Thermoregulation in Bedding Explained: Stay Cool and Comfortable While You Sleep

What is thermoregulation in bedding?

Tired of your bedding blowing hot and cold? Thermoregulating bedding could solve the problem. By moving heat and moisture away when you’re hot and holding onto warmth when you’re cold, your skin stays dry and your core temperature stays stable, helping you maintain a comfortable, consistent temperature throughout the night. 

Why does temperature balance matter for sleep quality?

Your body has a natural way of regulating your temperature, like an internal thermostat, to maintain a normal temperature of 37°C. Sweating and shivering are physiological ways it tries to moderate your temperature.

When you’re asleep, your body temperature reduces slightly. If you feel too hot or too cold in bed, it’ll wake you up and stop you from settling into a deep sleep.

Here are some reasons temperature balance matters for sleep quality:

• Fewer awakenings from overheating or chills
• Easier sleep onset
• Reduces clamminess and odour
• Supports consistent rest across seasons

What actually controls your bed’s micro-climate?

Your bed’s micro-climate is the thin layer of air and moisture trapped between your skin, sleepwear, sheets and mattress.

Outside factors, such as your environment, mattress, and bedding fabrics, do play a part in your bed’s microclimate, but you have the starring role. 

Your body

A higher metabolic rate produced by a big late meal, exercise or illness means more heat production. Other variants, such as your hormones during menstruation, pregnancy or the menopause, can induce night sweats as progesterone raises your body’s temperature. Some antihistamines, antidepressants and ADHD meds also increase your temperature – all of these contribute to a humid environment under the covers.

A breathable duvet with moisture-wicking properties will create a dream top layer, keeping consistent airflow throughout the night. Our Panda Cloud Bamboo Duvet is light yet fluffy and cosy. With a combined fill of Nano-Microfibre™ and signature bamboo, our duvet wraps you up in sweat-wicking, odour-resistant and antimicrobial cloud-like comfort.

Bedroom

Ventilation from windows, vents or fans encourages greater airflow, helping clear overnight moisture, reduce condensation and prevent mould from forming. Heating can dry the room and increase perspiration. Sleep quality drops when your bed is too hot – the ideal temperature is 30–33 °C.

Bedding

Your bedding choices can make a huge difference to your sleep micro-climate. Choose your sheets based on how you sleep: if you’re a cold sleeper, opt for sateen or brushed cotton to warm you up; hot sleepers should look for bamboo bedding, cotton, or linen sheets to keep them cool.

Our 100% Bamboo Bedding Set is suitable for all types of sleepers. Highly breathable, moisture-wicking and thermoregulating, our super soft set will keep you at the best temperature for sleep.

Mattress system

Your mattress controls how heat and moisture move downward from the body via conduction (into), convection (through) and evaporation (how fast it dries). Dense memory foam traps heat, which can make it feel humid, but open-cell variants with bamboo will create better airflow. Latex is cooler and has good moisture-handling, hybrids or springs have the coolest cores, but can feel warm if they have a mix of memory foam.

Which bedding materials help thermoregulation?

Natural bedding materials are the best for thermoregulation, such as bamboo, linen, cotton, and wool. Below, we’ve provided a breakdown of the benefits of each bedding type.

Bamboo (blended with viscose/lyocell)

• Super soft, gets softer with washes
• Highly breathable, moisture-wicking and naturally thermoregulating
• Odour-resistant and antibacterial
• Perfect for hot sleepers and humid rooms

Cotton

• Breathable, easy care, moisture-absorbing
• Cotton percale feels cooler; sateen feels silkier and warmer
• Dissipates warmth if you’re hot, and feels cosy in the winter months
• Good all-rounder for all types of sleepers

Linen

• Fast heat dissipation – pulls warmth away from skin
• Highly breathable, excellent airflow and moisture release
• Textural
• Softens with washes
• Perfect for summer

Wool (and wool blends)

• Moisture buffering – not only sweat but humidity, pulling it away from the skin and slowly releasing it, making the micro-climate drier
• Breathable insulation
• Odour and bacterial resilience
• Best for duvets and mattress protectors - heavier than down and not as fluffy

Down/feather

• Traps air pockets for steady insulation
• Pick a lower tog for summer, such as 4.5 tog, to ensure good ventilation
• Consistent warmth and quick to respond to cold or warm air
• Sewn-through designs have cooling channels, making them ideal for warm months of the year

How do mattresses and toppers affect cooling?

