold press’ your pulse points. The pulse points on your body can cool the rest of you effectively. Place a cold flannel or ice cubes in a plastic bag on your wrists and neck and you’ll be surprised by the effectiveness. Just don’t let them melt in your bed!
- Think about essential oils. Lavender is a fantastic sleep aid. Try mixing a few drops with cold water in a small spritz bottle, and spray around your bedroom before you hit the hay.
- Avoid too much caffeine, alcohol or a big meal. They can all make you feel hot and steamy in the middle of the night through dehydration and over-active digestion.
- No alcohol – dehydrating yourself before sleep on a hot night isn’t the best decision, obviously. Stay away from the drink to heighten your chances of sleep during a heatwave.
- Fill a water bottle half full and freeze. Cover in a lightweight cover or old t-shirt and take the water bottle to bed.
- Turn over when you wake in the night, giving you a fresh and cool side to sleep on
Now you can rest assured that no heatwave will bother you in your sleep space again.
