Summer is most people’s favourite time of year for good reason: packed social calendars, al fresco evenings, carefree wardrobes and so on. But when it’s time for bed, the heat can quickly turn your love for summer bittersweet as you find yourself tossing and turning in a sweaty haze. Add perimenopause or menopause into the mix, with hot flushes as a bonus annoyance, and a good night’s sleep can feel even further out of reach.
- Up to 80% of women suffer with night sweats as a result of perimenopause and menopause
- Mattress brand Simba Sleep has just launched brand new muslin bedding woven specifically to keep you cool at night
- It's available in four neutral hues (green, beige, white and grey) and you can even get a matching unisex robe
You might try open windows, fans or flipping the pillow, but real relief starts at the source: your bed – specifically, your sheets. If keeping cool in bed is your aim this summer (or just in general), then you should consider muslin bedding.
Originating in ancient Bengal, muslin was historically a luxurious, handwoven cotton fabric worn by the elites of the time. Nowadays, it has evolved into a breathable, plain-weave cotton that’s perfect for your bedroom.
In the interest of sleep journalism, I put Simba Sleep’s new Soft Muslin bedding range to the test. Yes, the iconic mattress brand also does bedding. Its ‘one over, one under’ weave is designed to let heat escape from the bed as the loose structure allows air to circulate freely through the fabric. And when woven with cotton in this way, muslin takes on an ultra-soft touch that’s gentle enough for all skin types.
My review of Simba Sleep’s Soft Muslin bedding
I’m the kind of person who kicks off the covers at 3am and insists on sleeping with the windows open even in the depths of winter. Due to this, muslin bedding in all its cooling glory has been on my radar for a while.
I tried Simba Sleep’s Soft Muslin Bedding Set, which includes a duvet cover and two pillowcases, in the shade Soft Oat, an easy beige that worked perfectly in my neutral bedroom. It also comes in white, grey and sage green, all coloured using natural dyes.
The fabric is incredibly soft with a relaxed, crinkled texture that means ironing is officially off the to-do list. What I really loved was how breathable it felt; I could actually sense air moving through the fabric as I tossed and turned while trying to drift off. There’s a cloud-like quality to the material, especially in the pillows, which felt gentle against my face.
Most importantly, the airy material solved my biggest sleep gripe: overheating. Even on warmer nights, heat didn’t pool under the sheets and I stayed comfortably cool until the morning. I've previously tried bamboo bedding, which is also touted to keep you cool at night, but I reckon muslin bedding trumps it in softness, durability and temperature regulation.
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