How to Keep Cool at Night: Budget-Friendly Bedroom Tips

If there’s any time to know how to keep your bedroom cool at night, it’s right now. With parts of the UK currently stuck in a heatwave, getting a good night’s sleep can feel like a real challenge. Tossing, turning and waking up feeling hot and restless is something a lot of us are dealing with right now.

According to Bed Advice, the ideal bedroom temperature is between 16 and 18 degrees, but during a heatwave this may feel near impossible to maintain. The good news is, there are lots of simple ways to stay cool without spending loads of money.

In this guide, you’ll find budget-friendly bedroom tips that actually work. I'll cover quick, affordable ways to keep your bedroom cool, plus easy product swaps like blackout curtains and cooling bed sheets that can make a big difference. Whether you're dying to know how to cool a bedroom down quickly, or you're after some summer bedroom ideas, these practical tips will help you refresh your space and get a cooler, more comfortable night’s sleep.

How to cool your bedroom down for free

Open your windows for cross-ventilation

One of the easiest ways to cool your bedroom down is by creating a natural breeze. When you wake up each morning, open the windows in your bedroom to let the stale air out, Also, try opening windows on the opposite sides of your home to allow air to flow through and essentially push the warm air out.

This simple trick can really help cool a bedroom down fast (and for free) especially during the cooler parts of the day like early morning or late evening, where you’re more likely to have a nice summer breeze. If safe to do so, try leaving the windows open all day to allow for a better airflow. Just be mindful of bugs entering throughout the day, so perhaps keep the blinds drawn to deter them! This will also help to keep the hot sun out of your room, whilst allowing fresh air to enter.

Use fans with a bowl of ice trick

Having a fan in your bedroom is probably one of the easiest and most affordable ways to provide support in a stuffy space, but you can also take this one step further by adding a bowl of ice in front of the fan. As the ice melts, the fan pushes out cooler air, giving your bedroom a nice chill. It’s a brilliant money-saving hack if you’re looking for quick, affordable ways to keep your bedroom cool without using expensive gadgets in the process.

Switch off heat-producing electronics

Did you know that devices like laptops, chargers, and lamps can all give off heat without you even noticing? Switching them off from the plug not only saves you electricity and therefore money, but can actually lower the temperature in your room and help you feel more comfortable before bed. It’s a small but helpful change and even better for saving you money along the way.

Budget Cooling Products to Try

As mentioned above, cooling fans are a simple and affordable way to bring down the temperature, especially during those sticky summer nights. I did some research, and found some great affordable options at Argos and B&Q with prices starting from around £20. Look out for energy-efficient models to keep running costs low and make sure the fan is powerful enough to cover the size of your room. Most fans have an oscillating feature to allow the air to circulate around the room, but if you can stretch your budget a little, consider investing in a fan that has a timer feature, so it automatically turns off after it runs its cycle. This is a great option for bedrooms, so you don't have to worry about falling asleep and forgetting to turn your fan off.

Here is a one-stop shop for all the retailers that offer cooling fans for under £30:

I spoke to my colleague, Persia-Lili Moharerr who regularly uses a cooling fan in the bedroom at night. Here’s what she had to say:

"I bought a £20 cooling fan from Tesco during last summer’s heatwave, and it’s been a gamechanger for sleeping at night. The fan has 3 modes and 3 different speed settings as well as an oscillating feature so air can be circulated around the room and even has a timer for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 4 hours so it automatically turns itself off, in case I forget to turn it off before falling asleep! Now I can sleep comfortably at night knowing my electricity bill is not going through the roof!"

If you’re after something a little stronger, consider trying an air cooling unit for your bedroom. These are less expensive than full air conditioning and can offer a refreshing blast of cool air when you need it most. They can be quite pricey, but are good value for money if you're looking for the best ways to cool down your bedroom at night.

My colleague, Chelsea Alvarado has a portable air-conditioning unit for her bedroom. Here's what she recommends:

"I invested in a portable air conditioning unit from Amazon, which set me back just over £200. Although it was a bit of an investment, I can't imagine my bedroom without it during those sticky summer nights. It has a 4-in-1 cooling feature with a dehumidifier and even sleep mode so the noise doesn't keep me awake at night. It's great value for money and has been a life-saver during summer."

Looking to invest in a portable air conditioner, but want to keep the cost down? The lowest price I could find for a unit was £80 from Robert Dyas with other options at Tesco and Groupon ranging at £160-£180.

Smart Budget-Friendly Bedroom Upgrades

Let's move onto some smart swaps you can make in your bedroom, without the need for expensive gadgets. These simple, affordable changes can make a big difference to your comfort levels during summer! Why not also check out this Premier Inn at Home article on how to improve your sleep environment.

