Inside TikToks cold room trend and how to create one in your own home

If you’ve scrolled through TikTok recently, you’ve probably seen cold rooms trending.Cold rooms—also known as cold-air dorms, CADs, or cold airs—are spacious, quiet, and dimly lit areas in sorority and fraternity houses, furnished with multiple bunk beds to accommodate members for sleeping.While members typically have private rooms for studying and socializing, it’s a tradition for them to sleep in cold rooms together to foster a sense of community.These rooms normally sleep 20 people or more—and even though they’ve been a staple of sorority and fraternity houses for decades, many people had never heard of these cold rooms until they went viral on social media.Cold rooms were inspired by sleeping porches, which were extremely popular in the early 1900s before air conditioning was widespread.They were furnished with beds, so sleepers could enjoy a nightly cross-breeze during the hot summers.Some of the larger sororities and fraternities have used these cold rooms to house many members when individual rooms were in short supply.Today’s cold rooms are sparsely decorated with rows of bunk beds and are devoid of dressers or other furniture.

There is no overhead lighting, and windows are covered with blackout curtains or shades.The air conditioning runs full blast 24/7—and is typically set at 65 degrees Fahrenheit or below.Sorority and fraternity members often stop by the cold room to catch a quick nap between classes or assignments.“In today’s fast-paced, sleep-deprived world, napping isn’t just indulgent—it has health benefits, too,” says sleep coach Elina Winnel, who is known as “The Sleep Expert.”She says short, 10- to 20-minute naps can quickly boost alertness, mood, and performance, offering a valuable reset during the day without interfering with nighttime sleep.“Meanwhile, longer naps of about 90 minutes allow for a complete sleep cycle, aiding memory consolidation, physical recovery, and enhancing creativity,” explains W...