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Unsure if you need summer bedding? Let’s get real here: Pop culture may paint a rosy picture of summer nights—hello, Grease!—but on a Monday night during August, you aren't having a late-night adventure with a hapless, handsome crush. You're blasting the air conditioning, kicking your heavy comforter off your bed, and cursing the 90-degree weather outside.
So, with a sound night’s sleep on our minds, we asked Vicki Fulop, cofounder of Brooklinen, how to best make up your bed for warm weather. Fulop, who started the innovative Brooklyn-based company along with her husband, Rich, is something of an expert when it comes to lightweight summer bedding, after all. Below, she answers all of our queries—and, if you feel like taking her advice, we've included some of the best bedding to consider first.
What can people do to freshen up their bed for summer’s hottest months?
Changing up one’s sheets is the quickest and easiest way to freshen up your bed (and bedroom)! Your bed is the focal point of the room, so giving it a new style can reinvigorate the whole space. I’m a big advocate of switching up your bedding with the seasons. In the winter you might want cozier, warmer-sleeping sheets (like a sateen or twill weave), with a toasty wool throw on top. However, in the summer, you want something light and airy that not only keeps you cool, but also evokes the mood and spirit of the season.
So is linen really best when it comes to sleeping in the heat?
Linen and cotton are both ideal fabrics for sleeping in the heat. They are woven from natural fibers (cotton is cotton, while linen is woven from the flax plant) that breathe remarkably well, which is key for staying cool. In the summer you may want a percale weave. Percale is known for a crisp, cool feel that is perfect for hot weather.
Linen, meanwhile, has natural cooling properties. It’s even more breathable, moisture-wicking, and absorbent than cotton—plus it’s naturally antimicrobial. It’s also a natural temperature regulator and insulator, which means it actually keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in winter. Linen is ideal if you sleep with a partner and one of you tends to get hotter or colder than the other, because it will adjust to you both. Finally, it’s one of nature’s strongest fibers, and holds up incredibly well to washing. It just gets softer with time. Visually, it has a beautiful drape and an über-chic rumpled look that just embodies the best of summer in a fabric.
What about when it comes to the materials—and types—of pillows, duvets, blankets, and quilts?
Down is light and fluffy without feeling heavy, so it’s always my top recommendation for pillows. It’s also more breathable than a synthetic fill, so it’s a bit better for the summer in that respect as well.
With covers, I think if you get really hot, opt for a lightweight cotton or linen blanket for summer (with or without a top sheet). Or, if you like sleeping under a comforter year-round with the A/C on, go for lightweight down, which will still be warm and substantial, but not stifling.
What about quick bedding fixes that might include just one upgrade, rather than an entire new set?
There are lots of quick fixes that don’t require buying a whole new sheet set! A new duvet cover and pair of pillowcases, or even just a new throw, can transform the look and feel of your bed. Bringing in color through a light blanket, for example, can add energy and vibrancy, while switching to an all-white duvet cover and pillowcase set will be a palette cleanser that exudes serenity and calm. On the other hand, adding texture to your bed, via linen or a knit throw perhaps, will add visual dimension. Overall, a small tweak can yield a surprisingly large change.
Do you think that for summer bedding, less is more? As in, try to ditch the blankets?
Argh, I can’t sleep without some sort of blanket! I love sleeping with a comforter and duvet cover for as long as possible, but when it gets really into the hot, sticky days, sometimes I switch to my light cotton summer blanket. It’s a lot cooler and thinner than a down comforter, and it’s a great way to change up the look in the room. For now I’ve been really into linen because it sleeps cool and has that textured look that I love so much.
Any triage suggestions for a hot night when you can’t sleep?
When the A/C breaks in the middle of the night (or if you didn’t have one to begin with), you’ve got to get crafty. Other than sticking a foot out from under the blankets (your extremities lose heat fastest, so getting one out into the air can bring your core body temperature down a little), I recommend grabbing an ice pack from the freezer. Use it as a cool compress on your pressure points, forehead, and even as a little instant cooler in your bed. You can also take a lukewarm shower to bring down your core body temperature (not a cold one, because then your body will overcompensate trying to warm you back up). If you do happen to have a fan, put it in front of some ice water so that it blows cooler air toward you.
