As the summer temperature soars, making your house a tranquil oasis can be challenging. During this season, with temperatures rarely dropping below 30°C and easily reaching 45°C, learning how to keep your home cool is vital. There are ingenious décor tips you can follow to help you escape the oppressive heat and humidity while producing an interior that looks fresh and contemporary.
Dress your windows to keep your home cool
A property full of windows provides beautiful natural light and plenty of opportunities for ventilation. But, when the summer sun is in full force, windows can raise the temperature in your home. Rather than having to compensate for this window "heat gain" by turning up the air-conditioning, why not dress your windows to offer cooling shade? Get the bright, breezy summer look with simple white cotton curtains or make a statement with modern prints. Simply hanging and drawing curtains could reduce heat transfer by up to 33% this summer.
Breathable bed linen
There's nothing worse than feeling too warm at night to sleep. Switching to cotton-rich linen transforms your bed into a breathable, irresistibly cool haven. Being a natural fibre, cotton allows moisture from your body to evaporate away when the temperature rises, ensuring you stay dry and comfortable all night.
Cotton bedding is supremely durable, staying soft and bobble-free even with frequent washing. Get your bedroom décor ready for summer with cool-toned bedding or crisp whites, and enjoy peaceful nights, however warm it is outside.
Bring the outdoors in
A nifty trick that also provides an on-trend aesthetic is bringing plants into your home to help add shade to windows, sills and French doors. With this look, it's a case of the more, the merrier, so enjoy purchasing different varieties and sizes of plants to add contrast and texture to your interior. Don't worry if you're not green-fingered. Choose high-quality faux plants, guaranteeing that lush look year after year. Large, leafy outdoor plants can also be placed externally around your property to offer dappled shade that will reduce window heat transfer.
Bright and airy
Though dark and rich wall colours and furniture have been popular in recent years, these shades aren’t ideal for our scorching summers. The dark pigments absorb heat and can make a room feel suffocatingly warm and muggy.
To make your home feel spacious and airy this summer, decorate and accessorise with pale colours, especially white. Adorn your furniture with white, grey or pastel throws and cushions, as these colours will reflect rather than absorb the heat.
Use large wall or floor mirrors to encourage that sense of light and space – something that will help during the summer when you draw your curtains or close your shutters to keep your home cool. Bring reflective, sparkling materials into rooms through your furniture and light-fitting choices. Glass and chrome will bounce light across your home, bringing a refreshingly cool aesthetic.
