It is easy to plan a bedroom around the season outside the window. In late autumn, that means warmth, curtains and a cosy bed. But if the same room was uncomfortable in July, new paint will not answer that problem.

Checkatrade’s Q2 2026 Home Improvement Index reported air-conditioning enquiries up 167% year on year. That records activity on its platform, not a reason for every household to install a unit. A winter refurbishment is simply a useful opportunity to consider summer comfort before finishes close up the options.

Remember what happened on the hottest days

Was the room hot by lunchtime, or did it hold heat into the night? Did afternoon sun fall straight onto the bed? Could you open the windows safely, and was outside noise the reason you kept them shut?

Write those observations into the brief. A top-floor bedroom in London may have different constraints from a garden-facing room in Tunbridge Wells. Record the existing window openings, rooflights and shading rather than starting with a shopping list of equipment.

Reduce the heat coming in

The Energy Saving Trust’s cooling guidance starts with controlling daytime heat and admitting cooler air when conditions allow. For the renovation, discuss suitable shading and how the windows will be used in practice. Account for security, noise and safe opening rather than assuming they can remain wide open all night.

If rooflights are part of the design, choose the shading approach at the same time. Our rooflight planning guide covers the balance between daylight and summer comfort. Review roof insulation with the wider design; it is not a substitute for managing solar gain and ventilation.

If cooling equipment is needed, plan the whole installation

Ask a suitable specialist to assess the room and proposed equipment. Confirm indoor and outdoor unit positions, noise, condensate disposal, service routes, electrical requirements, access for maintenance and any permissions before ordering. A unit fitted wherever space remains can compromise both appearance and use.

Coordinate those decisions with fitted wardrobes and lighting. Keep service access usable, and ask whether any future provision is sensible if installation will happen later. Avoid paying for speculative holes or cables without an agreed design.

BOL can coordinate relevant building work within a home refurbishment. The aim is a bedroom that works throughout the year, with the necessary specialist input brought in while changes are still straightforward.