Identifying your ideal home temperature setting
It can be a tough task working out the perfect temperature for a home, and a wide range of factors are sure to play a part in what constitutes the ideal level for your space specifically.
Amongst the influential details at play are the preferences and comfort of anyone living in the house, in addition to the likes of pets, plus any potential concerns over home humidity and environmental impact.
Each of these elements, plus several more, can all play a part in creating a dilemma or challenge as it pertains to managing your central heating output. In this blog, we’ll explain what to take into account to make sure you’re using the perfect temperature setting for your home.
Expert recommended room temperature
According to the NHS and the UK Government, a comfortable, healthy room temperature will be at least 18°C to 20°C or 65°F to 68°F. And whilst this is generally considered to be a convenient and comfortable ambient temperature to target, it should be noted that certain rooms will have to be heated to specific temperatures.
Room temperature preferences
“Is it hot in here or is it me?”
“Have you turned heating off it’s freezing in here?!”
A couple of contrasting basic phrases associated with petty household heating squabbles, and it is extremely commonplace for family members within the same household to have alternate preferences when it comes to room temperature.
Factors like type of clothing worn, how much physical activity has been undertaken by an individual and the level of air humidity can all affect the preferential temperatures of different people. As a general rule, the humidity of the air will have a particular effect, with a lower room temperature typically required for areas with higher humid levels.
Of course, physical comfort must be one of the primary reasons that achieving the correct home temperature is key. Being too warm can cloud judgement and affect concentration, whilst being too cold can enhance a risk of illness, and also increase the possibility of mould spores gathering, which in turn can cause respiratory issues.
In addition to the physical side of things though, central heating running costs are also a massive facet in how integral it is to get your house temperature right, as well as the potential impact it can have on your household’s carbon footprint.
What do our followers think?
Room temperature preferences continue to divide opinions over on our Instagram stories. When we asked our followers what is their ideal room temperature, the most popular vote was 20°C. So it turns out that the recommended room temperature really is the fan favourite. But not for everyone!
15% prefer a cooler room at around 16°C. At the other end of the scale, another 15% would rather a warm room above 20°C! No wonder so many of us continue to fight over the thermostat.
Selecting the right temperature for different rooms
Ideal living room temperature
A lounge or living room area will be best suited to temperatures around the 20°C mark, considering you’ll be spending a large amount of time relaxing in the space. Similarly so, any home office arrangements would benefit from a similar level of heat to aid performance and concentration.
The best temperature for sleep
Meanwhile, bedrooms will be typically suited to slightly cooler temperatures, with anything between 16°C and 19°C thought to be optimal. Body temperature will naturally drop during periods of rest and a room heated to this slightly lower temperature will help maintain an internal temperature regulation for the advantage of a good night’s kip. Depending on their age and personal preferences, children could prefer slightly warmer bedrooms within the 17-20°C range.
Ideal bathroom temperature
And by contrast, bathrooms should generally incorporate temperatures in the region of 22 to 24°C. This is down in no small part for the prevention of people exiting hot baths or showers into rooms that are comparably very cold, which would largely increase the possibility of catching a cold or other illness.
Other room temperatures
Alternate areas that are far less widely used, such as attic spaces, laundry rooms and corridors should aim for a slightly lower temperature than typical living spaces, with between 15 to 18°C thought to be prime conditions.
Ideal baby room temperature
According to the NHS babies sleep comfortably in rooms that are not too hot, somewhere between 16-20°C. If the room temperature rises above 20 degrees, or the bedding is too warm and heavy, this can increase the risk of a baby overheating and may cause potential health risks.
If the baby’s room is getting too hot in the summer, the NHS suggest that the infant may not need pyjamas and only a light bed sheet instead of a thick blanket. The easiest way to check if your baby is too warm is by feeling the temperature on their ears ane neck. If they are very hot any sweaty, try and decrease the room temperature with a fan and swap to light, breathable clothing.
Ideal room temperature for pets
According to the animal welfare experts at the RSPCA, the ideal room temperature for pets is in the same range as ours around 18 and 20°C.
They also stress the importance that dogs should never be left in confined spaces like cars, conservatories or caravans especially in the summer. If the temperature is 22°C outside, it can quickly jump to 47°C (117°F) in these areas which can cause fatal heatstroke.
In the colder winter months, pets may benefit from warmer beds and blankets, particularly during the night. Here’s more about how to keep your pets warm in winter.
Seasonal differences for your perfect home temperature
Common sense would seem to dictate that from season to season, fluctuations in preferred home temperatures will occur. With that said, the premium ambient home temperature all throughout the year is thought to be between 18 and 20°C as aforementioned.
But, how you actually achieve your perfect home temperature from month to month can differentiate – we would recommend the use of a digital thermostat to keep track of temperature shifts throughout the day.
