Achieving a comfortable room temperature is important for health and wellbeing.

At home, it can affect how easy you find it to relax, let alone your quality of sleep. In the workplace, temperature can affect factors such as productivity and even sickness rates.

Everyone has a different idea of what they perceive to be ‘too hot’ or ‘too cold’ when they enter a room.

So, it’s certainly true that your personal preferences and comfort should be factored into the temperature range of your home or workplace.

As leading air conditioning installers, we’re here to add our two cents, drawing on both customer feedback, plus government advice surrounding ideal indoor temperature ranges.

Temperature Guidelines In The UK

In the United Kingdom, temperature guidelines for comfortable living can change depending on the season, the type of space, and personal preferences. However, certain recommendations can help create an ideal indoor environment.

Living Areas: For living rooms, dining rooms, and other everyday areas, a temperature range of around 18 to 21 degrees Celsius is considered comfortable. Have a read through our blog on air conditioning in UK homes for more information.
Bedrooms: A slightly cooler temperature is generally preferred for a good night’s sleep which can range from 16 to 19 degrees Celsius but should be adjusted to personal preference to ensure sleep isn’t disturbed or delayed.
Bathrooms: Bathrooms tend to be warmer due to the use of water but keeping the temperature between 20 to 22 degrees Celsius is recommended.
Offices: If you have a home office or shared workspace, maintaining a temperature similar to that of living areas is recommended. A range of 18 to 21 degrees Celsius is recommended to promote concentration and productivity.
Energy Efficiency: While maintaining a comfortable temperature it is also important to consider energy efficiency and environmental impact. In the UK, energy-saving measures are encouraged and many homes or offices will be fit with thermostats and renewable sources.

It is however important to remember that these are general guidelines, and personal preferences can play a significant role in selecting the ideal temperature.

Room temperature can always be adjusted based on comfort levels, clothing, physical activity, and health conditions. For example, for gym air conditioning, you might want to set the temperature a bit lower than usual as activity will be high.

How To Create a Comfortable Room Temperature

Creating a comfortable room temperature involves a combination of actions and features that contribute to the overall thermal environment. These actions may depend on where you are and what you want the outcome to be. Here are some tips to help you achieve a comfortable room temperature.

Insulation: Ensure that your building or space is properly insulated to prevent heat loss during winter and gain heat during summer. Insulation also helps maintain a more stable temperature indoors and reduces the need for excessive heating or cooling.
Use Curtains or Blinds: These will block direct sunlight during hot days but will also retain warmth during colder periods.
Ventilation: Proper ventilation is key to maintaining a comfortable environment as it helps to prevent stuffiness and issues such as mould or dampness. Ensure adequate airflow by opening windows, installing energy-efficient glass or using fans to circulate air.
Thermostat Control: Use a modern thermostat to regulate the temperature throughout the day. Some of these can even be controlled by mobile and can be adjusted before or after you leave home/work.
Air conditioning: There are a range of different air conditioning systems out there which can fit and operate within a home, school, warehouse, office or commercial property. Finding the unit which meets your requirements and operates efficiently is key to obtaining a good room temperature, especially in the summer.

Our Expert Advice About Ideal Room Temperatures As Air Conditioning Installers

At Lee Jackson, the question we hear most often is simple: ‘Can you just make this room comfortable?’

Customers rarely come to us with a target temperature in mind. They come with a problem: a home office that’s unbearable by 2pm, a bedroom that never cools down in summer, a living room with one corner that’s always freezing. Our job is translating that into the right system.

Modern air conditioning units make this far easier than people expect. Inverter-driven systems from brands like Mitsubishi and Daikin adjust output continuously rather than switching on and off, so a room settles at the temperature you’ve set and stays there, without the swings older units produce.

Multi-split systems let us run several rooms off one outdoor unit, each with its own control, which suits homes where family members simply want different temperatures in different spaces.

For anyone conscious of running costs, we’ll usually point towards higher SEER-rated units too, since efficiency has improved dramatically over the last few years.

Before you go ahead with any heating or cooling solution, there are a few other things to consider. For instance, insulation and glazing affect how hard any system has to work, so we’ll often flag draughty windows or poor loft insulation during a survey rather than just quoting for a bigger unit.

Likewise, placement matters as much as spec, as an indoor air conditioning unit positioned badly won’t offer relief from the summer heat. Instead, we recommend finding the best locations for air conditioning depending on the specific needs of your home or business.

Seasonal Adjustments

Winter: Keep your heating set between 18°C and 21°C during the day. Overnight, slightly lower temperatures can save energy without compromising comfort. Use soft furnishings like rugs, throws and curtains to retain warmth.
Summer: Aim to keep indoor temperatures around 18°C to 2o°C. Open windows during cooler parts of the day and use fans or air conditioning to manage heat. Swap heavy bedding for lighter sheets to sleep more comfortably.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Turning the heating off completely in unused rooms can lead to cold spots and encourage mould growth. Instead, lower the thermostat slightly in these spaces.
Heating the whole home constantly wastes energy. Instead, focus heating where and when it’s needed.
Ignoring humidity ‚ high humidity can make rooms feel warmer; low humidity can make them feel cooler than they are. Monitor humidity levels alongside temperature where possible.

Extra Considerations

Don‚’t forget that pets, young children, and elderly family members may have different thermal needs. For instance, pets may require a slightly warmer environment during colder months.

Get A Free Quote For Air Conditioning Installation by Lee Jackson

Here at Lee Jackson, we strive to offer the best service out there and rest assured we‚’ll do everything that we can bring a clean and simple installation to your home, apartment, workplace, school or business. Whether you‚’re looking for a wall-mounted, ducted or floor-mounted unit, we’ve got lots to offer.

By supplying brands such as Mitsubishi, Samsung, Panasonic, Fujitsu and Daikin, we can find, install and maintain the perfect system for you.

Get in touch today on 0800 949 9070 for a free quote!