Comfortable Temperatures in your Bedroom

The temperature of your room is really important for you to sleep well. During the night your body temperature drops and your body will lose heat mainly through your head and face as these are usually the parts that are not covered by the duvet. That is why the bedroom should be cool – around 16°C to 18°C.

It is important that the temperature in your bed (under the duvet or blankets) is close to thermo- neutral temperature – about 29°C. The body heat you generate will usually warm your bed but if it is particularly cold, a hot water bottle is an effective way to get the temperature to a comfortable level.

During the night our bodies generate additional heat to “burn off” calories and this is the reason why alcohol and large meals should be avoided before going to sleep. If the room and the bed are too hot, it will be more difficult for the body to lose the heat that it needs to during the night.

The “right temperature” is further complicated by the possibility that your bed partner may need a different combination from you to sleep well. What you consider too hot, they may consider too cold. Two single duvets on a king bed may be a solution or find a duvet with different tog rating on each side.

Once you are warm, natural fibres allow the body to maintain a regular temperature, making them perfect for you to sleep in – whether they are your blankets, duvets and pillows or your night wear.

AMBIENT LIGHTING

Ambient is general lighting and provides overall illumination and serves as the main light source. Your room’s primary ambient light could be a low- hanging chandelier, a standard ceiling-mounted fixture, a series of recessed down- lights or a cutting-edge track light.

In your bedroom where you want to create different moods, a dimmer on your lights will enable you to set a more intimate mood when needed. Replacing a standard light switch with a dimmer switch will enable you to increase or decrease the intensity of your ambient lighting to fit your needs.

TASK LIGHTING

Task lighting illuminates spaces for specific tasks. Pendant lights, recessed lights, track lighting or table lamps for reading while you sit in bed or at a desk. If you need more light to get a job done in a specific area, its called task lighting.

Task lights are usually brighter than ambient lighting. Task lighting should fall directly on the area requiring more illumination without forming shadows.

Table lamps and floor lamps are often used as task lighting when placed near couches, chairs or desks or beds. When choosing a bedside lamp, make sure that the shade is shaped wide enough that it casts light down directly onto the book or other task you need to perform.

ACCENT LIGHTING

Accent lighting is the third and final layer to any complete lighting plan. It draws attention to areas of interest in the room, from architectural details like archways, replaces, or tray ceilings to unique artwork, photographs, dishes or collectables. Sconces, strip lights, wall-mounted picture lights, miniature recessed lights and track lights are popular forms of accent lighting. Choosing lighting that is stronger than the ambient light surrounding it will create a strong impact.