words by Louise Af Petersens
I’m convinced there are two types of people in a heatwave. Those who somehow drift off effortlessly with a single sheet and wake up looking impossibly refreshed. And then there’s the rest of us, lying diagonally across the bed, one foot permanently outside the duvet, flipping the pillow every 20 minutes and wondering if it’s socially acceptable to sleep in the fridge.
As someone whose sleep is completely dictated by temperature, I’ve learnt that summer calls for a different bedtime routine. Gone are the cosy candles, thick duvets and fluffy socks. Instead, it’s all about creating a bedroom that feels cool, calm and genuinely inviting when the temperature refuses to drop.
Over the past few weeks, these are the products that have become my summer sleep heroes. Some are little luxuries, some are wellness staples and some have genuinely transformed how I sleep when it’s warm outside.
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Sleep Mist
I’m a big believer that good sleep starts long before your head hits the pillow.
For me, it’s about creating little signals that tell my brain the day is officially over. Laptop closed. Phone on charge. Lights dimmed. Then comes the sleep mist.
I’ve been reaching for the Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Sleep Mist every evening and it’s become one of those rituals I genuinely look forward to. A few sprays over the pillow instantly makes the whole bedroom feel calmer, almost like you’ve walked into a beautiful spa after a busy day.
Does a pillow mist magically send you to sleep? No. But does it create the sort of environment where switching off feels that little bit easier? Absolutely. When it’s still 24 degrees outside at 10pm, every little helping hand is welcome.
Silentnight UltraGel CoolTouch 3000 Mattress
We spend around a third of our lives in bed, yet it’s so easy to pour money into skincare, supplements and wellness gadgets before ever thinking about what we’re actually sleeping on. Since switching to the Silentnight UltraGel CoolTouch 3000 Mattress, I’ve realised just how much of a difference the right mattress can make, especially during a heatwave.
What I love most is that it feels noticeably fresher to climb into at the end of the day. The UltraGel CoolTouch technology is designed to help regulate temperature, so instead of that familiar feeling of getting into an already warm bed, it feels cooler, lighter and far more comfortable. On those sticky nights when sleep feels impossible, that alone makes a real difference.
Of course, no mattress can magically make a 28 degree bedroom feel like the middle of winter, but it has genuinely helped me sleep more comfortably during this recent spell of hot weather. I’m waking up less throughout the night and spending far less time searching for the elusive cool side of the bed.
It’s also one of those purchases that keeps on giving. Unlike so many wellness buys that promise a quick fix, a great mattress supports you night after night, year after year. Better sleep impacts everything, from your mood and energy levels to your ability to recover, focus and feel your best. For me, it’s become one of the most worthwhile wellness investments I’ve ever made, and one I appreciate every single evening when I climb into bed.
One thing summer always seems to throw off is my routine.
Lighter evenings somehow convince me it’s much earlier than it actually is, dinners happen later, weekends blend into weekdays and suddenly my usual bedtime has disappeared altogether.
I’ve been adding the Wild Nutrition Sleep Duo into my evening routine as part of getting back into a bit of consistency. I like that it feels less like chasing the perfect night’s sleep and more about supporting those healthy evening habits that inevitably become a little wobbly over summer.
For me, it’s become part of the whole wind down ritual alongside reading a few pages of a book, putting my phone away and actually giving myself permission to slow down.
Dyson TP14 Find+Follow Air Purifying Fan
The final piece of my summer sleep set up has been making sure my bedroom itself feels as comfortable as possible.
I know a good fan isn’t always the first thing people think to invest in, but when the temperature refuses to drop overnight, it quickly becomes the hardest working item in the bedroom. The Dyson TP14 Find+Follow has become something I switch on long before I get into bed, helping to cool the room so it actually feels inviting at bedtime rather than like walking into a greenhouse.
What I love is that it’s doing far more than simply circulating air. It also purifies the air as it cools, helping to capture dust, allergens and pollutants, which feels especially welcome during the summer months when the windows are permanently open. The Find+Follow technology is also surprisingly clever, directing airflow towards you as you move around the room rather than simply blasting one corner.
It’s one of those products that quietly makes everything feel better. Combined with a cooling mattress and a lighter duvet, it’s helped transform my bedroom into somewhere I genuinely look forward to escaping to at the end of a hot day.
6FiftyTwo Dream Silk Pillowcase
I firmly believe everyone should own at least one silk pillowcase. Is it essential? Probably not. Does it make climbing into bed feel infinitely more luxurious? Without question.
The Dream Silk Pillowcase from 6FiftyTwo has become my favourite summer bedding swap. It feels beautifully cool when you first climb into bed and somehow makes the whole bedroom feel a little more elevated.
It’s amazing how something so simple can make bedtime feel that bit more special. Plus, if I can make my bedroom feel even vaguely hotel inspired during a heatwave, I’m taking it.
BON CHARGE Infrared PEMF Mat Mini
I’m definitely someone who enjoys discovering new wellness rituals, and this has become one of my favourite ways to slow everything down before bed. The BON CHARGE Infrared PEMF Mat Mini isn’t something I use because it’s trendy. I use it because it gives me permission to stop rushing around for half an hour.
Summer can be surprisingly busy. Between holidays, long evenings and trying to squeeze everything into the sunshine, it’s easy to go from one thing straight to the next.
Taking a little time to properly unwind before bed has made more of a difference than I expected and this has become part of that ritual. It’s less about adding another thing to my to do list and more about carving out a little pocket of calm before the day ends.
If summer has one downside, it’s that my bedtime routine becomes wonderfully unpredictable. One evening I’m eating dinner outside until 10pm, the next I’m packing for a weekend away. Then before I know it, my usual routine has completely disappeared.
Higher Nature Serotone 5 HTP has become another gentle addition to my evening wellness routine when life feels a little busier than usual. Alongside keeping my bedroom cool, avoiding endless scrolling and actually attempting to go to bed at a sensible time, it’s become part of the habits that help me feel ready to properly switch off.
Because I’ve learnt that sleeping well during a heatwave isn’t about finding one miracle product. It’s about creating an environment that makes sleep feel easier.
For me, that means a calming scent, a mattress that doesn’t hold onto the day’s heat, beautiful bedding, a few supportive wellness rituals and accepting that sometimes the fan is simply going to become your favourite household appliance.
Now, if someone could invent a pillow that stays cold all night, I’d happily be first in the queue.
