Despite the welcome return of the sun after what feels like forever, us Brits are never fully happy. Alongside the brighter days comes a whole host of problems - namely, sleep.
Sleeping well during a heatwave can feel almost impossible. Overheated rooms, heavy bedding and trapped humidity can quickly turn bedtime into a restless experience, leaving many of us tossing and turning through the night. Unlike our friends on the continent, most British homes aren’t equipped with air conditioning, so we have to get a little more creative when it comes to keeping our bedrooms cool.
Thankfully, just a few small changes or additions can vastly improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep. From breathable fabrics to cooling sleep technology, a few simple swaps can help create a cooler, calmer environment during periods of extreme heat.
Switch to breathable bedding
One of the easiest ways to make a bedroom feel more comfortable in hot weather is by changing your bedding. Heavy duvets and synthetic materials can trap heat overnight, making it harder for the body to cool down naturally. Lower tog duvets, typically between 2.5 and 4.5 tog during summer, are also designed to provide comfort without overheating.
According to Sally Bonser, sleep expert at Silentnight, these small adjustments can have a noticeable impact during warmer nights.
“Many people underestimate just how much temperature impacts sleep quality,” she explains. “The body naturally needs to cool down in order to fall asleep and stay asleep, which leaves many feeling helpless during the warmer months. However, simple changes to your sleep environment can make a noticeable difference.”
Sally recommends breathable and lightweight bedding options, such as Silentnight’s Summer Breeze Duvet, which is designed to help prevent overheating while still feeling comfortable enough to sleep under.
Keep the bedroom as cool as possible during the day
Preventing heat from building up during daylight hours can make a huge difference by bedtime. Keeping curtains or blackout blinds closed throughout the hottest parts of the day helps block direct sunlight and stops bedrooms from becoming stuffy and overheated.
Breathable curtains made from linen or lightweight cotton can also help maintain airflow while still filtering light. When the temperature drops at night, opening windows on opposite sides of your home can help to create a through-breeze. It’s also worth avoiding heat-generating electronics such as televisions, laptops and bright lamps before bed.
Choose lighter materials and textures
During a heatwave, heavy velvet cushions, thick rugs and layered bedding can quickly make a bedroom feel warmer and more enclosed. Swapping these for lighter, more breathable textures can instantly help the room feel fresher.
Linen bedding remains one of the most popular warm-weather choices thanks to its naturally airy texture and relaxed feel, while lightweight cotton throws and bamboo sleepwear can help improve comfort overnight. Even small styling changes, such as decluttering surfaces or replacing dark accessories with softer neutral tones,a can make the room feel cooler and calmer psychologically.
Try cooling sleep technology
Cooling bedding has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly during summer heatwaves. Products featuring cooling gel pads, moisture-wicking fibres and ‘cool-touch’ technology are designed to absorb and disperse body heat more effectively than traditional materials.
For those who struggle with overheating overnight, cooling pillows and blankets can be particularly useful.
“For those who prefer to kick off the covers, cooling pillows can offer a quick solution to stop the tossing and turning,” says Bonser. “Gel-infused pillows and cooling pad technology are designed to absorb and disperse heat more effectively than traditional materials, helping to regulate temperature through the night.”
She recommends options such as Silentnight’s Wellbeing Cool Touch Pillow, which features a pressure-activated cooling gel pad to help reduce the uncomfortable ‘hot pillow’ feeling many people experience during warm weather.
Invest in the right fan
Fans in the bedroom can be divisive, sometimes the noise of a fan can counteract its cooling benefits. Thankfully, we’ve rounded up the best silent fans to consider for a quiet’s night sleep.
As well as making sure you’ve got the right fan, placement is a key consideration. Placing a fan pointing outwards at a window will force trapped hot air outside, while positioning a second fan facing inward to pull in the cooler evening air.
Simplify your sleep environment
Heat can already make it difficult for the body to relax, and an overstimulating bedroom only adds to the problem. Cluttered surfaces, piles of laundry and constant screen time can all contribute to a sense of discomfort before bed.
Instead, focus on creating a quieter, simpler environment that feels restorative rather than busy.
Consider your paint colours
While this isn’t exactly a quick fix, it’s something worth thinking about if you’re planning a bedroom renovation. Certain paint colours can influence how warm or cool a room feels. While some of this is psychological, colour can have a noticeable impact on the overall atmosphere of a space.
Unsurprisingly, warmer tones such as reds, oranges and deep yellows can make a room feel hotter and more enclosed, while fresher shades create a cooler, calmer effect. Sage greens, soft blues and crisp whites are all popular choices for giving bedrooms a lighter, airier feel during the warmer months.
Summer in the garden edit
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Daisy Bendall is the Houses Editor at Country Living and House Beautiful, where she spends her days sourcing some of the most inspiring homes across the country. Prior to specialising in real homes, Daisy worked for Good Housekeeping, Red, Elle Decoration and Prima, styling shoots, covering the latest decorating trends and hunting down the best buys for your home.
