Top Tips On How to Cool Down a Room at Night

With temperatures (finally!) creeping up across the UK, you may find the warmth plays havoc with your sleep – leaving you feeling restless and exhausted.

Ideally, bedrooms should be around 16-18°C (60-65°F) but if, at night, the outside temperature remains higher, or your bedroom has retained the heat from the day, it can be difficult to keep cool.

While it’s lovely to have the sunshine and warmth during the day, it’s never fun sleeping at night in a bedroom that feels like an oven.

Here are some handy hacks for beating baking bedrooms:

1. Open windows – and doors – to encourage airflow and a cool draught through your bedroom.
2. Draw curtains or blinds during the day to block the sun out and keep your room cooler at night.
3. If you’ve got an attic, try opening the hatch. Hot air rises and this will give it somewhere to go.
4. Get rid of the duvet and blankets and sleep with just a cotton sheet – or a duvet with a low tog rating.
5. Use an electric fan – make it work better by putting a bowl of ice cubes in front of it to cool the air.
6. Wear light cotton nightwear – this is actually better than wearing nothing at all as natural fabric will absorb any perspiration. Have a cool shower or bath before bedtime to lower your core body temperature.
7. Avoid too much caffeine, alcohol or a big meal before bedtime as this can make you feel hot in the middle of the night because of dehydration and over-active digestion. Drink plenty of cold water during the evening and keep a glass by the bed.
8. If you share a bed, make sure it’s big enough for two people – 5ft wide should be your minimum.
9. Sleeping in separate beds can help, as two people sharing a bed can increase body temperature.
10. Look for beds which come with extra hygiene features such as improved moisture absorption and temperature-regulating properties.

What are your best tips for keeping cool in bed? Comment below!

First published in 2020, republished 02.06.24