When summer is around the corner, the idea of sunny beaches and warm evenings sounds like a delight, but a heated-up bedroom can be a major downer. You don’t want to turn and toss against warm beddings that sweat you up all night and mess with your sleep. Neither do you want to overwork your HVAC system to barely make your bedroom “sleep worthy” while your energy bills go through the roof!
Time to get rid of all such concerns because we have brought you expert tips on how you can keep your bedroom cool in summer by making your interior work together instead of relying solely on your air conditioning system. Many factors can undermine the ability of your cooling system, such as insufficiently insulated windows and unseen loopholes, pun intended. From quick hacks like reversing the fan directions to professional fixes like blackout curtains or roman blinds for windows, this blog will help you control and cool your bedroom temperature better so that you can easily drift off.
- Opt for Breathable Bedlinen
The choice of the bedding fabric can make a world of difference in making your sleep comfortable and cool. Opt for breathable fabrics like cotton and linen for your beddings, which will allow air circulation near the skin and absorb sweat to keep you dry. Also, make sure your sleepwear is breathable so that you can have a restful sleep instead of waking up soaked. In addition, if you have oversized picture windows, chances are that your bed is exposed to sunlight all day, so opt for light-colored bedding which will not absorb all that heat.
- Draught-Proof the Bedroom
If you feel like your HVAC system is giving its best but still struggling to keep the bedroom cool, some sneaky cracks that let in cool drafts might be the reason. Irrespective of their size, they can leak the cool air and invite warm air from the outside. You can find these gaps around the doors and windows – grab some caulk to seal the cracks and lay a large rug to cover drafts in the floorboards. Even power outlets can have gaps that you can seal with outlet insulators. If you are not a DIY person, you can call a professional to get it done perfectly!
- Opt for Blackout Window Treatments
Up to 30% of your indoor temperature is determined by the type of window treatments in your bedroom. Even when drawn closed, they can still allow sunlight and heat inside your bedroom, forcing your HVAC system to work overtime. Blackout treatments can do a fantastic job in completely shielding your room from the sunlight and preventing it from heating up. They have a thermal coating that can help insulate your bedroom and preserve the cool temperature inside. To seal the deal, opt for made-to-measure curtains or blinds that extend beyond your window sills by 3-4 inches and mount them outside the recess so that sunlight doesn’t sneak in at the seams.
Since dark colors tend to conduct heat more than bright colors, choose your blackout treatments drenched in bright colors such as white or beige to keep them cool. A dark cool place, insulated from heat and sound in this way will create a perfect sleeping environment. If you already have non-blackout treatments on your windows such as sheer blinds or curtains, layering them with blackout fabrics will produce the same results when drawn closed.
- Minimize the Use of Electronic Devices
It is quite common to plug in electronic devices like phones and laptops and let them juice up all night. But, they also release heat which can make your room warmer. Instead of plugging it in before bed, let it be the first thing you do when you wake up and let it charge while you get busy with your morning routine. This will prevent heat emission and also save electricity since devices typically don’t need to be charged all night. If you don’t need your devices nearby while you sleep, consider charging them away in a separate room. This not only extends the life of your devices but also protects you from their constant radiation so you can enjoy quality sleep.
- Reverse the Fan Rotation
It is a simple yet highly effective way to enhance and cool the indoor temperature. If you have a fan in your bedroom, use it before nightfall to let out the warm air so your HVAC has to work less than before to cool the bedroom. When the fan rotates counter-clockwise it pushes the cool air downward and makes the hot air rise above away from the floor. You can find the switch on the fan’s base or the motor housing above it.
- Go Green
While too many indoor plants are not recommended for confined and insulated spaces as they consume the oxygen inside, a few are good to add a moment of freshness and life to the space visually. But, if you have a bedroom patio, add tall and leafy plants such as ficus, evergreens, and snake plants to filter out the incoming heat. They absorb heat from the atmosphere naturally and release moisture to keep themselves cool, also cooling the environment around them. For detached houses, consider growing tall deciduous trees around the house such that they shade the bedroom area.
- Pick the Right Lighting Options
Since light and heat go hand in hand, avoid using several light sources in the bedroom at the same time to cut the heat. Take care to keep the lights turned off when the bedroom is not in use. Avoid incandescent lights as they release heat at significantly high levels. Instead, opt for LEDs and CFLs that emit less heat.
Conclusion
When the summer heat troubles your sleep, now you know how you can easily keep your bedroom cool and enjoy a restful sleep. From blocking out the sun’s heat with blackout white curtains or flipping the fan’s direction to bring the temperature and humidity levels down, each tip here will help you keep the summer heat at bay and create an ideal sleeping environment in your bedroom. No need to rely only on your HVAC system as these quick and permanent tips will not only dramatically reduce your energy bills but also help extend the life of your HVAC system. It’s time to bid adieu to hot and humid sleepless nights and embrace calm and uninterrupted sleep all summer long!
