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Is your bedroom a hot, sticky mess?

Are you finding it hard to sleep at night because of the relentless heat?

Would you like to know the secrets of how to keep a bedroom cool?

If so, this guide can help.

Below, we’ll show you 15 tips for how to make your room cooler during the dog days of summer.

Regardless if you want to know how to keep your bed cool or the entire room, this article has the answers you’re looking for.

And best of all, each tip is easy to implement.

How to Make a Bedroom Cool

1. Use a Window, Portable or Ventless Air Conditioner

This may be the obvious choice, but it’s one that’s often overlooked by people who are not aware of the latest technology in air conditioning.

The most common option is a window air conditioner. It’s an inexpensive appliance that can make your bedroom cool all day and night.

All that’s required is a small window to place the unit in so that it can ventilate the hot air properly.

Take a look at our window air conditioner reviews to see what’s available.

You can also go with a more permanent solution called a “wall mounted air conditioner”. It looks similar to a window AC unit but installs directly into the wall. Check out our list of the the best wall AC unit reviews if you’re interested in this option.

See all of Amazon's Best Selling Window AC Units

Another option is a portable air conditioner. It offers the same cooling power as a window AC unit, but it doesn’t sit inside a window.

Instead, portable AC units have a hose on the back that connects to a window bracket that’s placed on the window sill.  And all you have to do is raise the window about 6 inches for the unit to ventilate.

This design makes portable air conditioners much more appealing and user-friendly. 

Plus, these units are truly “portable”. Meaning, you can move them from room to room with ease.

If that sounds good to you, check out our portable air conditioner reviews to compare the top rated models or our best affordable portable air conditioner reviews for the lowest priced options.

See all of Amazon's Best Selling Portable AC Units

Ventless air conditioners are another version of portable AC units that don’t require a window for ventilation.

These AC units are basically a large fan with an internal water tank. The fan mists the water into the air as a way to cool it.

This design makes these types of indoor air conditioning units popular with people who don’t want a cooler bedroom without sacrificing the use of a window.

Visit our ventless air conditioner reviews page to find out more about how these units can work for you.

See all of Amazon's Best Selling Ventless AC Units

2. Get Creative with Fans

If you live in an area where the temperature gets cooler at night, then you should use this to your advantage.

Consider placing a box fan in your bedroom window and have it point into the room.

This positioning will draw in the cool night air.

You can even angle the fan so that it blows directly on you while you sleep, which should keep you comfortable all night long.

Should you live in an area that doesn’t get much cooler once the sun goes down, you can still use the box fan trick.

But you’ll want to flip it around so that it’s blowing outside. This will remove the hot air from your bedroom to keep you cool.

For areas where it’s extremely hot and sticky during the night, having one fan blowing the hot air outward and the other blowing the air into the room is the best way to create a more pleasant temperature to help you feel cooler while you sleep.

3. Hang a Wet Sheet in the Window

Don’t have a fan on hand? Try this tip instead for how to make a bedroom cool.

When you hang a damp sheet in front of your window, as the outside air passes through it, the water will evaporate, which will help cool down your room.

Make sure to use a light-colored sheet, as they reflect light and don’t absorb heat.

4. Make a DIY Air Conditioner

Here’s a unique tip for how to keep a bedroom cool that doesn’t require to buy an indoor air conditioning unit.

You can make a DIY air conditioner by combining two things:

  • A stand-up fan
  • A bowl of ice

Add some ice to a bowl or shallow pan, such as a roasting pan, and then set this in front of a fan.

As the fan blows and the ice melts, cold water will be picked up from the surface.

This will create a cooling mist that will keep your bedroom cooler and more comfortable.

Trial and error will determine how much ice and how large of a bowl you’ll need to keep your bedroom cool all night long.

You can also just buy one of the best small AC units here that combine a water tank that’s fillable with ice and fan together in a single device.

5. Sleep Like an Egyptian

Want to know a simple way for how to keep your bed cool?

In ancient Egypt, the Egyptians didn’t have the luxury of indoor air conditioning. So, they had to find other ways to stay cool while they slept during the blazing heat.

The solution they came up with was to dampen a sheet or towel and use it as a blanket in their bed.

You can do try this method too.

However, you should also consider placing a dry towel under your body so that your mattress doesn’t get soaked. You could also invest in a plastic cover for the mattress to prevent any chance of the material getting wet.

