Optimal room temperature – tips for your well-being

The ideal room temperature is a very individual feeling. Temperatures should vary depending on the room. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health recommends a temperature of 20 to 21 degrees in living rooms and 18 degrees in bedrooms during the heating period. What temperature is considered comfortable is very individual. Your own well-being comes first. Maintaining the optimum room temperature sounds simple. Nevertheless, there are some sources of error. If you are aware of these, you will not only save on heating costs, but also create a pleasant living environment.

Stadler Form happy faces woman with closed eyes who relaxes

Different room temperatures in different rooms

What is the ideal room temperature in winter? Energy-efficient heating

Effects on health and well-being

Influences on the ideal room temperature

At what outside temperature should you start heating?

Common mistakes when regulating the temperature

Different room temperatures in different rooms 💡

The measured room temperature indicates the measurable physical value. The comfortable temperature, on the other hand, describes the subjective comfort level. Humidity and air movement also play a role in maintaining a comfortable room temperature. You can find out more about optimal humidity here.

The table below will help you to keep an eye on the recommended values for each room. However, these are guide values that are very individual.

Room	Optimal temperature	Ideal humidity
Living room	20–23 °C	40–60 %
Bedroom	16–19 °C	40–60 %
Children’s room	18–20 °C	40–60 %
Study	20 °C	40–60 %
Bathroom	23 °C	50–70 %
Kitchen	18–20 °C	50–60 %
Cellar*	10–15 °C	50–65 %

What is the ideal room temperature in winter? 🥶

Two thirds of the total energy consumption is used to heat living spaces. For every degree of room temperature, heating costs increase by six to ten per cent. The higher the temperature in your flat or house, the more heat is released into the cold environment.

A lot can be achieved with simple measures. You can also save money. If rooms cool down too much, it takes a lot more energy to warm them up again. That’s why it’s important that you don’t switch off the heating completely. Are you planning a longer absence or are there unused rooms in your home? We recommend setting the thermostat to level 1 oder 2. You will also save money if you turn the heating down at night. It is also important that warm air can circulate freely in the room. Proper ventilation is therefore also a good idea.

Effects on health and well-being 😵‍💫

If the room is too warm, this can lead to tiredness and sluggishness. Your natural sleep rhythm can also be disturbed with a temperature that is too high. However, if the room is too cool, the immune system is put under increased strain and muscle tension can occur. Humidity also plays an important role here. If you heat the room too much, the air dries out even more. Breathing in this air dries out our mucous membranes in the mouth and throat as well as the conjunctiva of our eyes and our skin. This makes them more susceptible to infections.

You can find out more about the effects of dry indoor air here

You can find out more about optimal humidity here

Stadler Form happy faces blonde woman smiles next to a green plant

You can find out more about the effects of dry indoor air here

You can find out more about optimal humidity here

Influences on the ideal room temperature️ ☀️❄️

The ideal room temperature is not a fixed value. It changes depending on who is in the room, how you live and what is happening outside.

While we want freshness and lightness in summer, we long for cosy warmth in winter. Depending on this, the same temperature can feel different. Humid air feels warmer, whereas dry air feels cooler. The relative humidity should be between 40 and 60 per cent.

The time of year also changes our perception of warmth. In spring, the body has to get used to the heat first. That’s why we tolerate the cooler temperatures better. In autumn, we suddenly find the same temperature unpleasantly fresh because we are still used to the summer temperatures.

Our individual comfort temperature also depends on our age. For example, older people often feel cold more quickly and want more warmth. Similarly, women freeze faster with their lower metabolism and prefer warmer temperatures. This shows that the sensation of warmth is very personal.

At what outside temperature should you start heating? 💁🏻‍♀️

There is no clear rule as to what outdoor temperature the heating should be switched on at. We humans have different perceptions of cold and the heating should be set individually according to how the occupants feel. The feel-good temperature in the living area is between 20 and 23 °C, but some people like it a little colder or warmer. It is important to heat in an energy- and cost-efficient way.

💫 We give you some tips on how to create a pleasant and healthy indoor climate.
In the transitional period, temperatures can change quickly between warm and cold. You can make the most of sunny days by making sure that the sun shines into your rooms and warms them up naturally. Open your room doors if you have rooms with direct sunlight. This allows the heat to spread throughout your home. At night, you can minimise heat loss by closing windows, blinds or shutters. Drawing curtains also prevents heat loss. Prolonged cool room temperatures – like air that is permanently too humid – encourage mould growth. This happens because warm air can absorb more moisture than cold air. The moisture can no longer be retained in cold air. It then settles in the coldest places in the room and mould can develop.

It is important that your radiators or air outlets are not covered by objects during the heating period. Even heat radiation is important and the heat must be able to circulate. This measure is also easy on your wallet. In addition, make sure that there is always a few centimeters of space between walls, furniture and objects. This allows the air to circulate there too and prevents mould from developing.

Then make sure that the radiator or air outlet is not covered by any objects. Otherwise, the heat cannot circulate optimally in the room. This increases the heat load and can lead to higher heating costs. There should always be a few centimeters of space between the walls and furniture or objects so that the warm air can reach them and prevent mould from forming.

Common mistakes when regulating the temperature ☝️

Permanently tilted windows are one of the most common temperature regulation errors. This high energy loss causes costs and also cools the ceiling and neighbouring walls unnecessarily. Short bursts of ventilation are more effective and easy on the wallet.

As already mentioned, concealed radiators or air outlets are also a major problem. If furniture is placed in front of them, the air cannot circulate freely, which leads to a loss of energy.

Another common mistake is heating too much or too little. Too high a temperature at night disturbs our well-being and dries out the air. However, if the temperature is too low, the room will feel damp in the morning. If the room is too cool, moisture condenses on your walls, which can lead to mould growth.

Another mistake is to dry laundry on the radiator. This causes the heat to build up under the fabric and not spread throughout the room. If a lot of laundry is dried indoors, it is important to keep an eye on the humidity.

💫 Tip: a hygrometer helps to monitor the temperature and humidity. This allows you to keep an optimum eye on the room climate.