Budget Bedroom Heatwave Buys for Comfortable Sleep
This post may contain affiliate recommendations. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to buy through my suggestions, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. In this post, I will help you cool down your bedroom during a UK summer heatwave.
UK Heatwaves and Bedrooms Were Not Made for Each Other
People often think the Brits are soft for complaining so much about the summer heat. But when its 30 c in Britain it can feel so much hotter for many reasons. Such as the air from the coast is more humid which intensifies. We’re simply not built for the heat. British houses are designed to hold heat like an oven and most of us haven’t got air conditioning leaving our bedrooms as hot as green houses which can leave us up all night feeling as if we’re melting into our own beds.
The good news is though, you don’t need to spend a fortune to make your bedroom feel cool calm and honestly a little bit like a boutique hotel retreat. These budget bedroom heatwave buys genuinely work and most are under £30.
Block the Heat Before It Gets In
Blackout Curtains or Blinds Are Your Best Friend
This is the one thing I wish someone had told me years ago. Blimey the difference it makes. Keeping your curtains or blinds closed during the day stops your bedroom turning into a greenhouse before you’ve even got into bed.
These Thermal blackout curtains available in various sizes and range from as little £10 up to just under £30 . They work summer and winter so you’re getting double the value. They block heat in summer and keep warmth in during colder months. Proper good investment they are.
Get the Air Moving
A Quiet Fan That Actually Does the Job
Not just any fan, nah. One that doesn’t sound like a helicopter taking off at 2am. This Quite pedestal oscillating fan will distribute air around your bedroom and is a great addition for under £30.
A Slim tower fan with a sleep mode and timer is absolutely worth the money here. You’re looking at around £60 for a decent one though, but the difference between a cheap rattling desk fan and a proper quiet tower fan at night is massive. I’d put this in the treat yourself category because your sleep is worth it mi darlin.
Swap Your Bedding
Bamboo Bedding Is Everything
Your duvet is not your friend in a heatwave. Blast. Get it off the bed entirely and replace it with Bamboo bedding. This Bamboo fitted sheet in particular is genuinely worth the hype. It’s naturally temperature regulating which means it stays cool against your skin even when the room is warm, honestly once you’ve slept in it you won’t go back. It feels like sleeping in a boutique hotel and that is exactly the vibe we are going for.
A good tip that cost’s next to nothing is to dampen your sheets slightly before bed. Not soaking wet. Just a light mist from a cheap Spray bottle under £6. It sounds a bit odd but blimey it works. You’ll be out like a light before they even dry.
Little Extras That Make a Big Difference
The Budget Buys That Pull It All Together
Right so before I tell you about this one I need to tell you about the freezer pillow incident. Because I have been there mi darlin. I read a hack somewhere that said to pop your pillowcase in the freezer before bed for an instant cooling effect. Sounds genius doesn’t it. And for about one glorious minute it genuinely was. Then it started getting soggy and smelled like the inside of the freezer. Defrosted peas and all. Nah. Never again.
When it comes to cooling sprays there are two I’d genuinely never be without in summer. The first is this peppermint cooling spray. Under £10-Spritz it on your pillow before bed and that hit of peppermint is instantly cooling and fresh. It smells gorgeous and it genuinely helps you drop off faster without the smelly aftermath of the whole freezer pillowcase disaster. Lavender works brilliantly too but if you run hot the peppermint version is something else.
And while we are on the subject of cooling sprays mi darlin. If you suffer with heavy legs or swollen ankles in the heat then you absolutely need the Puressentiel Circulation Spray in your life too, under £19 it’s well worth it for the 17 essential oils it has in it. I’m not exaggerating when I say it feels incredible on hot tired legs after a long day. You spray it on and within about 15 minutes your legs genuinely feel lighter and cooler.
If you haven’t tried a Gel cooling pillow pad yet- where have you been. Under £10 and you just pop it on top of your pillow. Cold. Instant. Brilliant. No freezer required. Or you could even go all out and get a Cooling blanket, you can use it like a normal blanket or lay it across your mattress to create a full body cooling effect for under £30.
Your Cool Calm Bedroom Is Closer Than You Think
You do not need air conditioning. You do not need to spend hundreds. These budget bedroom heatwave buys are all you need to turn a sticky miserable night into something that actually feels restful and calm.
One More Trick Worth Knowing About
If you haven’t heard of house burping then you are going to love this. It sounds completely mad but it is actually a proper technique for getting stale warm air out of your home fast. I wrote a whole post about it and it ties in perfectly with everything I’ve just shared with you. Go and have a read of how to house burp your home for fresh air because once you know about it you will wonder how you ever lived without it. It makes such a difference on those close muggy evenings when the air just feels thick and heavy indoors.
For more ideas on making your home feel like a proper retreat check out my summer staycation ideas for adults and if a home spa day sounds like exactly what you need right now then this one is for you.
For expert tips on sleeping better through a UK heatwave this article by sleep specialists over at T3 is a brilliant read. It covers some things I haven’t even touched on here and it was literally published yesterday so it doesn’t get more current than that.
Your Heatwave Bedroom Questions Answered
How do I keep my bedroom cool during a UK heatwave without air conditioning? Close your curtains during the day to block heat coming in. Use a quiet tower fan at night. Swap heavy bedding for lightweight bamboo sheets. These three things alone make a massive difference.
What is the best bedding for a heatwave in the UK? Bamboo bedding is the best option for hot nights. It is naturally temperature regulating and stays cool against your skin. Lightweight cotton is a good budget alternative.
Do blackout curtains actually keep a room cooler? Yes. Thermal blackout curtains block heat from sunlight coming through the window during the day. Keeping them closed from mid morning until the sun moves off that side of the house makes a noticeable difference to room temperature by bedtime.
What is a cooling pillow spray and does it work? A cooling pillow spray is a light mist you spray onto your pillow before bed. Most contain lavender or eucalyptus which are naturally calming and peppermint is especially cooling. They genuinely help you feel cooler and fall asleep faster.
Well go on then mi darlin, get that bedroom sorted before the next heatwave hits and finally get a proper night’s sleep.
