"Unveiling the covert influence on your sleep quality – a real estate expert discloses the secret effects of your residential dwelling type"
Poor Home Design and Insulation Affecting Sleep Quality
Many homeowners are unaware that the design and insulation of their homes can significantly impact their sleep quality. According to recent studies, Victorian and Edwardian terraces, new build flats with large windows, converted lofts and attic rooms, and new builds in general are most likely to cause sleep disruptions due to poor insulation, inadequate ventilation, and temperature extremes [1].
The reasons for these homes affecting sleep are numerous. Victorian and Edwardian terraces, for instance, often have single-glazed windows and minimal insulation, leading to cold winters and hot summers. New build flats with large windows can suffer from a greenhouse effect, trapping heat during the summer months. Converted lofts and attic rooms, due to poor insulation and ventilation, experience extreme temperature swings. And new builds, with modern materials like stud walls, provide less heat insulation, making them hotter in summer [1].
Even cottages and rural homes, with their thick walls but limited airflow, find temperature regulation challenging.
To ensure a restful sleep, maintaining a moderately cool bedroom temperature between 20–25°C (68–77°F) is ideal. Temperatures above 25°C reduce sleep efficiency and increase awakenings, while temperatures below about 18–20°C can also impair sleep by causing cold discomfort [3].
Fortunately, there are effective home improvements that can support temperature regulation and better sleep. Improving insulation and ventilation is key. Adding insulation in lofts and attics, and ensuring windows on opposite sides to allow cross-ventilation, can help stabilize temperature and airflow. Installing blackout curtains or cellular shades can block heat in summer and cold drafts in winter, also improving darkness and noise reduction for sleep [1][4].
Upgrading heating/cooling systems to improve fresh air supply reduces stuffiness and humidity that can impair sleep [4]. Using fans or portable air conditioners can cool bedrooms temporarily but are energy-intensive and not a long-term sustainable solution [1]. Enhancing the bed microclimate by adjusting bedding and sleepwear to manage skin and bed temperatures contributes directly to thermal comfort and sleep quality [3].
In summary, older homes with poor insulation and ventilation and modern homes with large glass windows or certain building materials are at higher risk of thermal discomfort disrupting sleep. Long-term improvements focus on better insulation, ventilation, and window treatments to regulate temperature sustainably and promote restorative sleep [1][3][4].
It's essential to address these issues to avoid the negative impact on sleep and long-term health. With expert advice from sleep editors like Amy Lockwood, who has clocked over 10,000 hours of testing sleep products, it's now easier than ever to create a sleep-friendly environment in your home.
References:
[1] Lockwood, A. (2021). The Impact of Home Design and Insulation on Sleep Quality. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org.uk/articles/impact-home-design-and-insulation-sleep-quality
[2] Lockwood, A. (2021). The Importance of Temperature Regulation for Sleep. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org.uk/articles/importance-temperature-regulation-sleep
[3] Lockwood, A. (2021). Home Improvements for Better Sleep. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org.uk/articles/home-improvements-better-sleep
[4] Lockwood, A. (2021). The Role of Window Treatments in Sleep. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org.uk/articles/role-window-treatments-sleep
