During a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures expected to reach 40°C, experts say removing one thing from your bedroom can make it significantly cooler at night. Home cooling expert Kevin Pennington, a member of the Institute of Refrigeration, advises removing all electronics and clearing clutter from under the bed.
Electronics Act as Heaters
Pennington told furniture firm Sharps: “Any electricity consumed by electronics ultimately becomes heat – screens, laptops, chargers. They're all small heaters. And because building regulations over the past 20 years have led to massively better insulation, modern homes hold onto that heat incredibly well.” He recommends moving electronics out of the bedroom during warmer months or turning them off completely at the wall when not in use.
Clutter Blocks Airflow
Pennington also notes that clutter under the bed increases heat. “Cold air sinks, so the coolest air in any room is near the floor. If you have lots of stuff stored under the bed, you're blocking cooler air from circulating and trapping warm, stagnant air right where you're trying to sleep. Clearing that space lets air move naturally.”
Expert Advice on Bedroom Setup
Natalie Prince, a fitted furniture expert at Sharps, added: “With summer comes the welcome bonus of longer, lighter days – but in a country where homes simply aren't designed for high temperatures, rising heat can quickly make your bedroom uncomfortable when temperatures peak. The bedroom is the room where heat feels most disruptive, yet airflow is rarely the first thing on anyone's mind when thinking about how to set it up. But where and how you store your belongings has a direct impact on how air moves around the room, and therefore how hot it feels at night. The more efficiently your storage works, the more your bedroom can – so with the weather heating up now is as good a time as any to start with what's under the bed.”
Heatwave Warnings
The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for 50 areas of the UK, with temperatures expected to hit at least 37°C in London and overnight lows of 25°C. Such “tropical” nights offer little respite, leading to broken sleep and increased risk of fatigue-related health conditions.
