The bedroom

Practical ways to manage heat, humidity and light around your bed. The bedroom guides cover cooling a room without air conditioning and the temperature that supports sleep, with steps to take before buying anything. Start with the room, because bedding has a limited effect in a hot, humid space.

• How to cool a bedroom without air conditioning

  A step-by-step plan for shade, safe ventilation, fan use, humidity and lighter bedding, with clear limits during extreme heat.

• Best light color for sleep: is red light better?

  Darkness beats every light color for sleep. See what studies show about red, amber and blue light, sleeping with lights on and picking a night light.

• Drying wet coats and umbrellas away from the bedroom

  Damp gear in a small bedroom adds moisture to the air. What the EPA says about indoor humidity and drying within 24 to 48 hours, plus a simple wet-weather landing zone.

• Bedroom temperature for sleep: find a comfortable setting

  Read the room, bedding and humidity together instead of chasing a universal thermostat number for better sleep.

• White vs pink vs brown noise for sleep

  White, pink and brown noise differ in pitch balance. See what the sleep research shows, how they compare with earplugs, and how loud is too loud.