7 Things Making Your Bedroom Feel Hotter in a Heatwave
During the height of summer, your bedroom is likely the place you feel the heat the most. It’s a space where you rest, relax, and recuperate, but soaring temperatures can leave it feeling less soothing and more unpleasant.
While you can’t control the weather, there are a few things you can change − namely, eliminating the unexpected things in your sleep space that are serving to make it feel hotter.
From memory foam mattresses to electronics and chargers, these are the culprits thwarting your efforts to keep a bed cool, and the HVAC expert tips to fix them.
1. Heavy Bedding Traps Heat
Make the switch to lighter linens.
(Image credit: Future / TI Media Limited / ADAMCARTERPHOTO)
Beginning with the most obvious, anything that keeps you warm while you sleep will undoubtedly make a bedroom feel hotter during a heatwave.
‘One of the biggest mistakes I see is people keeping the same bedding year-round,’ shares Josh Mitchell, HVAC Expert and Founder of AirConditionerLab. ‘Thick comforters and heavy blankets trap body heat while you sleep, making it much harder for your body to cool itself naturally. Even if the room temperature is comfortable, you’ll still feel warmer because that heat stays around you.
‘During hot weather, I recommend switching to lightweight cotton or linen sheets and storing the heavier bedding until temperatures cool down.’
Any option from our best cooling sheets or best Amazon cooling sheets guides, such as the Bedsure Cooling Sheets, available at Amazon, will make the perfect switch.
‘These materials allow heat and moisture to escape more easily, helping you stay cooler overnight,’ adds Ross Palfrey, Founder and owner of Harry’s Home Comfort.
2. Memory Foam Mattresses Inhibit Airflow
Use breathable toppers, protectors, and bedding for added breathability.
(Image credit: Broad Project / Photography Gavin Cater)
In that same vein, memory foam may be particularly effective at relieving pressure, says Josh, but it’s also known for holding onto body heat − one of the main reasons you may find yourself struggling to cool down a memory foam mattress.
‘Traditional memory foam doesn’t allow as much airflow as innerspring or hybrid mattresses, so the heat your body produces stays trapped near the surface,’ he warns. ‘If replacing the mattress isn’t an option, a breathable mattress topper or cooling mattress protector can help improve airflow and reduce heat buildup overnight.’
For example, our top-rated cooling mattress topper is the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
3. Electronics and Chargers Produce Heat
Keep electronics either out of your room or unplugged during a heatwave, particularly overnight.
(Image credit: Yellow London)
Your bedroom may be a space where you work, watch television, and even eat (though it shouldn’t be), as well as sleep, but warns Ryan Gaddis, Owner of Ryan’s AC & Heating, computers, phone chargers, small TVs, and mini room refrigerators all consume electricity and generate heat.
‘Make it a heatwave habit to turn off, unplug, or change devices to their sleep setting, where possible,’ he advises.
You may also choose to set up a charging station, such as the Belkin Charging Station, available at Amazon, elsewhere. You should, however, still unplug it overnight to avoid a fire risk.
4. Poor Airflow Around the Bed Prevents Cool Air Circulating
Allow air to flow freely around your sleep space to effectively reduce the temperature in your bedroom.
(Image credit: Future / Jonathan Gooch)
‘I’ve visited homes where the air conditioner was working properly, but the bed was pushed into a corner with heavy furniture blocking the nearest supply vent,’ warns Josh. ‘Cool air couldn’t circulate around the room, so the sleeping area stayed much warmer than the thermostat [available at Walmart] reading suggested.
‘Keeping vents open, moving furniture away from them, and allowing air to flow freely can make a noticeable difference,’ and make any efforts to cool a room with fans far more effective, too.
5. Exposed Windows Allow Sunlight to Heat Your Bedroom
Use window treatments to block sunlight.
(Image credit: Future)
Sunlight streaming through your windows is one of the most beautiful parts of summer. But, warns Ryan, it also serves to heat your bedroom’s interior and everything in it − from furniture to floors and walls − through a process called solar heat gain.
‘These items, in turn, release the heat, making the room even hotter,’ he explains. ‘In a heat wave, close window shades, curtains, or shutters to block sunlight. And if there’s an awning outside your bedroom window, make sure it’s lowered or covering the window.’
If you have windows without any summer window treatments, the light-filtering RINGBLOMMA Roman Blind, available at IKEA, is an affordable option that looks far more high-end than it is.
‘Preventing the heat from entering is much easier than asking the air conditioner to remove it later,’ adds Josh.