Cooling Bed Sheets

If you regularly wake up feeling too hot, switching to cooling bed sheets can make a big difference. These sheets are designed to help regulate your body temperature so that you feel fresher when sleeping during the summer months. I’ve seen affordable options at retailers like The Fine Bedding Company, starting at around £25-£30, making them good value for money and ideal for improving your comfort.

When shopping around for cooling bed sheets, look for natural, breathable materials like cotton or linen. These fabrics allow air to flow and help wick away moisture while you sleep. I found some great deals at John Lewis and M&S on lightweight cotton sheets for around £22-25, that are perfect for hot nights.

Summer Duvets

If you’re still using a heavy duvet, it might be time to make the switch to a summer duvet! Lightweight duvets are designed to keep you covered without trapping heat, helping you sleep comfortably even when the weather’s warm. Retailers like Dreams have affordable summer duvets, with prices starting at £30. If you're looking for something a little cheaper, you can browse the range of summer duvets available at Argos, which average around £15-18.

Cooling Pillows

If you're not looking to invest in a whole new bedding set, why not swap your regular pillow for a nice cooling pillow instead? They are designed to regulate your head and neck temperature, by essentially dissipating the heat. You may find that this is enough relief to allow for a comfortable night sleep, even if your room is stuffy. Dunelm sells cooling pillows ranging from £20 to £40, whilst Silentnight has options around the £25 mark. Don't forget to use a Silentnight discount code to save money on your next order.

Enter Savoo's weekly giveaway for your chance to win a Robert Dyas REM-Fit 500 Cool Gel Pillow worth £60! Visit our bedroom vouchers to enter this incredible giveaway and be in with a chance to win this fantastic prize!

Black-out blinds

It may also be worth adding blackout curtains to your bedroom, to keep the sun’s heat out during the day, and giving you a cooler, darker space to sleep. Blinds2go offers a range of options for made-to-measure black-out blinds, starting from as low as £7, depending on the cut, colour material and dimensions. Don't forget to use a Blinds2go discount code from Savoo to save money on your order. Makemyblinds is another retailer that offers affordable made-to-measure blinds, with plenty of blackout options to help you get that perfect night's sleep, even in a heatwave!

Air-purifying plants

A 2024 study by Science Direct found that adding indoor houseplants to office spaces actually had a positive impact on the air quality and moisture levels. This theory can be applied to hot rooms in your house too, as certain plants act as air purifiers with great examples being:

• Snake plants
• Aloe vera
• Peace lillies
• Boston ferns
• Spider plants

As an avid gardener and house plant enthusiast, here is my top tip for using plants to purify the air in a cost-effective way:

"The best thing you can do is invest in a spider plant. Then wait for it to grow 'spiderettes' or spider babies, and pot them in a jar of water until they root and plant them. This way, one plant can easily become 10+ plants in under a year, and you can place them all around your house to purify the air for free."

How can I keep my dog cool at night?

You’re probably not the only one struggling to sleep during this heatwave. Pets can find it just as tough to settle when the bedroom is too warm, especially dogs with thick fur. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable ways to help your whole household including your furry friends, stay cool at night.

Cooling dog beds are a brilliant way to help your four-legged friends stay comfortable in the heat. Look for pet beds made from cooling gel or breathable mesh, which you can often pick up from Pets at Home or Argos at a really good price, for as little as £8! In fact, Pets At Home as an entire section on their website dedicated to 'Cooling' so you can shop mats, beds, toys and harnesses that are all designed to cool your pet down in the summer.

I spoke to my colleague Elliot Day, who shared his top tips for keeping his dog cool in the summer:

"My dog Hugo loves to sunbathe, but I was worried the hot paving stones in the garden would burn him, so I invested in a raised dog bed so he can be outside but not overheat or burn himself. To keep him cool at night in an overheated room, I usually have him sit on his cooling mat. Alternatively, I put the mat over his body to cool him down, and often put a cold damp flannel over his head at night, which not only provides relief in a hot bedroom at night, but can ease sunburn on your dog's temples too!"

Bonus Tips for Sleeping Cool in Summer

There are plenty of small changes you can make to feel more comfortable on hot nights. Let's look at a few more budget-friendly ways to cool your bedroom down in summer:

Final Thoughts: Sleep Cool and Save Money

You definitely don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a cool and comfortable night’s sleep. By adopting some of these budget-friendly bedroom tips, it’s easy to refresh your space and keep it cool at night. From opening windows for cross-ventilation to switching to cooling bed sheets and lightweight summer bedding, small changes can make a big difference.

By following these simple practical tips, you can create a cooler, more restful space and enjoy better sleep all summer long, without breaking the bank!