6 ways to keep your bedroom cool this summer

Keep your windows and curtains closed during the day

We know how tempting it is to crack open a window when the sun’s out. However, in the heat of summer, all this does is let hot air in!

Similarly, having the sunlight flood your bedroom will also heat it up – kind of like a greenhouse.

So, the first thing to do if you want to avoid a stuffy bedroom is to shut your windows and draw the curtains while the sun is out. Once the sun goes down and the air (hopefully) cools down, you can open the windows and let some fresh air in.

We’d recommend opening all the windows at once so the air can breeze through your whole home, clearing the stuffy daytime air and replacing it with cooler, fresher air.

Try new bedding

Teddy bear fleece sheets and thick duvets are wonderful in winter, but they’ll do nothing to help you make your room cooler in hot weather!

Switch out thicker bedding for lightweight and breathable cotton, which should help you cool off when the temperature is high. A lighter tog duvet will also be much more comfortable if you still want a cover at night.

If you’re wondering what on earth a ‘tog’ is, check out our guide to duvets and pillows to get clued-up!

Spray your bedsheets with water

If you’ve reached the point when the duvet is off and you’ve ran out of pyjamas to remove, lightly misting your mattress with water before you lie down can make your bedroom feel a whole lot cooler.

Just be careful not to overdo it with the water – you want your fitted sheet to be lightly misted, not soaking wet.

This technique works well when you combine it with a fan pointed at the mattress.

Combine fans and ice water

Fans are a go-to when the temperature rises, providing a welcome breeze to stuffy rooms. But what can you do when the fan is simply blowing hot air around?

Simply place a bowl of ice on a table in front of your fan! This way, your fan will blow cool air (and a little bit of mist) towards you for an instant cooling hit.

If you’re out of ice, pointing your fan towards a window can actually make your room feel cooler as it blows hot air outside.

Dig out the hot water bottle

Despite the name, hot water bottles don’t have to be used with hot water. Filling one with cold water and ice is a brilliant solution to those warm, balmy evenings.

If you’re struggling to stay cool at night, using a cold-water bottle can help you keep your cool. If the shock of an ice-cold bottle next to you is a bit much, wrap it in a towel for more subtle cooling.

Grab an air conditioner

As much as we love a clever hack, sometimes we need to bring out the big guns. If you’re getting sick of sweltering when you’re trying to get to sleep, investing in an air con unit can effectively cool down your bedroom.

These work best with the windows and door to your bedroom closed. To save on electricity, you could turn yours on for about an hour before you go to bed. Or, take the guesswork out of it and grab yourself a smart air conditioner which lets you programme an overnight schedule. You can also control them remotely if you want to go straight to bed when you get home late. Clever!