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6 Best Summer Bedding Ideas to Beat the Heat

Yellow and Green Summer Bedding

Nobody likes waking up hot and uncomfortable. Summer bedding refers to lightweight, breathable sheets, blankets, and comforters designed to keep sleepers cool during warm months. With the right summer bedding, you can forget about the temperature and sleep soundly through the night. Here are our best summer bedding ideas that'll make your bed look and feel a little cooler.

6 Best Summer Bedding Ideas:

  1. Use a light top layer
  2. Stick to lighter colors
  3. Choose breathable materials
  4. Pile light layers on your bed
  5. Sleep under cooler sheets
  6. Keep a thicker throw blanket on hand

    Key Takeaways

    • Swap heavy bedding for lightweight fabrics like cotton, linen, bamboo, or silk to improve airflow and moisture-wicking.
    • Choose sheets with a thread count between 200–400 for optimal breathability during summer.
    • Opt for light colors (white, sky blue, light green) that absorb less heat during the day.
    • Layer thin blankets so you can easily adjust to changing nighttime temperatures.
    • Keep a throw blanket at the foot of your bed for unexpectedly cool nights.

     

Shop Summer Bedding

Use a Light Top Layer

White Trellis Comforter

A cooler night's sleep starts by putting your down comforter into storage along with other dense winter bedding like flannel sheets and thick quilts. Instead of bedding that traps heat, opt for lightweight options that you'll want to lounge in even on the warmest summer morning. Try a duvet or comforter made from cotton, linen, silk, or bamboo—these natural fibers allow air to circulate and wick moisture away from your body, unlike synthetic materials that tend to trap heat.

Shop Summer Comforters

Stick to Lighter Colors

Blue and Coral Bedding

If your bed is dressed in the deep orange, red, and black hues of last winter or fall, then it's about time to refresh your bedding palette. Give your room a breezy summer makeover with a lightweight bedspread in bright and cheerful colors like white, light green, sky blue, or sunny yellow.

As an added benefit, sheets and blankets in lighter colors absorb less heat during the day, so they'll be nice and cool when it's time for you to tuck in for the night. Whether you're trying to refresh your look for the summer or just want to sleep cool and cozy at night, light-colored bedding is what you need.

Shop White and Off-white Bedding

Choose Breathable Materials

Pink and White Floral Bedding

After you put your heavy bedding away, grab sheets, blankets, and pillowcases made from natural fibers like cotton, bamboo, and silk. These materials breathe much better than synthetic options like polyester because their fiber structure allows air to flow through while wicking moisture away from your body—perfect for those hazy summer months.

Cotton is a popular, easy-to-find material for the summer, but bamboo and silk are even more breathable. Some man-made fibers like Tencel® and Rayon, which are made from eucalyptus and bamboo respectively, can give you the same cooling results.

Shop Cotton and Linen Bedding

Pile Light Layers on Your Bed

Off-white and Blue Bedding

The last thing you want to do during a warm summer night is sleep underneath a thick blanket. That's where having multiple lightweight bedspreads comes in handy. Try laying several thinner sheets and blankets on your bed. Having thin layers available will make it easier for you to stay cooler or warmer as the temperature outside changes. Just shed a layer or two when it's hotter, or pile on a couple of light blankets when the temperature drops.

Matelasse blankets are great lightweight bedding options because they're both thin and stylish. They're made from a single layer of fabric so they breathe well and feature intricately quilted designs like those you would find on thicker quilts.

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Sleep Under Cooler Sheets

Cotton Bedding

You might not even give your bed sheets a second thought during the summer. Why would you? They're already thin and light. But it's the fabric that makes all the difference. Because bed sheets are in direct contact with you as you sleep, they can either keep hot air in or let it escape. Stick with light fabrics. Linen, cotton, and bamboo are all great options. For summer sheets, look for a thread count between 200–400, which offers the best balance of softness and breathability. Microfiber is another possibility. Any of these fabrics will make your bed feel more breezy.

Shop Cotton and Egyptian Cotton Sheets

Keep a Thicker Throw Blanket on Hand

Throw Blanket

One downside of having cooler summer bedding? Your feet might get a little cold. Because your feet are the farthest away from your heart, they're usually the coldest part of your body. Your bedding may provide the perfect temperature for the rest of you, but could leave your feet a little chilly.

Avoid frozen toes by draping a thick woolen throw blanket over the end of your bed. If it gets unexpectedly cool at night, a thick blanket at the foot of your bed will keep your feet warm. That way, you can avoid rolling out of bed to grab an extra blanket out of your closet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best fabric for summer sheets? Cotton, linen, and bamboo are the best fabrics for summer sheets because they are naturally breathable and wick moisture away from your body.

What thread count is best for summer bedding? A thread count between 200–400 is ideal for summer sheets, offering softness while maintaining optimal airflow.

How do I transition my bedding for summer? Store heavy down comforters and flannel sheets, then replace them with lightweight cotton or linen bedding in light colors.

Does your bed feel more like a sauna than a cool sleep sanctuary? Do yourself a favor and switch up your bedding. Just making these few simple changes will have you sleeping like a baby all summer long.