Photography: Tom Ferguson | Styling: Holly Irvine
There’s so much to love about summer; longer days, balmy nights, ocean swims and seaside getaways. But soaring temperatures and high humidity rarely create ideal sleeping conditions – especially if you don’t have air-conditioning in your bedroom.
The good news is there are some simple, effective steps you can take to keep your bedroom cool, even during the muggiest heat waves – below are six of our favourite.
How to keep a bedroom cool in hot weather
Air-conditioning in the bedroom can offer instant relief but it is actually far healthier to use a fan. Spending prolonged periods in chilled and dry environments dehydrates your body. (Photography: Dave Wheeler)
1. Get the air moving
Ventilation is the best way to stay cool during the long, hot summer months. If you’re a sleep-with-the-door-shut type of person, you may want to adjust slightly. Any potential for crosswind airflow is curtailed when you have your doors and windows closed. So open up the windows, including those just outside your bedroom, as well as your bedroom door, to eliminate hot air and get the breeze circulating.
Amp up your crosswind airflow with a portable electric fan, or ceiling mounted option. Both types of fans will ensure you always have air-flow, even when there isn’t a breeze blowing outside. Place a shallow bowl or pan of frozen water in front of a pedestal fan so the circulating air picks up the cold water from the ice as it melts; creating a cool mist that offers as much relief as air conditioning.
Another hack is to position fans at cross angles, directed towards windows so you push hot air out. If you have a ceiling fan, reverse the setting so instead of blowing downwards, it sucks hot air upwards.
The cult Koala mattress designed for long, hot Australian summers. (Photo: supplied)
2. Invest in the right mattress
In general, having a comfortable bed is conducive for quality sleep, but you might not be aware that your mattress could affect how sweaty you get at night.
First off, if your mattress is more than eight years old, it’s probably time for an upgrade as sweat and bacteria build up in the fibres over the years. Prior to purchasing a new mattress there are a few things to consider when it comes to keeping you cool.
Firstly, not all mattresses are created equal and out of the four types available on the market traditional inner springs are known to offer the best air circulation due the space between the coils. However, newer bedding materials are challenging the status quo. For instance, Australian brand Koala, which has developed a foam mattress that’s made specifically for our hot climate. It’s created from a breathable material called kloudcell which allows air-circulation meaning less sweaty nights. Koala’s moisture-absorbing Tencel cover is also removable and can be thrown straight into the wash so your bed stays fresh.
Consider investing in a pillow made from a cooling material so you don’t suffer with a sweaty neck all summer. (Photography: Nikcole Ramsay)
3. Choose a new pillow
Experts agree the ideal temperature range for a good night’s sleep is 15 to 22 degrees Celsius, but we all know during the hot Aussie summer overnight temperatures can linger in the high 20s to 30s. Flipping your pillow to the cool side will be an all-too-familiar practice for most of us, but a pillow made from specifically cooling materials, such as gel-infused memory foam, ventilated latex, shredded foam, and down alternatives, offer increased support and airflow. Phase-change fabrics (PCMs), graphite or copper infusions, and engineered airflow channels are innovations that work to regulate temperature throughout the night, keeping you cooler for longer.
Linen made from natural fibres make for a breathable and more comfortable sleep such as these 100% Flax Linen Sheets in ‘Rust’ and ‘Terracotta’ from Bed Threads.
4. Switch up your sheets
Bed linen makes a huge difference to your comfort throughout the night. In the same way that clothing made of breathable fibres keeps you cool during the day, sheets made of fabrics like linen, bamboo and cotton will ensure you stay cool and dry throughout the night.
Bamboo is a highly breathable and moisture-wicking fabric that has a soft, silky texture that feels cool to the touch. Linen, although more expensive, is super breathable thanks to its loosely woven fibres. Both bamboo and linen are also eco-friendly and kind to your skin – especially these summer-ready sets.
There’s nothing revolutionary about cotton sheets, but they are a great option for summer as they are breathable, moisture-wicking, hypo allergenic, durable and easy to launder. Remember to always read the label on your bed linen of choice, whether cotton, linen or bamboo, as sometimes those natural fibres will be mixed with microfiber or polyester – which is going turn up the heat!
Beat the heat by keeping curtains and blinds closed at all times during heat waves. (Photography: Maree Homer)
5. Lay low and block out windows
Hot air rises so the lower you are to the ground, the cooler you will be. If you live in a two-storey house with a guest bedroom on the ground floor, consider spending the night there.
If you don’t have the luxury of an extra room, you can still ensure your room stays cool. Sunlight entering through windows during the day will cause the temperature in your bedroom to rise dramatically. Although it can feel a little dark and gloomy, keeping the curtains or blinds closed throughout the day will stop this from happening.
6. Unplug devices and swap out lightbulbs
It’s all about the one percenters when you’re trying to keep your bedroom cool without the luxury of air-conditioning.
Leaving your phone, computer and anything else electrical unplugged and out of the room will keep your room slightly cooler, as all electrical devices radiate some warmth. Traditional incandescent bulbs also emit excess energy in the form of heat, switch to energy-efficient LEDs, which are cool to the touch, will keep temps down and save you a small fortune in power costs.
Instead of scrolling through social media, unwind with a good book. (Photography: Maree Homer)
