Summer Bedding Dos And Don’ts

There’s arguably nothing more important than a good night’s sleep. Quality sleep ensures you feel rested when you wake up and gives you the fuel and focus needed to achieve everything you want each day. As the seasons change and the weather warms up, you may find it harder to feel cozy and comfortable in your bed, especially if you don’t switch up your bedding.

As summer approaches, you should switch to natural, cooling fabrics like linen, cotton, or bamboo. Choose light colors, and use lightweight layers. Remove your heavy winter duvet and use a breathable one. Swap out memory foam mattress toppers with cooling versions. Wash bedding more frequently in the summer, and avoid placing your bed in direct sunlight.

People spend nearly a third of their lives in bed, and yet this important bedroom feature is often neglected. Quality bedding isn’t cheap, but you can’t put a price on a good night’s rest. If you often find yourself struggling to sleep in the summer, or have never invested in summer bedding, then keep reading. Below is a list of summer bedding dos and don’ts that everyone should know.

Eight Summer Bedding Tips To Remember

1. Use Soft Natural Fabrics

One of the best ways to ensure a comfortable bed in the summer is to choose the right bedding. In the winter, it’s all about warmth, but summer materials must be soft and breathable. Natural fabrics are generally considered the best options.

Cotton sheets and pillow cases are a gold standard, but linen and bamboo are also great choices. While these 100% natural sheets tend to cost more than synthetics, they are much lighter and since it's the summer, you don’t need to splurge on high-thread-count sheets.

2. Opt For Breathable Materials

In addition to natural, lightweight sheets, use only breathable materials on your bed in the summer. This quality helps to regulate your body temperature when it’s hot. In addition to the sheets, look for breathable pillows. Breathable and moisture-wicking pillows are ideal for the summer time. Buckwheat and gel-infused memory foam pillows are also great options.

3. Switch To A Lighter Duvet

Your winter duvet has no business being on your bed in the summer. The point of these heavy comforters is to keep you warm during the cold months. Store it away once spring arrives and find a lighter summer option. Many people go for cotton quilts, but you can choose whatever summer duvet works for you. There are even comforters you can buy that have cooling properties, which is ideal for those looking to use less air conditioning on hot nights. 

4. Layering Is Key

Unlike winter, when you want to bundle up, summer bedding is all about smart layering. Your fitted sheet and top sheet should be lightweight and breathable, and you should have an optional second blanket for weight and insulation, as well as your summer duvet or quilt. 

The weather can vary during this season and as it progresses, your body will begin to adjust to the heat, and you may find you require less blankets than you needed when summer first arrived. Layers provide options throughout the night, keeping you comfortable regardless of the temperature.

5. Choose Light Colors

Think about colors and aesthetics when you plan your summer bedding. Dark, moody tones can be great for the winter, but summer bedding should be light or vibrant. Light hues reflect sunlight, and darker shades absorb it. White sheets and bedding will feel much cooler to the touch than black and dark ones. Changing your bedding is also a great way to refresh your home decor and transition your room into summer.

6. Consider Freezing Sheets On Hot Days

One tip to keep your bedding cool on hot summer days is to place a sheet in the freezermand keep it there for at least 2 hours. Take it out before you retire for the night, and you’ll be amazed at how cool and refreshing your bed will feel. Doing this is a great way to avoid getting too hot at night when you don’t have air conditioning.

7. Wash Your Bedding More Frequently

Most people sweat a lot more at night in the summer months. Higher temperatures and increased humidity lead to moist sheets, which can quickly become musty and less comfortable. Instead of washing your bedding once every week or two, consider washing it every 4 days, or at least any time you do laundry. Clean sheets smell better, are more sanitary, and are more comfortable than dirty ones.

8. Invest In A Cooling Mattress Topper

A mattress topper is a fantastic way to make a cheap or old bed more comfortable. Unfortunately, many mattress toppers can make you feel hot in the summer. Feather beds and some memory foam mattress toppers can be insulating, making it hard to sleep comfortably on warm evenings. In the summer, switch to a cooling mattress topper.  

Five Summer Bedding Don’ts

1. Avoid Cheap Synthetic Materials

One of the biggest mistakes you can make with your bed is buying cheap synthetic sheets for summer. Many types are scratchy or otherwise uncomfortable. They can also produce significant static cling. Also, synthetic sheets are not breathable and lack the moisture-wicking properties of natural materials. If you have synthetic sheets, use them in the winter, and invest in lightweight one made from natural fabrics for the summer. Cotton or linen sheets are often more expensive, but it’s worth it for a high-quality night's sleep.

2. Don’t Use Heavy Blankets

Since your home is likely much warmer in the summer, consider storing your heavier blankets. Keeping them on your bed, or nearby is a waste of space, and will make it harder for you to sleep comfortably at night. Plus, if a heavy duvet in on your bed, you’re more likely to use air conditioning unnecessarily.

3. Stay Away From Feather Comforters And Wool

Feather beds and wool are great natural materials for the winter. They are insulating and keeps you warm. However, these materials are less ideal in the summer. If you own wool and feather blankets, store them in the summer along with your other heavy winter bedding.

4. Avoid Placing Your Bed In Direct Sunlight

Another important tip for summer is to keep your bed away from windows and direct sunlight. Summer days are long, and if your bed is exposed to early sunrises and late sunsets, it can be difficult to rest. The sun will also heat your sheets, pillows, and mattress. If you can’t relocate your bed, consider investing in blackout curtains or thicker drapes to block the intense sunlight. Placing your bed in direct sunlight will make it hot, and can also damage your sheets over time.

5. Don’t Use Dark Colors

Dark colored sheets, blankets, and pillowcases are another summer bedding mistake you should avoid. For one, dark colors don’t work well with most summer aesthetics. They can make a room look dark and depressing, and clash with the summer vibrance. Dark colors also absorb heat.

If you keep your dark-hued sheets on your bed in the summer months, they will likely feel warmer than if you use white or light-colored ones. For summer bedding, white and creams shades are ideal.

Summing Up Top Summer Bedding Dos And Don’ts

Sleeping on hot summer nights is a struggle if you don't have air conditioning. Even if you are lucky enough to have AC, your approach to bedding should shift along with the seasons. Once warm weather arrives, store away heavy comforters, including feather duvets and insulating wool blankets. Opt for natural, lightweight sheets made from cotton, linen, or bamboo.

Use light-colored sheets and keep your bed out of direct sunlight. To help cool your bed on hot evenings, consider freezing your sheets. Layering is key when making a summer bed, and don’t forget to wash your sheets more frequently when the weather turns warm.

Related Guides:

• Easy Ways To Create A Cozy Bedroom
• Should You Have Light Or Dark Bedroom Furniture?
• How To Make Your Bedroom Dark For Sleep