8 Clever Ways to Cool Down Your Bedroom in the Summer Heat
Getting
a good night's sleep during the hottest summer months seems impossible
at times. Sometimes, even the air conditioning doesn't help, and you end
up rolling from side to side and sweating like a sinner in church all
night long. But even if it does, having the AC running all night for
months seems like a waste of your hard-earned money, doesn't it?
To
save yourself some cash and still sleep well all summer, irrespective
of the heat, there are many things you can do, like proper insulation,
ceiling fans, and other general tips to consider to keep your entire house cool.
But insulating your attic and installing ceiling fans are long-term
projects that require professional help, a lot of time and possibly
money, and chances are, you need some quick fixes to cool off and sleep
well right away. So here are 8 clever and easy tricks that are sure to
keep your bedroom cool and fresh all night, and require little time and
even less money on your part.
1. Bring in some indoor plants
Turning
your bedroom into a jungle full of greenery and fresh air is an
excellent idea! Not only will the plants help you sleep better all night
by providing you with fresh oxygen, but large leafy plants will also
block out the sun and make sure the bedroom is in shade and hence a
cooler place in your house. Planting shrubs and trees outside of the
bedroom window is also a good idea, if possible.
In
addition, some plants are natural coolants, and they provide lots of
fresh oxygen and cool down the air in the room. Such indoor plants
include aloe, snake plant, ficus plants, spider plant, Boston fern,
pathos, and the Areca palm tree, and they will look great in your
bedroom!
2. Make your windows reflective
Most
of the heat gets into your bedroom with the light that shines through
the windows, and so blocking or filtering out some light might really
help reduce the heat in the bedroom. To do so, you can cover your
windows in a special reflective film, which is available in most
hardware stores and online and is easy to install on your own. The
nearly transparent film acts as a filter that will let in only 47% of
the sun's rays through, just enough to bring in some light into the room
without overheating it.
In
a pinch, you can also use regular tin foil or foam sheets with a foil
backing to cover your bedroom windows that will basically have the same
effect. The downside of this trick, however, is that the foil will block
most of the light and doesn't look particularly appealing, but it
works!
3. Choose the right curtains and blinds
Lightweight
sheer curtains are not suitable for bedrooms, as they will let in too
much light. Another great way to block out the sun's rays and keep your
bedroom cool apart from the reflective film are blackout curtains or
blinds, which you would ideally close throughout the day to keep the
room fresh. Blackout curtains especially can block nearly 100% of the
light and also have some noise-canceling properties and help trap heat
in during the winter, which makes them an excellent choice for sensitive
sleepers year-round.
4. Opt for light-colored furniture and accessories
Even
such a seemingly-minor detail as color can make a big difference in
terms of trapping in unwanted heat. We recommend you choose light-colors
like white, off-white, beige, or greige in your bedroom during the
summer. To understand why you must remember a bit of color theory: dark
colors, such as black, navy, and dark brown absorb light, whereas light
ones reflect it. Thus, light-colored accessories, furniture, textiles,
and bedding will not absorb much light and subsequently heat, too, so
they're a much better choice for the warm months.
5. Choose the right fabric for your bedding
In a previous article on staying cool at night without air conditioning,
we've mentioned that cotton bedding is superior to polyester and satin
in the summer. We'd like to specify that a bit more, as it's not just
cotton, but also linen fabrics that are excellent for the summer months.
Both of these fabrics are woven from natural fibers and thus are very
breathable, which is key for losing heat.
Linen,
in particular, has natural cooling properties, and it's also
antimicrobial and moisture-wicking. Both cotton and linen are natural
insulators, which means they will help you cool off in the summer and
keep you warm in the winter. Textile experts also suggest a percale
weave for the summer, which is an especially closely-knit weaving
technique that results in a cooling and smooth-feeling fabric.
6. Get a carpet for your bedroom
Insulation
is key to effective and efficient climate control year-round, and not
just in the summer, which is why experts always advise homeowners and
renters alike to insulate their attic, windows, and any other cracks and
gaps from where air may escape. However, few people actually know that
one of the easiest ways to insulate the floor is by using a carpet. The
carpet fibers will help fill in any insulation gaps in the floor that
may otherwise be pricey and effortful to repair.
7. Air out the room
Don't
want to use the air conditioner at night? In that case, opening the
bedroom door may actually prove beneficial, as simple as that. An open
door will increase the ventilation in the room and promote the
circulation of fresh, cool air from other rooms into your bedroom. Be
wary of drafts, however, and always use door stoppers to prevent the
door from slamming shut in the middle of the night.
8. Change the lightbulbs
If
you're still using old-fashioned incandescent lightbulbs in your home,
it's definitely time for a change. These lightbulbs are significantly
less efficient than LEDs and CFL bulbs and gobble up to 80% more energy.
They also let out about 90% of the energy they use as heat, which means
that they will increase the temperature in your bedroom, unlike
fluorescent and LED lightbulbs.