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Falling asleep in the summer can be really tedious – if you're not sneezing all night due to hayfever, you're left tossing and turning in a boiling hot room. But there are ways to help reduce the impact the heat has on our sleep – including by making smart investments into the bedding itself we choose.

Swapping heavier cotton sheets with high thread counts for cooling materials like linen and (yes, really) temperature-regulating wool, can help you stave off the night sweats and get some much-needed shut-eye. Lots of brands have invested time and effort into creating innovative moisture-wicking materials designed to boost airflow and, in some cases, actively work to cool you when your body temperature rises.

From freezable gel inserts for pillows to temperature-controlling mattress pads that adjust to your exact preferences, we've rounded up 18 cooling bed sheets and bedding picks to help you wake up refreshed and ready to go all summer long.

This medium support pillow is made from 100% cotton and utilises Swiss-created 'activated cooling' technology to help stave off stuffy nights spent tossing and turning. This is a two-step process – the fabric first offers a cooling sensation before you begin to sweat, before activating a cooling effect that allows moisture to evaporate once it senses a rise in body temperature. Once your temperature has dropped, this effect will ease, so you stay snug. Clever stuff.

The same clever heat-reducing technology has been added to The Fine Bedding Company's mattress protector. It's soft and cosy, with a 200 thread count, and it's perfectly fine to launder at home without risk of lessening the effectiveness of its cooling credentials.

Finish off your bed scheme with some pillowcases from the same range to fully banish night sweats for good. They come in plain classic white in a 200 thread count, with a choice of standard or Oxford edges.

The team at Simba has created the ultimate all-seasons duvet combination. The Hybrid 3-in-1 comprises both a seven (great for autumn) and a 3.5 tog (summer) duvet that can be snapped together to create a cosier 10.5 tog option for winter. It also comes with a storage bag to keep whichever duvet you're not using safe until it's needed.

There are sustainability credentials as well: the filling here is made from recycled PET bottle fibres, making it greener and less allergenic than more traditional feather and down duvets.

Again, if you care about working towards living a greener lifestyle, opting for natural materials over manmade fibres is typically best. While you might immediately associate wool with your cosy winter knits, you'd be surprised: this is actually a really breathable, moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic material, making it equally as good for bedding as it is for your jumpers. It's good at regulating your temperature, too, so we think that opting for a lighter tog woollen duvet in summer might pleasantly surprise you.

I have one of these Woolroom bedding sets so I can vouch for it – the topper is really comfortable and, even after a couple of years' use, the pillows are still soft, fluffy and supportive. Paired with a linen duvet set (and a good fan!), I never feel uncomfortably hot even in the height of summer.

A good mattress is a real investment; top brand offerings are typically upwards of £700, so you'll naturally want to guard it from spills and stains. This Soak & Sleep mattress protector is waterproof, so ward off damage and utilises Coolmax technology, typically found in activewear and clothes, which wicks away moisture from the body to keep you cool and dry. If you buy more than one, there's also a modest 5% saving on offer.

We know and love linen for summer, but we've typically reached for linen bedding sets for their temperature regulating, breezy properties in the past. Now we're also swapping out our regular duvet for a linen option, to double down on the cooling benefits. Best of all? It's currently half price, so now's the time to invest.

And here's one of our top picks from our linen bedding round-up. Bedfolk holds the top spot for the softest set we've tried, and the colours are divine. Wit a breezy, moisture-wicking loose weave, it's a perfect swap for your heavier cottons come the warmer season.

This six tog summer duvet has been made in the UK from at least 30% recycled fibres. At under £50 for a double size, it's a great value option, but bear in mind the filling is synthetic.

Whether you're a back, side or front sleeper, this extra firm memory foam pillow should provide the necessary support. It comes with the above Coolmax technology to ensure you're as cool and as comfortable as possible in bed – and won't wake up with a stiff neck.

Slippery, silky fibres feel luxurious and typically most cooling than fluffy fibres like cotton, so they're good to reach for during heatwaves. M&S's Comfortably Cool sheets are made from a Tencel-rich blend, which is a smooth, fine fibre derived from eucalyptus.

Dunelm's memory foam mattress topper will not only help to boost your comfort in bed, but the gel particle layer helps to absorb and disperse body heat to help regulate your temperature and keep you cooler for longer. Ventilation holes in the foam also increase airflow and breathability. Once the season is through, you can unzip the cover and throw it in the washing machine.

John Lewis has also designed a range of temperature control bedding. It features pillowcases and sheets that have been made from high-quality 400 thread count cotton that has been specially spun so as to create a hollow core that traps air and wicks away moisture.

The result? You maintain a more even, comfortable sleeping temperature on sticky nights. The range is 20% off at the moment, as well.

A Pizuna Fitted sheet acts like a breathable layer between you and your mattress. It protects your mattress by absorbing moisture and sweat while keeping you comfortable while you sleep. Pizuna employ a fine yarn technique to craft their high thread count sheets. This equates to more fine yarns that are closely knit per square inch of the fabric. The closer the knit, the higher the surface area for water absorption and evaporation.

Bedding sets are also available.

Pop these gel inserts in the freezer for a few hours, then tuck them under your pillowcases before bed for a cooling treat.

If you're a really hot sleeper but hate going to bed without some form of a cover, this one tog duvet – the lightest weight available – might be a good option.

This is expensive, but if you're at your wits' end, it might be worth investing. Ooler's innovative sleep tech system utilises water to cool down the surface temperature of your existing mattress. Via its mattress pads and integrated app, you can adjust the temperature from 46 right down to just 13 degrees. Both sides can be set independently too, so you can avoid arguments with your less sweaty partner (and stop waking them with your tossing and turning at night!).

So, not technically bedding, but these curtains should still go some way towards blocking out unwanted heat so you can slumber more peacefully. They've been equipped with thermal properties that help to block out external heat in summer (and banish draughts in winter), to help better control the ambient temperature in your bedroom. They're available in a variety of colours and lengths to suit your decor.