Summer is the time for trips to the beach, sitting by the pool, and enjoying refreshing drinks — who wouldn't look forward to it? Hot sleepers don't! Unfortunately, sleeping too hot is a common issue many people face, so summer isn't the happy season it is for other people.
But what if you could change that? You can by changing your mattress! Some mattress types are naturally more breathable, while others have engineered cooling options, meaning you can say bye to hot, sleepless nights!
What do these cooling mattress types look like? We'll show you!
Hybrid Mattresses
One type of mattress that can help hot sleepers is a hybrid mattress, but there's a catch — it depends on what it's made of! Standard hybrid mattresses have a pocketed coil support coil with comfort layers on top. And while the pocketed coils let air flow freely and prevent heat from being trapped in the bed, the type of top layers will decide how cool the mattress can get.
If the top comfort layers are made of latex, gel memory foam, or graphite copper, then it'll help keep you cool during those hot summer nights!
Innerspring Mattresses
Another cooling type of mattress are innerspring mattresses. These beds have a coil structure either made of continuous springs or pocketed coil. The space between the coils allows the air to circulate around your body, which helps the heat dissipate throughout the night.
When you combine the coils with thin natural fibers like wool or organic cotton for the top layer, the surface will stay cool to the touch!
Memory Foam Types
Usually, memory foam mattresses aren't conducive to a cool night's sleep — unless it's a gel memory foam or a graphite copper-infused memory foam! Since regular memory foam is known to trap heat, manufacturers have corrected the problem by providing these two subtypes to help people sleep cooler.
- Gel memory foam dissipates heat by soaking up the thermal energy from the body and dispersing it throughout the surface, providing a cooler surface.
- Graphite-infused memory foam is a highly conductive form of carbon, which reduces heat by dissipating the heat through the carbon discs at a molecular level.
So, if you prefer how a memory foam mattress feels but want to sleep cooler, look for gel memory foam or graphite memory foam!
Did You Know? Copper in mattresses makes your bed resistant to mold, mildew, and other bacteria!
Latex Mattresses
Latex mattresses are either made from natural rubber tree sap materials or through a synthetic blend, which creates a sleeping surface similar to memory foam with body-contouring properties. Latex also features better bounce, is more responsive, and long-lasting. But when it comes to the best cooling mattress type, natural latex mattresses are the best.
Natural latex has a naturally open cell structure which promotes airflow through the mattress and prevents it from absorbing heat. And since latex usually comes perforated with pinholes to fine-tune the firmness, it also has more breathability.
Pro Tip: Natura latex is also more hypoallergenic, sustainable, and free of harmful chemicals!
How to Keep Even More Cool
With a cooling mattress, you're already well on your way to cool, breezy nights regardless of the temperature outside. But there's no reason you can't maximize your cool even further with the proper sheets, toppers, pillows, and blankets!
- Sheets: look for sheets made of lightweight cotton, linen, Tencel lyocell, or bamboo (long-tape single-ply cotton with a 200 to 400 thread count is ideal!).
- Mattress Toppers: natural latex toppers are ideal for better breathability, but gel memory foam works too! You can also look into toppers or mattress pads with passive or active temperature control!
- Pillows: look for cooling pillows made with latex, bamboo, gel memory foam, or other engineered cooling properties.
- Blankets: lighter, thinner materials like a lightweight cotton, cotton blend, Tencel lyocell, linen, or bamboo are ideal!
Cooling Down Before Bed
On sweltering summer days that later bleed into muggy, hot nights, keeping cool might seem impossible, even with a cool mattress, pillows, and bedding. But there are other ways to keep your bedroom cool and comfortable!
- Keep your bedroom temperature around 65 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler if you prefer (anything 70 or above is too hot to sleep in!).
- Draw the curtains during the day and keep the light out.
- Take a hot bath before bed (even if it's uncomfortable!) as it'll help decrease your body temperature (just don't do it right before bedtime!).
- Drink a glass of ice-cold water before bed to help lower your body temperature.
- Practice meditation techniques to help lower your heart rate and your body temperature.
- Place ice-cold packs on your pulse points to help cool down.
- Sleep in the starfish position (with your arms and legs spread out) to help you stay cool!
Keep Cool and Sleep On!
As you can see, sleeping cooler during sweltering summer nights is not a pipe dream — you just need the right sleep setup! So, if you're tired from tossing and turning all night, it's time to upgrade your mattress and pillows at Van's Home Center. We have various cooling mattress types in stock, which we can get to you quickly!
Have questions? Drop us a line or stop by — our sleep experts have the answers!