Winter Sleep and Dry Eyes: The Bedroom Temperature Details to Know

Winter can make sleep harder to protect. Longer evenings, the clocks changing and warm bedrooms all affect the conditions people settle into at night. The useful takeaway is specific: the source gives a recommended bedroom range of 16°C to 18°C, and says that leaving the heating on overnight may raise the room temperature beyond what helps comfortable sleep.

Start with the room temperature

According to the source, experts recommend keeping bedrooms between 16°C and 18°C at night. It also reports that 29% of British adults leave their heating on while they sleep. A warm room may feel inviting, especially when the alternative is getting into a cold bed, but warmth and sleep comfort don’t always go hand in hand. The article says that higher indoor temperatures, particularly in the bedroom, can disrupt sleep.

That doesn’t mean everyone will sleep well at the same temperature. The quoted range is a practical reference from the source, while comfort depends on the room and the person. If the bedroom feels too warm overnight, lowering the heating or switching it off may be a straightforward adjustment to try. The point is to check how the room feels and whether the change makes it easier to settle and stay asleep.

There are other ways to manage the feeling of a cool bed without warming the whole room. The source mentions temperature-regulating sheets as one option and links to a review of temperature-regulating sheets. Bedding choices are personal: what feels comfortable will depend on the sleeper and the room. The source doesn’t provide comparative evidence about particular sheets, so treat that reference as an example of an option, rather than proof that one product will work for everyone.

Why eyes may feel uncomfortable overnight

A bedroom that’s warm and dry can affect more than sleep comfort. The source describes dry, tired or irritated eyes as possible complaints associated with sleeping with the heating on. Leeds optometrist Leah Khan, director at Simon Falk Eyecare, says disrupted sleep and sleep deprivation can lead to fewer tears being produced. She also explains that the natural moisture on the eye can evaporate more quickly in dry surroundings.

These effects can feed into one another. Eye discomfort may interrupt sleep, while insufficient sleep may affect the eyes’ ability to recover. The source describes symptoms including dryness, itchiness and bloodshot eyes. Anyone who has spent the night waking because their eyes feel uncomfortable will know how disruptive that can be the next day, too. The practical first step suggested by Khan is to consider the room: turning the heating down or off overnight may help with both sleep and eye comfort.

That adjustment is simple, but it isn’t a diagnosis or a guaranteed remedy. Dry or irritated eyes can have different causes, and the source doesn’t claim that room temperature explains every case. Notice whether symptoms happen alongside a warm, dry bedroom and whether changing the room conditions seems to help. Persistent symptoms should be discussed with a qualified eye-care professional.

Eye drops and a nighttime routine

The source also describes TheraTears® Overnight Restore eye drops, which contain hyaluronic acid and cross-linked hyaluronic acid. It says the product is intended to help restore and replenish the tear film overnight, and describes its effects as repairing, restoring, protecting, soothing and hydrating the eye’s surface. The source suggests that using two drops in each eye as part of a nighttime routine may help keep eyes comfortable.

These are product claims from the original article, not a promise that the drops will suit every person or resolve the cause of ongoing symptoms. Read the product information before use, as the source advises, and ask an eye-care professional about persistent discomfort. A nighttime routine might include checking the bedroom temperature and following the product directions if choosing to use eye drops. Keeping those steps separate makes it easier to see whether a change in the room, a product, or both appears to affect comfort.

The source lists TheraTears® Dry or Tired Overnight Restore in a 10ml size at £10.99 and says it was available at Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Boots and Amazon. Those details are stated in the source; availability and price can change. More product information is linked at theratears.co.uk.

A small check before bed

For a practical starting point, check whether the bedroom is within the cited 16°C to 18°C range, then adjust the heating if the room feels too warm. Consider bedding as another way to manage comfort, and pay attention to whether dry or irritated eyes are interrupting sleep. If they are, changing the room conditions may be worth trying; persistent symptoms call for professional advice. The most useful winter routine is one you can follow consistently and adapt to what your sleep and eyes are telling you.

The original post, dated October 28, 2026, appeared on Slummy Single Mummy, which is also linked from the site’s home page.