There are various ways your mattress or topper can affect cooling, from the foam to the thickness.

Open-cell foams

Open-cell foams or those with breathable covers will improve airflow; the open-cell structure allows air to move around at night.

Hybrid designs

A combination of springs and foam is the coolest modern toppers and mattresses. Coils promote convection (through). Optional: add a thin, perforated latex or airy polyfoam to make it feel even fresher.

Topper thickness

5 cm provides subtle comfort, thinner toppers feel cooler, but thicker toppers, like 7.5 - 10 cm, are more contouring and warm, so ensure you have a breathable cover. 

Protect from heat build-up

Cover your mattress with a thin waterproof protector made from cotton, linen or lyocell. You should also rotate your topper quarterly to stop heat build-up from use. A well-ventilated base is important; a slatted one is better for airflow. Our Memory Foam Mattress Topper contains third-generation bamboo infused with micro-gel capsules to keep things cool at bedtime.

How should I layer bedding for each season?

Go back to bed basics. At the bottom, you should have your mattress, then your topper, a protector, a fitted sheet and your breathable duvet, and or blankets. Depending on the season, you need to switch out the fabrics. In the summer, go for bamboo or cotton percale sheets, a low-tog duvet or a top sheet only. Your spring/autumn set-up should be bamboo sheets, a mid-tog duvet and add a breathable throw (if needed). In winter, add a blanket or a wool layer, and keep sheets breathable to avoid sweat build-up.

Common thermoregulation mistakes to avoid

We all want to feel cosy and comfortable in bed, but can you be too cosy? Try to avoid the most common thermoregulation mistakes:

• Plastic-feeling waterproof protectors that trap heat
• Overly high duvet tog for the season
• Heavy fleece throws that block airflow
• Sateen sheets for hot sleepers (switch to percale/bamboo)
• Too many pillows (traps heat around face/neck)

Quick chooser: what should I pick if…

• I sleep hot: bamboo sheets + bamboo duvet + breathable topper/protector
• I sleep cold: breathable sheets + mid/high-tog duvet + add wool layer
• We run hot/cold as a couple: two duvets (different togs) or a split-tog option
• I live in a humid room: bamboo/linen sheets, frequent airing, and dehumidifying if needed

Care tips that keep bedding cool and fresh

If you want your thermoregulating bedding to perform at its best, you’ll need to take care of it. Here’s our tips for keeping your topper in tip-top condition and your breathable duvet… breathing.

You should wash sheets weekly unless the care label advises otherwise, and duvet covers every 1–2 weeks.

1. Air duvets and pillows regularly; air dry fully
2. Spot-clean foam; wash removable covers at 30–40 °C (check label)
3. Rotate topper/mattress for even wear and airflow
4. Open windows to ventilate your bedroom daily

Conclusion

You have your own in-built heating and air conditioning, but sometimes it needs a boost to keep you cool and comfortable while you sleep. There are many factors which can keep you from achieving your optimum temperature, so this is where thermoregulating bedding comes in. Pick a breathable duvet, bamboo bedding and choose fills that move vapour (wool for humidity buffering, down for light yet airy warmth), and make sure your base doesn’t trap heat (latex or coil-hybrid cores, or a ventilated latex/wool topper). Keep protectors thin and breathable, skip residue-leaving softeners, and let your bedding air out so fibres can actually do their job.