6. Your Ceiling Fan May Be Running the Wrong Way
The direction your ceiling fan is rotating is more important than you might think.
(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)
Your ceiling fan may be running all day long during a heatwave, but do you know the best fan direction to cool a room?
‘If you have a ceiling fan, make sure it’s running counterclockwise during the summer,’ advises Ryan Osterkamp, Owner at Quality Comfort Home Services. ‘When it runs counterclockwise, it pushes air down, creating a cooling breeze. If your fan is set to spin clockwise, it actually pulls air up from the ground, which then forces hot air up by your ceiling to get pushed down to the floor, making the room feel warmer.’
Even better, adds Michael Rogers, HVAC Manager at Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical, open windows on either side of your home to create a cross-draft at the same time.
‘When the sun goes down, open up all windows and doors throughout the evening and into the early morning to let in the coolest air possible,’ he says.
7. Dirty Air Filters Restrict Airflow
Replace filters every one to three months.
(Image credit: Future / SARAH KAYE REPRESENTATION LTD (CHRIS EVERARD))
Finally, ‘Dirty air filters are one of the simplest things homeowners overlook,’ warns Josh, ‘A dirty air filter restricts airflow, so less cool air reaches the bedroom. The air conditioner runs longer, but comfort doesn’t improve much because the cooled air isn’t moving efficiently through the house.’
Therefore, during heatwaves and throughout the warmer weather of summer, Josh suggests checking filters monthly and replacing them every one to three months, depending on the filter type and household conditions.
You can also use one of the best air purifiers (our top recommendation is the Shark NeverChange, available at Amazon) to slow down how quickly your filters become clogged.
What to Shop
Are you struggling to keep comfortable while sleeping through summer heatwaves? Shop from a selection of our favorite cooling essentials below.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Botanical Green Gingham Linen Blend Sheet Set
Switch heavy bedding to lighter linens. This sheet set from Piglet in Bed is my favorite: Blending cotton and linen for a breezy feel that’s softer than textured linen, yet still has that laid-back, wrinkled look.
Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper
This mattress topper is infused with cooling graphite for ultimate breathability. ‘Filled with three inches of supportive memory foam, this mattress topper made an immediate improvement to the look and feel of my guest bed,’ said our expert tester Kaitlin Madden in her Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper Review.
This air purifier removes 99.99% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, and operates at just 20 decibels in sleep mode. It refreshes the air hourly in spaces up to 300 sq ft, helping to prevent air filters from becoming clogged quickly.
SCHOTTIS Black-Out Pleated Blind
For an affordable way to block out sunlight, these IKEA blinds can be cut to size and installed with no drilling. They’re then secured in place with the included clips, and can be closed completely with the hook-and-loop fastener.
Breezeweave Cotton Gingham Bed Blanket
If you still prefer a little weight on you while you sleep, even in summer, this blanket is breathable and airy, and dyed for extra vibrancy for a fun pop of color and personality in your sleep space.
If you don’t have a ceiling fan, this pedestal fan is a good option for cooling your space. It has nine speeds and four modes, an air flow capacity of 1150 cubic feet per minute, and reaches up to 93 feet.
Meet the Experts
Josh is an experienced HVAC technician and Owner of AirConditionerLab, an online resource on heating, cooling, and energy efficiency. Josh focuses on enhancing indoor air quality, reducing energy use, and addressing heating and cooling challenges. Through reviews, guides, and tips, Josh and his team provide information on HVAC systems, air purifiers, and other home comfort products.
Ross is the Founder and Owner of Harry’s Home Comfort, a home comfort and energy efficiency company that has served more than 10,000 homeowners. Under his leadership, Harry’s Home Comfort has grown into a trusted regional provider of HVAC, heat pump, insulation, and solar installation services, helping families reduce energy costs and improve the long-term performance of their homes.
Ryan is the Owner of Ryan’s AC & Heating, based in Tomball, Texas. Ryan has been a licensed HVAC contractor and business owner since 2013.
Ryan Osterkamp is the Owner of Quality Comfort Home Services, a family-owned HVAC and plumbing company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. With extensive experience across heating, air conditioning, indoor air quality, and residential plumbing, Ryan is deeply knowledgeable in system design, installation, diagnostics, repairs, and energy-efficient upgrades.
‘The thermostat doesn’t tell the whole story,’ concludes Josh. ‘A bedroom can feel much warmer than the rest of the house because of trapped heat, poor airflow, direct sunlight, or humidity. Resolving those issues often improves comfort more than lowering the thermostat another couple of degrees,’ while helping to avoid any thermostat mistakes at the same time.
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