It's summer. The temperatures are rising, the nights are getting warmer, and what's usually a wonderful sleep turns into tossing and turning all night long. You kick the duvet off, pull it back on, roll from one side to the other, and at around three in the morning you're lying wide awake.
The solution is more often in your bedding than in your air conditioning. In this article we tell you exactly what you need to sleep well in summer too.
Why do you sleep worse in summer?
Your body needs to cool down to fall asleep. Your core temperature has to drop slightly before your body sends the signals to sleep. On warm nights, that process takes longer or doesn't happen at all.
Bedding that traps heat, absorbs moisture but doesn't release it, or is simply too heavy, makes that even harder. Good summer bedding is specifically designed to support your body in that cooling process.
What should good summer bedding do?
1. It’s breathable
Bedding that lets air through prevents heat from building up between the fabric and your skin. This is the most important quality for warm nights.
2. It draws moisture away quickly
You perspire during the night, even when you don't notice it. Good summer bedding absorbs that moisture and dries quickly, so you don't wake up on a damp sheet.
3. It’s lightweight
A heavy duvet retains heat. In summer you want as little weight as possible and sometimes just a duvet cover is enough.
Which materials are most suitable?
Tencel™ Lyocell — for warm sleepers
Tencel™ actively absorbs moisture from your skin and dries quickly. That keeps your skin and bed drier and cooler, even on warm nights. The material feels silky soft and has naturally antibacterial properties.
SJUMO's Tencel™ Sateen collection is a great choice for anyone who perspires easily in summer.
Recycled Microfibre — the all-round option
High-quality microfibre is light, designed to let air circulate and dries quicker than any other material. A good choice if you're not necessarily a warm sleeper, but want to avoid the heat of summer and prevent a damp bed. Note: budget microfibre with a heavy weave can trap heat rather than release it.
SJUMO's Silky Smooth collection is specifically developed to be both quick-drying and breathable.
Organic Cotton — for those who prefer natural
Organic cotton breathes well and has a fresh, familiar softness. It holds moisture slightly longer than Tencel™ or microfibre, but with good ventilation it's a pleasant summer choice. SJUMO's Organic Cotton collection is GOTS-certified and free from chemical treatments.
Avoid: flannel and heavy sateen
Flannel is designed to retain heat, ideal in winter but uncomfortably warm in summer. Heavy sateen breathes less well and holds on to moisture.
6 tips for sleeping cool in summer
1. Start with your bedding
Breathable, light and quick-drying, that's the foundation. The other tips help, but bedding that traps heat can't be fixed with a fan.
2. Ventilate in the evening
Open your windows once the outside temperature drops below the room temperature, often after sunset. Keep curtains and shutters closed during the day to keep the sun out.
3. Use a fan wisely
A fan speeds up the evaporation of moisture on your skin, which has a cooling effect. Don't point it directly at your face.
4. Wash your bedding more often
You perspire more in summer, so sweat and bacteria build up faster. Wash at least once a week.
5. Duvet cover without filling
Sleep under just a duvet cover, without the duvet inside. Or choose a summer duvet with light filling if you still want something on top.
6. Use separate duvets
The combined body heat of two people raises the sleeping temperature considerably. Separate lightweight duvets are a simple solution.
Ready for cooler summer nights?
The Tencel™ Sateen collection is ideal for warm sleepers who perspire easily. The Silky Smooth collection is soft, quick-drying and suitable for all sleepers. And the Organic Cotton collection is for those who prefer a fresh, pure and natural material.
