A guide to keeping cool while you sleep

Science indicates that temperature plays an integral role in the quality of your sleep. It’s essential that your body remains within a neutral temperature zone, to enjoy a restful night’s sleep.


Your body’s ability to regulate temperature is a big part of how it regulates sleep. During REM sleep the brain’s temperature-regulating cells switch off and your temperature is impacted by your bed and sleeping surface. At this stage of the sleep cycle, you may begin to sweat and overheat. If your bed and sleeping surface are unable to breathe and disperse moisture effectively, your body temperature may start to rise. Through keeping cool, sleep disturbances are reduced helping you to achieve a good night’s sleep. 


Natural materials such as wool and horse tail allow the sleeping surface to breathe and wick away moisture. This helps you to maintain an optimal, even temperature throughout the night. Synthetic fibres, such as latex and foams, can cause sweating as they are unable to breathe and tend to retain heat. 


From the perfect bedding for warm nights to a sleeping surface with an abundance of natural materials, we’ve compiled our guide to help you keep cool and enjoy restorative sleep.


In a warm sleep environment, we are more likely to have nightmares. We may also experience sleep fragmentation. So, at night we optimally want to be in a thermal neutral zone, which is on the slightly cooler side.


Dr Rebecca Robbins

Natural Materials

Choosing natural materials for your bedding and pyjamas will help regulate your body’s temperature, resulting in a deeper, relaxing sleep. Silk, linen, and cashmere are summer-time classics, thanks to their soft and light texture. Whilst wool and horse tail may not spring to mind when it comes to keeping cool, these natural fibres boast wonderful moisture-wicking properties to help regulate your body temperature.


To immediately change to a natural sleeping surface a topper is a great solution. Filled with an abundance of naturally breathable materials, toppers can instantly elevate your summer sleep. A mattress protector is an element of bedding that is often overlooked during the warmer months. However, a climate control mattress protector continues to help breathability, whilst helping to keep the sleeping surface clean and dry. Ours is filled with Tencel fibres which disperse moisture and keep it away from the skin to help combat overheating, allowing you to keep cool. It can also be machine washed to ensure it stays soft and fresh.


Bedding

Every element of your bedding should help regulate your temperature. If goose down is your preference, choose a lower tog such as 4.5 for during warmer months, and opt for a higher tog in the winter. A natural down duvet controls your body’s temperature wonderfully, making it a great choice all year round.  


An alternative to down is a pure silk duvet. The super soft natural fibres help to efficiently wick moisture away from your skin, preventing you from overheating. Our silk duvet is also encased in a soft Tencel fabric cover, making it perfect for balmy summer nights. 


Ensuring your bedding fits the season is key. Switching your winter bedding to a lighter weight or different material will make a big difference to your sleep in the summer. Whilst upgrading to a higher tog will ensure you’re comfortable during the colder months. 


A good choice of bed linen for the warmer months is percale cotton. High-quality percale combines extra-long staple fibres and high thread count to create the perfect balance of breathability and softness. For an ultra-lightweight and super soft feel, choose Giza cotton, which has the longest and finest fibres available. The Drift collection is available in both a 400 thread count and an ultra-fine Giza 87 cotton. 


Luxuriously cool

Airflow

If the temperature of your bedroom or sleep environment rises above 23.8°C (75°F) it can disturb your sleep and may even wake you. To keep the temperature down on extremely hot days, it may help to reduce the hot air and sunlight that enters the space during the day. By keeping certain doors and windows shut with blinds and curtains closed, to help prevent the room from warming up during the day. When the temperature drops, the evening breeze and cooling night air can then enter the space. 


Pyjamas

Cotton pyjamas are a classic bed attire for every season. They offer great breathability and help to combat overheating during warmer weather. If you prefer a softer feel, silk is a wonderful alternative. Super soft on your skin, the natural silk fibres wick away moisture whilst you sleep, maintaining your normal body temperature.


By keeping cool and minimising disturbances you can enjoy a restful night’s sleep, on the warmest and the coldest of nights. 


Mindful moments

The hours leading up to your bedtime are the most crucial for a restful night’s sleep. Getting into a habit of avoiding technology and blue light will allow your brain to prepare for rest. Meditation and yoga are also proven to help us relax and put our mind at ease. And if you need some extra help, try burning essential oils to create a calming atmosphere in your bedroom.


There are specific natural fragrances that when burned can help improve air quality. Eucalyptus is especially great during the summer months, as it is known to open up air pathways and cleanse high traffic spaces, which is especially helpful for those struggling with seasonal allergies and hay fever.


And lastly, if you find yourself tossing and turning, allow yourself to reset by leaving your bed completely for at least 15 minutes. In that time focus on a very simple, relaxing task like reading a few pages from your favourite book or doing a gentle stretch. This will stop you from associating your bed with restlessness and unwanted thoughts, and instead will help your mind perceive it again as a peaceful place of rest.