Summer Cooldowns for Steamy Bedrooms
Sleep well over summer with these simple tips to keep you cool no matter how hot temperatures get
Summer is here and while most of us embrace the sun-filled days that are upon us, those hot, balmy nights can make sleeping a challenge. We spend more time in the bedroom than we realise, and it should remain a place we can retreat to not just for restful, quality sleep, but also to hang out and relax … even when it’s ridiculously hot outside. Prep your bedroom for the hot summer months ahead with these simple tips to maintain its sanctuary feel.
Another lightweight and natural bedding option is bamboo. Far from resembling its rough, natural form, bamboo bedding is soft and silky and feels ultra luxurious. I made the switch a few years ago, and they are my favourite sheets to have on the bed. They are also low allergen – great for asthma sufferers – and are just as lovely to sleep in through winter.
Strip back the layers
No matter how much you like snuggling into a multi-layered bed, overheating is guaranteed to disrupt your sleep. Remove throws and flannelette sheets and swap your heavy doona insert for a lighter version. Having just a sheet and doona cover without the insert (or a Kantha quilt) is often enough during the warmest months – the idea is to pare back your bed to the bare essentials.
To ensure you still have that stylish, layered look, choose a lightweight throw to go over your bed – I like to use Turkish towels with a fun trim or edging, or a breathable cotton material during the summer months. If you’ve kicked off all the sheets during the night, a lightweight throw is handy to pull over you if you get too cool.
How to update your bedlinen for hot nights
No matter how much you like snuggling into a multi-layered bed, overheating is guaranteed to disrupt your sleep. Remove throws and flannelette sheets and swap your heavy doona insert for a lighter version. Having just a sheet and doona cover without the insert (or a Kantha quilt) is often enough during the warmest months – the idea is to pare back your bed to the bare essentials.
To ensure you still have that stylish, layered look, choose a lightweight throw to go over your bed – I like to use Turkish towels with a fun trim or edging, or a breathable cotton material during the summer months. If you’ve kicked off all the sheets during the night, a lightweight throw is handy to pull over you if you get too cool.
How to update your bedlinen for hot nights
Decorate with cool, neutral tones
Choose light colours for your sheets and bedding. Lighter colours will reflect the light rather than absorb it and you’ll create a light and breezy effect in your bedroom, rather than a dark, moody and cosy feel that’s better suited to winter. Colours to consider are neutral tones such as whites, cool greys, soft blues, and even pale greens.
Choose light colours for your sheets and bedding. Lighter colours will reflect the light rather than absorb it and you’ll create a light and breezy effect in your bedroom, rather than a dark, moody and cosy feel that’s better suited to winter. Colours to consider are neutral tones such as whites, cool greys, soft blues, and even pale greens.
Become a minimalist
Prepare mentally for the long, hot summer months with a good declutter. Having unnecessary stuff around you, especially in the bedroom, is not ideal for creating a calming, restful room and clutter can make you feel claustrophobic.
Tip: Unplugging and removing appliances and gadgets reduces heat in the room, and further reduces visual clutter.
Browse more contemporary bedroom ideas
Prepare mentally for the long, hot summer months with a good declutter. Having unnecessary stuff around you, especially in the bedroom, is not ideal for creating a calming, restful room and clutter can make you feel claustrophobic.
Tip: Unplugging and removing appliances and gadgets reduces heat in the room, and further reduces visual clutter.
Browse more contemporary bedroom ideas
Do a spring clean in summer
Store all the winter layers and throw rugs in your linen press once summer rolls around or hide them away in storage boxes that fit underneath your bed. Clean your room from top to bottom, dust off the tops of curtain rods, wipe down windowsills and clean those windows until they sparkle. A fresh-smelling room will have a cooling effect and you’ll feel much better for it.
Store all the winter layers and throw rugs in your linen press once summer rolls around or hide them away in storage boxes that fit underneath your bed. Clean your room from top to bottom, dust off the tops of curtain rods, wipe down windowsills and clean those windows until they sparkle. A fresh-smelling room will have a cooling effect and you’ll feel much better for it.
Keep stifling heat out of your room on particularly hot summer days by closing up all your doors and windows in the morning. If you have blinds and shutters, keep these drawn all day. Doing so will keep the temperature in your bedroom much cooler. Welcome any cool breezes into the room in the evening with wide open windows to let the air circulate.
