Summer is so close you can almost smell the sun cream. Although the sun is great, the relentless humidity and sweaty pillows at night are not that desirable.
Thankfully, there are some simple ways that you can prepare your bed for the hot summer months ahead. We’ve compiled our top 10 tips to ensure you get that all-important shuteye.
10 ways to stay cool in bed during the summer
1. Use Breathable Sheets
Research suggests that the ideal temperature for sleep is around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Synthetic materials are not ideal if you’re looking for a cool night’s sleep.
Coolmax bed sheets are fitted with natural fibres which allow them to breathe. Previously used by athletes and adopted by hotels, they are now regarded as an ideal cool bed sheet for the summer.
2. Choose the right place for your fan
There’s nothing worse than feeling warm and your fan blowing warm air at you while you’re trying to sleep. Positioning your fan in the right place can make a huge difference.
Place it by an open window (providing the air outside is cooler than inside) and it will start to blow cool, fresh air in your direction. The further away from the window your fan is, the warmer the air. So the closer you position it to the window the more you’ll feel the benefit.
3. Keep your blinds shut during the day
Leaving your bedroom exposed to the sun during the day is only going to make your life worse at night. A simple trick like keeping your bedroom out of direct sunlight can keep your bedroom cooler for you later on.
4. Shut the doors
This is a trick often used in winter to keep heat in, but it also works in the summer. Open the windows in your bedroom and shut the door whilst you sleep. This simple trick traps any cool air right where you want it and prevents that cool air from escaping around the house.
5. Get a hot shower
This may seem like a ridiculous suggestion, but it works! The sudden drop in temperature makes your body think it’s cooler than it actually is. This, in turn, helps you to sleep better at night. So even though it may seem like the last thing you want to do, a hot shower before bed can work wonders.
6. Keep a damp sheet hung over an open window
This is a strange one, but it can have a superb cooling effect on the temperature in your bedroom. As air passes through the damp sheet, the moisture evaporating from the sheet naturally cools your room down. It’s important that you use lighter coloured sheets to reflect heat, as darker colours won’t be as effective.
7. Invest in lighter coloured bed linen
With that last point in mind, lighter coloured bed sheets will have the same effect on your bed. If the sun is beating down on your dark coloured bedding, you can expect them to absorb that heat throughout the day. Making your bed an incredibly uncomfortable place to be at night.
Lighter colours like white, cream and lighter shades of grey will absorb much less heat. This will be beneficial to you when you’re trying to drift off later on.
8. Keep your sheets in the freezer
Putting your sheets in the freezer for a few minutes before you head to bed can be beneficial. We do, however, recommend placing them in a plastic bag so they don’t smell of leftover food!
Although this technique has a short-lasting effect, it could provide you will some temporary respite from the heat. It will also give you cooler sheets as you try and nod off.
9. Give your body some freedom
Sleeping in layers of clothes, as you may have guessed, probably isn’t the best idea. Make sure to pull out your thinnest mattress and strip it of all the unnecessary extra bed sheets. Allowing your body to breathe creates a more comfortable and cool environment for sleep.
10. Get some space
If you’re sleeping with a partner, cuddling probably isn’t the best idea. Body heat transfers are not going to help you to sleep. If anything it’s only going to make life more difficult, turning your bed into a hot mess of sleep deprivation for both of you. Give each other some space and save the cuddling for cooler months.
Do you need help choosing the right bedding for your bed this summer? If so then feel free to contact us at Bed Guru today and we will be more than happy to help you to keep cool whilst you sleep.