For optimal sleep and energy efficiency, your bedroom, the primary area of use overnight, should ideally be kept between 16°C and 20°C. Maintaining a slightly cooler temperature in sleeping areas can significantly improve sleep quality and contribute to energy savings.
While the bedroom temperature is crucial for overnight comfort, it's also helpful to consider other areas of your house, especially if you have an open-plan layout or if different family members use various rooms during the night.
Recommended Overnight Temperatures by Room
Different rooms in your house have varying ideal temperature ranges to ensure comfort and functionality. Here's a general guide for overnight temperatures:
| Room | Minimum Recommended Temperature (°C) | Maximum Recommended Temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | 16 | 20 |
| Baby's Room | 16 | 20 |
| Bathroom | 22 | 22 |
| Kitchen, Hallway & Storage Rooms | 16 | 18 |
Why Cooler Temperatures are Beneficial Overnight
Keeping your house, particularly your bedroom, cooler overnight offers several advantages:
- Improved Sleep Quality: A slight drop in body temperature signals to your brain that it's time for sleep. A room temperature between 16-20°C helps facilitate this natural process, leading to deeper and more restful sleep.
- Energy Efficiency: Lowering your thermostat by even a few degrees overnight can lead to significant savings on your heating bill. Heating an empty or rarely used house to a higher temperature is often unnecessary and wasteful.
- Health Benefits: Sleeping in a cooler environment can reduce night sweats, improve melatonin production (the sleep hormone), and may even help with weight management by encouraging the body to burn more calories to stay warm.
Practical Tips for Overnight Temperature Management
To effectively manage your home's temperature overnight:
- Utilize a Programmable Thermostat: Set your thermostat to automatically lower the temperature a couple of hours before you go to bed and raise it slightly before you wake up. This ensures comfort when needed and savings when not.
- Layer Bedding: Instead of overheating your room, use blankets, duvets, and throws that you can easily add or remove to adjust your personal comfort level throughout the night.
- Block Drafts: Seal any gaps around windows and doors to prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping, which can disrupt consistent room temperatures.
- Consider Zoned Heating: If your home has a zoned heating system, you can set different temperatures for various areas, allowing you to heat only the rooms you're actively using or sleeping in.
- Dress Appropriately for Sleep: Wear comfortable, breathable pajamas that suit the ambient temperature of your room.
By strategically managing your overnight house temperature, you can create an optimal sleeping environment that promotes both comfort and energy savings.
