The summer months around these parts can be hard to cope with if you don’t have air conditioning at home, or your trusty A/C fails on you. There are lots of ways you can keep cool when you are up and about, such as taking cool showers or heading outdoors and resting in the shade, but at night, when you want to sleep, it can be difficult. Here are some ideas to help you make your bedroom as comfortable as possible without having air conditioning to rely on when the temperature soars.

Keep Your Bed Linen and Clothing Light and Natural

You are going to want minimal cover at night when it is hot, but a lot of people find it hard to sleep without anything covering them at all. Look for lightweight sheets in crisp cotton rather than any synthetic fibres that will make you sweat more. Natural fabrics that let skin breathe will make you feel a lot more comfortable, and you can find some beautiful summery designs that look fantastic when paired with hand made wooden bedroom furniture from Revival Beds to give you that airy, rustic feel. You should also wear lightweight natural fibres to bed if you find you prefer to wear a nightshirt or short pyjamas to sleeping ‘au naturel’ in hot weather. As another sleep tip, no matter how nice it is to snuggle up to your partner when you are falling asleep or have your cats or dogs next to you, humans and furry mammals give off a lot of body heat, so you probably should create some space between yourself and them at night during the hottest times of the year!

Try a Swamp Cooler

A swamp cooler can be a good low-cost alternative to air conditioning. It won’t be as effective, but can certainly make a difference to the room temperature. You can buy a unit fairly cheaply, or alternatively, you can make your own swamp cooler solution using fans and cold water. A covered fan with a wet towel over it can even make for a good budget swamp cooler in a pinch, or have a fan blowing over a bowl of ice and water. This can be much better than fans alone, which when it is hot just really end up moving hot air around.

Good Ventilation

Your room will feel far hotter and more uncomfortable if you don’t let fresh air in. When it is hotter outside than in, the humidity and stuffiness inside (especially if you are feeling sweaty and sticky) can make it much harder to sleep. Letting fresh air in will really help. If you are concerned about bugs coming in through open windows, try fitting a mesh over the window that can keep them out. If there is a lot of noise outside, for example, if you live by a road, you may find ear plugs or a white noise machine will help you sleep peacefully.

These are three ways to make your summer nights more restful and comfortable.