Going to sleep in fresh, clean air in the bedroom is integral for positive feng shui and more conducive to a sound sleep when the weather is hot and uncomfortable. If you can’t leave your windows open all night, turn on a fan (overhead or pedestal) to keep the air circulating. The sound of a whirring fan can also make falling asleep easier, especially if there’s traffic noise outside.
Going to sleep in fresh, clean air in the bedroom is integral for positive feng shui and more conducive to a sound sleep when the weather is hot and uncomfortable. If you can’t leave your windows open all night, turn on a fan (overhead or pedestal) to keep the air circulating. The sound of a whirring fan can also make falling asleep easier, especially if there’s traffic noise outside.
Add some indoor plants
Speaking of feng shui, including greenery in the bedroom in the form of peace lilies, palms, ferns and rubber plants makes for cleaner, cooler, more oxygenated air – finessing the positive feng shui in the room and setting up just the conditions you need for a great sleep.
Speaking of feng shui, including greenery in the bedroom in the form of peace lilies, palms, ferns and rubber plants makes for cleaner, cooler, more oxygenated air – finessing the positive feng shui in the room and setting up just the conditions you need for a great sleep.
Adding greenery also helps to soften a space and visually cool down the room. Try a palm in the corner or a beautiful flowering orchid on your bedside table. Spritz your plants and orchids with a spray bottle as they love the humidity it creates, and make sure you water once a week, or a little more if the week has been very hot.
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Try all-white
Calming and refreshing, an all-white bedroom can immediately help to cool you down. A fresh and crisp white palette can be made less sterile if you work with different tones of white – yes, there are thousands of shades of white available.
You can also soften the white with fresh greenery as in previous tips, such as a vase of Monstera deliciosa leaves or an indoor plant. Just keep it pared back and free of clutter to keep the room feeling floaty.
Calming and refreshing, an all-white bedroom can immediately help to cool you down. A fresh and crisp white palette can be made less sterile if you work with different tones of white – yes, there are thousands of shades of white available.
You can also soften the white with fresh greenery as in previous tips, such as a vase of Monstera deliciosa leaves or an indoor plant. Just keep it pared back and free of clutter to keep the room feeling floaty.
Turn down the lights
Mood lighting is as important as the decor, in my opinion, because of the ambience it can create. The right lighting is especially important in the bedroom, because it’s often somewhere we want to relax and recuperate as well as sleep.
Bright, overhead downlights can cause a room to get hot quickly, especially in summer. Consider putting in dimmable overheads and pendants – you can turn down the light as required – or just use softly lit lamps beside your bed instead.
Mood lighting is as important as the decor, in my opinion, because of the ambience it can create. The right lighting is especially important in the bedroom, because it’s often somewhere we want to relax and recuperate as well as sleep.
Bright, overhead downlights can cause a room to get hot quickly, especially in summer. Consider putting in dimmable overheads and pendants – you can turn down the light as required – or just use softly lit lamps beside your bed instead.
Sheer curtains
Sheer curtains are a great layering option on your bedroom windows because they provide privacy when you need it, but won’t rob you of natural light. They give your bedroom a look that’s light and breezy (heavy drapes do the opposite) and watching them dance in the wind after a stifling hot day is a cool way to relax.
Install sheer curtains over blockout blinds or beneath light-blocking curtains to give you control over the light and heat coming through the windows.
YOUR SAY
What do you to turn down the heat in the bedroom over summer? Share your tips in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more beautiful bedroom photos
Sheer curtains are a great layering option on your bedroom windows because they provide privacy when you need it, but won’t rob you of natural light. They give your bedroom a look that’s light and breezy (heavy drapes do the opposite) and watching them dance in the wind after a stifling hot day is a cool way to relax.
Install sheer curtains over blockout blinds or beneath light-blocking curtains to give you control over the light and heat coming through the windows.
YOUR SAY
What do you to turn down the heat in the bedroom over summer? Share your tips in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more beautiful bedroom photos
Invest in the best quality sheets you can afford, such as Egyptian cotton or linen, as natural fibres breathe better than synthetic blends that tend to trap heat and perspiration – yuck! Make sure you wash those sheets at least once a week during summer and if your pillows have seen better days, have them cleaned or consider buying new ones.