As the UK experiences another record-breaking heatwave, expected to last until Thursday or Friday, many are struggling to sleep in the heat. Overnight temperatures may only drop to 16C in many areas, making rest difficult.
Expert Advice: Remove Electrical Appliances
Household experts suggest that electrical appliances in the bedroom contribute to extra heat and should be removed during warmer months. Kevin Pennington, a home cooling expert and member of the Institute of Refrigeration, explained to 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 advises: “Move them out during the warmer months and work from another room, or turn them completely off at the wall when you can.”
Clear Under-Bed Clutter
Pennington also notes that clutter under the bed can increase heat. He said: “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.”
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."
She continued: "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."
