Every year when summer comes, we start getting our homes ready for the impending heat waves. Some of us install air conditioners, prepare our gardens, dust off the sprinklers, and put thought into just about every area of our home except our beds. The same heavy-weight sheets you used for the winter simply aren't cutting it. You might not want to go for the sheets only look, but how else can you have livable summer bedding? Let's a take a look at some fun, low-cost ways to change it up and stay cool and comfortable during the summer months.

Bedspreads can still be used for summer bedding, but with a little extra care. You definitely don't want a heavy comforter, or a bedspread with too much batting, otherwise you'll be uncomfortable. If you choose a very lightweight, all cotton bedspread you can still have that great look to tie the room together without suffering the consequences. A lightweight cotton bedspread will save you from having to take off the comforter every night. Also, you can pick fun colors and patterns for your summer bedding to suit the atmosphere of the season. If you are going to use a bedspread, even a lightweight one, it still may be best to do so in air-conditioned rooms.

If a bedspread is too much, and you don't want to go for the bare sheets look, you can use a cotton blanket on top of your sheets. This is a great summer bedding solution because you still have a nice, finished look to your bed, but a light cotton blanket will breath and keep you cool. A blanket is different from a bedspread, as they are typically thinner and consist of a single layer. You can find many blankets with loose patterns and larger threads, so good ventilation is provided. Many people find cotton blankets to be the best “compromise” summer bedding solution.

Another option for summer bedding that few people consider is a wool blanket. Most people think of wool as an option for the winter, and would never consider it for summer bedding. However, lightweight wool has been used to keep people cool for thousands of years, and it's moisture-absorbing properties are great for those who tend to get sweaty under poorly ventilated summer bedding.

If you need low temperatures and ventilation above all else, choosing to go sheets only for your summer bedding may be the best option. Just because you are using sheets doesn't mean that you have to have a sloppy looking bed. You can find a heavier top sheet that is finished in a traditional pattern, or you can embrace it and go for the minimalist look. You really can express yourself just as much with sheets as you can with any other summer bedding.

The best way to choose your summer bedding is to pick whatever works best for you, not what you think others would like. No matter which summer bedding option you decide on, you can make it look elegant and classy while meeting your needs.