6. Use Cooler Sheets

Your sheets play a huge role in temperature regulation during the night.

When the temperature rises, you want sheets that are made from breathable materials, including cotton, linen, or percale.

You can also buy a set of temperature-regulating sheets.

Originally designed for NASA, these sheets are made from phase-change materials that help you maintain a steady body temperature while you’re under them.

This means that your sheets can absorb, hold, and release heat to keep you comfortable all night long while you sleep.

7. Freeze Your Bedsheets

Don’t want to sleep like an Egyptian or invest in new bedsheets?

Here’s another tip you can try for how to stay cool in bed.

Another way you can keep your bedroom cool during the summer is to freeze your sheets.

You’ll want to put them in the freezer for a few hours before heading off to sleep.

This should cool them down just enough to keep you comfortable so that you can drift away without waking up in sweat.

8. Try a Cool Pad Pillow Topper

If you want another simple way for how to make bedroom cooler, you might consider adding a cool pad pillow topper to your bed.

They’re made out of a special gel that produces a cooling effect that can chill you out as you sleep.

They also add a bit of extra comfort while you’re getting cold relief during the summer heat.

9. Get a Chillow

In addition to getting a cool pad pillow topper, you might also consider buying a Chillow. These can also keep you cool during the night.

Should you decide you want a more cost-effective way to cool down at night, then you can fill a water bottle with ice water and place it under your pillow or at your feet. This will help you cool down, but you won’t have to spend a lot of money in the process.

10. Sleep on The Floor

Since hot air is light, it has a tendency to rise.

Thus, if you’re looking for an instant way to stay cool in your bedroom, then you might consider sleeping on the floor.

Some people also insist that sleeping on the floor can improve your posture and your sleep quality, which makes it worth trying out.

But if you find it that be too uncomfortable, you can always just put your mattress on the ground to get a similar heat-reducing effect.

11. Add Reflective Film to the Windows

Adding reflective film to your bedroom windows will still allow the sun to shine through, but it can reduce more than 60% of the sun’s energy.

That means your bedroom won’t heat up as much during the day and it’ll stay cooler.

12. Stick with White

Dark colors absorb a lot of heat.

Thus, when it comes to keeping your bedroom cooler in the summer, make sure to decorate in white.

This includes your pillows, bedsheets, and any other covers you might have on your bed.

13. Use a Dehumidifier

Another way for how to make your room cooler is to run a dehumidifier.

Excess moisture in the air can make it feel sticky and hotter.

So, when it comes to making your bedroom cool, you might consider adding a dehumidifier to the space.

Not only will it extract moisture from the air to help cool things down, but it can also help you out during allergy season.

Lower humidity equals fewer dust mites and mold spores floating around which can help reduce coughing and sneezing.

You’ll be able to take care of two problems with one appliance!

14. Cool Your Pulse Points

Applying cold compresses or ice packs to your pulse points can help cool your body so that you can sleep comfortably during the hot summer.

Some of the most common areas on your body for these items include the inside of your wrists and the back of your neck.

But, you can also apply it to your elbows, ankles, behind your knees, and groin area too if you’d like.

15. Keep the Bedroom Door Open

And finally, you can try something as simple as keeping the door open at night to cool down your room.

Opening your bedroom door will increase the airflow from one room to another.

By keeping the air moving throughout your home or apartment, this will ensure that the air in your bedroom doesn’t become stagnant and overly hot.

How to Make Your Room Cooler Summary

How to make your room cooler summary

We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to make a bedroom cool.

As you learned, there are numerous ways in which you can stay cool in bed that don’t take much effort.

The easiest method, and the one that works no matter how big or smaller your room may be, is to use an indoor air conditioning unit.

These appliances now come in three convenient types: window, portable, and ventless, and we’ve written dedicated articles on each kind.

You can find them here:

By using an air conditioner or any one of the tips above for how to make your room cooler, you can be much more comfortable at night while you sleep.

Just choose the option that’s right for you.

Avatar for Katherine Dyson

About Katherine Dyson

Katherine is the lead Staff Writer. She conducts in-depth research and interviews with industry experts in order to produce a wide range of content for the site. Her main role is to write helpful articles that aid people who are seeking to improve their indoor air quality and comfort. (See Full Bio)