The Top 4 Reasons Why Your Mattress Is So Cold

cold bed

Does bed-time feel like the North Pole? We explain why mattresses turn frosty and how to turn the heat back up. 

A mattress can turn cold for several reasons. The main causes include low temperatures, poor insulation, inadequate covers, and even a person’s body weight.

There is nothing cosy about a cold bed! The good news is that there are quick solutions to turn your bed back into the comfortable haven it should be. 


The 4 Main Reasons Why Mattresses Feel Cold

There is plenty of evidence that our body temperature needs to drop in order for us to fall asleep. But too much of a temperature drop is not comfortable at all. Ergo, we will not fall asleep when a bed is too cold!

If you suffer from this annoying problem, the way forward is to know all the causes and how to circumnavigate them. We will look at all the cosy cures but first, here are the top 4 nuicances that chills your mattress.

  1. Cold temperatures.
  2. Poor insulation.
  3. Using the wrong blankets and sheets. 
  4. A person’s body weight. 

How Cold Temperatures Affect Your Mattress

winter outside bed

The winter months are notorious for turning beds into ice bricks. Mattresses, especially those made with memory foam, adopt the ambient temperature in the room. When the room is very cold, there is no way that your mattress will be toasty when you go to bed. 

How Do I Fix Cold Room Temperatures?

A room heater will work wonders. It will turn the room temperature warmer and this, in turn, will keep the mattress from feeling so cold. You can also make sure that the windows in your bedroom stay closed and are well-sealed during the winter months. A draft will only freeze that mattress faster! 

Another way to fix this is to line your mattress with an electric blanket or place several hot water bottles in the bed a short while before you go to sleep. This will sufficiently keep the bed warm for you.

How Poor Insulation Affects Your Mattress

When your home or bedroom is poorly insulated or has no insulation at all, it cannot fend off those cold days. As we mentioned in the previous section, your mattress is prone to adopting the temperature in the room. When insulation fails and the room itself becomes cold, so will your bed. 

How Do I Fix The Insulation In My Bedroom?

There are two options here; call in an expert or turn into a DIY monster! 

What Are The Benefits And Drawbacks Of A Professional?

They can quickly identify what issues are most problematic and fix them professionally. On the other hand, the drawbacks include a higher cost and allowing a repair team to spend some time in your bedroom. As you can see, these are not necessarily dealbreakers but they do require some planning on your behalf. 

Most people are side-sleepers. If you are looking for a new bed these are the best mattresses for side-sleepers.

What Are The Benefits And Drawbacks Of A DIY Approach?

The main perk is that you get to fix stuff in your own time, when you have the funds, and without strangers traipsing around in your home. The most obvious problem for some might be to identify the problems or how to go about insulating the bedroom.

What Are The Best DIY Tips For Room Insulation?
  • Treat your windows. There are great window insulations kits available but you can also caulk the windows to seal them against drafts.
  • If there is a draft coming under your closed bedroom door, you can add a door snake at night.
  • You can also add heavy curtains in front of your leaky windows. This will also block cold air and drafts. 
  • Insulate the attic. Here are tips to insulate the attic yourself.

How Blankets And Sheets Affect Your Mattress

sheets and blankets

Using the wrong bedding can make a bed feel cold. Especially during the winter months. When the season arrives or there is a streak of cold weather, you might need different bedding to avoid a chilly night. 

Some fabrics are not suited to keeping the cold out. Sleeping under a single blanket or sheet is another common cause of sleepers feeling too cold at night. So which blankets and sheets are the best choices when times get frosty?

The following blankets are known for being the warmest covers. Their materials alow them to trap warm air which keeps you cosy all night long.

  • Flannel blankets.
  • Cotton fleece blankets.
  • Wool blankets. (Here are the best wool mattresses).
  • Cashmere blankets.

The best move you can make during very cold nights is to use several blankets and not just one. Another extra luxury is a mattress topper. These layers are not just soft, plush, and great for anyone with a sensitive body but they can also make you feel warmer at night. Here are the best mattress toppers on the market today.

How Body Weight Affects Your Mattress

When we go to bed at night, a lot of the warmth we experience comes from our own body heat. The longer we rest, the more body heat warms up the mattress to a toasty and comfortable degree. But sometimes, this process stops cold. Literally. Why?

When a person has a low body weight, they might struggle with body heat. Sometimes, a medical condition is involved but most of the times, the lack of a fatty reserve is behind the struggle to kindle a warm spot on the mattress – no matter how long we snuggle under the covers. 

Are you a larger individual looking for that perfect bed? No problem. We already did all the research and found the best mattresses for heavy people that deliver the best dreams!

How Can I Fix Body Weight Issues?

Since body weight is a deeply personal issue, we are not telling you to put on weight if you are happy with the way you look. But if you suspect a medical condition, it is a good idea to visit your doctor. 

That being said, the remedies are quick and requires no overeating! You can simply add an electric blanket or a couple of hot water bottles. You can also dress warmer when you go to bed. Why not spoil yourself with brand-new and cosy pyjamas? Also, do not hesitate to pile on the blankets! Sometimes, all it takes is an extra cover to feel warm enough to sleep. 


A Quick Summary On Why Your Mattress Is Cold

  • When a mattress is too cold, falling asleep is next to impossible.
  • There are many factors that can influence the temperature of a mattress. 
  • Four of the most common issues are poor room insulation, cold weather, a low body weight, and using the wrong types of blankets.
  • Insulation and heaters can overcome the chilling effects of poor insulation and cold weather.
  • Low body weight is not necessarily a need for worry but you can make things more comfortable with warmer pyjamas, extra blankets, and perhaps a hot water bottle.
  • Remember, a mattress that is too hot will also prevent you from falling asleep so it is essential to find a cosy balance.

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About the Author Tom

My journey into the world of sleep came about through living in several properties over my lifetime and always seeming to have the worst luck with neighbors. All but one have been extremely noisy and very inconsiderate. What this made me realize early on, was that the little sleep my neighbors allowed me to get needed to be of great quality. So I started to learn all about sleep, and what helps people get the best quality sleep possible.