The optimal sleep temperature: why you sleep much better cold

The optimal sleep temperature: why you sleep much better cold
Photo: CC0 / Pixabay, Ketut Subiyanto

When it comes to sleeping temperature for sleeping, opinions differ: Some like to have it cozy warm in the bedroom, the other loved cold air – even in winter. The good news for all cold sleepers: inside: cool temperatures in the bedroom save energy – and therefore money – and are good for health. For the warm sleepers: good reasons inside, not in the bedroom or only to heat a little.

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This winter, too, the question about the optimal bedroom temperature is not only about the individual feel -good temperature, but also about saving as much energy and money as possible. Anyone who occurs at night consumes a lot of energy and also harms their health. We provide you with tips that will look forward to your wallet and health.

4 reasons for cold bedrooms

#1: Save energy

So that the electricity bill is not too high this winter, many people in Germany worry about where energy can be saved. The savings potential is large in the bedroom:

  • If you leave the blinds or roller shutters below during the day, you can lower the heat loss over the windows by up to 40 percent, depending on the window.
  • Curtains can also help save energy.
  • If you really ventilate the bedroom, you save a lot of energy:

#2: better sleep quality & plus for the metabolism

In general, we sleep deeper and quieter at lower temperatures than with higher ones. In addition: “If we sleep at higher temperatures, the repair mode of our body no longer works so well,” explains sleep coach Christine Lenz. “A cool temperature in the bedroom ensures that the nightly regeneration works better”. Cold boosts the metabolism, which shows the effectiveness of ice bathing and cold therapies that are used in certain diseases.

#3: Less headache

On average, a person loses about 500 ml of liquid at night. If it is also warm in the bedroom, the loss of liquid is even higher. That can lead to headaches. In general, a bad indoor climate, ie too little oxygen, too dry air and pollutants in the room air, can cause headaches.

#4: Dry air weakens the immune system

When heating, the automatically leads to dry air, the mucous membranes of the nose dry. If the mucous membranes are not sufficiently supplied with liquid, pathogens have lighter play and can multiply better.

Therefore: If you have problems falling asleep or sleep restlessly, it could be because it is simply too warm in your bedroom. Due to the right temperature in the bedroom, sleep quality can be improved.

Also exciting: Self -experiment showering: My conclusion after 5 months

Temperature in the bedroom: cool does not mean cold

Even if we sleep better when it is cool: too low temperatures are not healthy either.

  • Cool the rooms too much, collect moisture on the walls, which can lead to the formation of mold.
  • If it is too cold, the body’s immune system is activated and runs at full speed. This in turn disturbs sleep.
  • And: If we cool down due to the low temperatures, the risk of becoming sick increases.
Not just to save energy: 4 reasons speak for a cool bedroom
Warm feet help you fall asleep. (Photo: CC0 / Pexels, Mikhail Nilov)

Bedroom temperature: What is the optimal sleep temperature?

There is no “the” optimal temperature for sleeping. However, doctors agree: it should be between 16 and 19 degrees. Sleep expert Christine Lenz believes that the bedroom can also be a bit cooler than 16 degrees. “Cold temperatures when sleeping bring health advantages: the body regenerates better, we sleep calmly.” It is important: “The body, especially the extremities, must not cool down. That’s why I recommend my patients to go to bed with socks, scarf and hat ”.

The consumer center advises: “Even in less used rooms, the temperature should not drop below 14 to 16 ° C, otherwise moisture will condense”.

Finally, the optimal sleep temperature depends on the individual preferences – and the thickness of your duvet. You shouldn’t freeze or sweat at night. Older people often prefer a warmer room temperature in the bedroom than younger ones. Regardless of whether you prefer to sleep a little colder or warmer: fresh air is important!

Tips so that you sleep well and healthy in cold

  • With cold feet, falling asleep is extremely bad. A warm foot bath helps to go to bed.
  • A hot water bottle that is deposited in bed ten minutes before going to bed also ensures cozy warmth. Sustainable hot water bottles can be found, for example, at Avocadostore, Yumeko or Amazon.
  • A duvet that suits you is important. Here you will find 6 recommended natural ceilings:

Moisture in the bedroom at a glance

The relative humidity should be between 40 and 60 percent indoors – and thus also in the bedroom. Consumer advice explains: “From a relative humidity of around 70 to 80 percent directly on a wall, mold can grow. To do this, the wall does not have to feel damp or condensed. This only happens with a relative humidity of 100 percent. “

The air humidity in the room is easy to control with a thermal hygrometer that can be bought for a few euros in the hardware store. The Federal Association of Schimmelwilzsanung chose the TFA Moxx model, which was available from around 11 euros, for the test winner, available from Obi, Conrad or Amazon.

Tip: If you are unsure whether you already have a mold problem, a test kit can help. Such kits are available online, for example, from the provider Ivario.

Tips for ventilation at night

Even if we generally recommend ventilation or cross ventilation from utopia.de: At night, a tilted window can help reduce the moisture in the room. Especially when you have roller shutters that can be closed to a few open slots.

Make sure that it doesn’t pull at night. Drafts can lead to a cold or a tense or stiff neck.


Read more on utopia.de:

  • Does freeze sick or do you harden with it?

  • Really ventilate: 12 tips against mold in the apartment
  • Saving energy in the bedroom: do you know the biggest power guzzlers?

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