Ideal room temperature in summer
During the warmer summer months, you’ll likely face the task of curtailing a rising temperature to keep it at the 18-20°C mark. A couple of simple ways to do this are to use thinner quilts and duvets for a comfortable night’s sleep, and to have windows open to maintain a low air humidity level.
Ideal room temperature in winter
In colder winter climes, the challenge will be to maintain the specified ideal home temperature, and doing so in a cost-effective manner. Toasty warm thermal clothing and extra sheets or blankets are a smart solution to retain your personal comfort without having to crank up the central heating ad nauseum, thus racking up massive energy bills.
The NHS also recommend closing your bedroom windows at night during the winter. Not only will this help to keep the heat inside, but it can also reduce the risk of chest infections that can be caused by breathing in the cold winter air.
Energy efficient home heating at the right temperature
Home heating typically accounts for a hefty portion of monthly household bills, especially in the colder winter months of the year. As such, it is well worth seeking out ways in which we can increase the energy efficiency of our heating, even whilst maintaining the ideal temperature for a home.
A common mistake people make in trying to achieve this is to drastically lower their central heating output instantly, or switch it off entirely in unoccupied rooms whilst out of the house, so no home radiators or heated towel rails are in operation. And though these measures can initially reduce energy costs to a decent extent, it can lead to numerous issues moving forwards.
Avoid the mould war
To start with, if the house temperature decreases to such an extent that it is too cold, the chance of mould conglomerating on the property becomes far more apparent. This is due to cold air transporting less of the water vapour that condenses on windows and walls. And as well as being an eyesore and difficult to deal with, mould can also cause issues from a health perspective whilst damaging the household and costing a pretty penny to get rid of.
What’s more, by drastically reducing your central heating in this manner, your boiler has to work a lot harder to reach and maintain your perfect ambient home temperature for the rest of the time, and expend much more energy in turn.
Go digital
Therefore, it’s wise to seek out alternative means to achieve more efficient home heating – a switch of energy company and investment in double glazing or insulation improvements are all viable options to do so. But the ‘golden goose’ with regards to energy efficient home heating relates to the purchase of a digital thermostat.
These devices enable homeowners to program their home radiators or alternate heating devices to operate at a pre-set temperature at particular times of the day, accounting for weather conditions and other external factors. As a result, you have more control over how and when you use energy, and can trim your outgoings in turn.
Get in touch with the experts
By this point, you’ll hopefully be equipped with all the knowledge you need to heat your home to the perfect temperature room by room, in an economical manner. There’s also a wealth of handy information in this Green Match piece on ideal room temperature.
But if you would like any further help or advice surrounding ideal home heating practices, or have any heating queries at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
You can contact the BestHeating team by leaving your thoughts in the comments section below, or via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
The perfect temperature for a bathroom is believed to range from 22 to 24°C. It is recommended that a slightly higher temperature is incorporated than alternate areas of the home to avoid people stepping out of hot showers or baths into comparatively freezing surroundings.
Digital thermostats can enable homeowners to keep track of fluctuating temperatures in accordance with the performance of heated towel rails or alternate devices found in the bathroom.
For further information and advice on heating your home to the ideal degree, take a look at our dedicated blog, How To Find The Perfect Temperature For Your Home.
Anything between 16 and 19°C is considered to be an optimal temperature for a bedroom space. When sleeping, the body temperature naturally drops, so a room heated to a slightly lower temperature than a living room, for instance, will provide the perfect setting for a good night’s sleep.
A digital thermostat can be used to keep track of any temperature fluctuations, and for the simple control of the heat output of any home radiators or alternate heating devices that may be present in the bedroom.
To find out more, take a look at our blog, How To Find The Perfect Temperature For Your Home.
A temperature ranging from 18 to 20°C is ideal for a living room area, allowing anyone frequenting the space to enjoy comfortable warmth for long periods whilst relaxing.
You can keep an eye on any potential temperature fluctuations with the use of a digital thermostat – presenting one of the easiest and simplest means to adjust the output of your home radiators.
For further information, consult our dedicated blog, How To Find The Perfect Temperature For Your Home.
The perfect ambient temperature for a home is considered to be between 18 and 20°C or 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This is thought to be the optimal temperature for a room in which people spend significant time relaxing in, or the likes of a home office setting to assist concentration.
You can keep a close eye on temperature fluctuations with the use of a digital thermostat. And to find out more about achieving the ideal home temperature, take a look at our dedicated blog, How To Find The Perfect Temperature For Your Home.
With a background in sports journalism, John counts content writing amongst his key passions. He’s always peppering our Advice Centre feed with reasoned and researched home heating tips, and providing expert solutions to the questions you want answering. Fine football and music connoisseur. In his own head, at least.
