7 Interior Design Tips to Keep Your Home Cool

Summer heat can feel unbearable at times. However, nothing is worse than walking into an equally warm house to escape the hot outdoors. Keeping a cool space is essential for indoor comfort and health. Fortunately, it’s easy to achieve with a few minor design changes. Here are seven tips for finding relief from the heat at home.

 

1.   Paint the Walls Lighter

Although dark walls are moody and stylish, they tend to absorb and hold heat. Keep your house cool in the summer by painting each room a lighter colour. White, cream and pastel shades reflect sunlight, opening the space for a brighter and airier feel. These neutral tones also provide more stylistic opportunities for wide-ranging interior design selections.

 

2.   Install Window Treatments

Solar heat gain can significantly raise indoor temperatures in the summer — especially with south-facing windows which receive the most sunlight — and cause you to overuse your air conditioner. Simple window treatments like panel curtains, sheers and blinds make a significant difference in blocking out sunlight and warmth.

 

Blackout shades completely darken the room, preventing any daylight from infiltrating the space. However, if you still want to let in natural light, lighter curtains reflect some of the sunlight, much like white walls. Either way, you’ll decrease the amount of heat a room gets. 

 

3.   Consider Outdoor Shading

Homeowners should address their outdoor spaces when trying to cool their homes. Awnings and other shade solutions are also a great way to prevent solar heat gain.

 

You can even spruce up your landscaping by strategically planting trees in front of windows. They deliver natural shading and enhance your curb appeal.

 

4.   Incorporate Plants

Transpiration occurs when plants absorb moisture through their roots and release it into the air by their leaves. The subsequent evaporation of water induces a cooling effect by drawing in ambient heat. Additionally, plants collect pollutants and toxins to improve indoor air purification.

 

Aside from the cooling benefits, a little greenery goes a long way in any interior style, making each space feel and look fresher.

 

5.   Create Airflow

Sometimes, cooling your home is a matter of rearranging the furniture. Do you have large items obstructing the windows? Shift things around to improve ventilation and create a cross breeze.

 

Cover leather sofas and chairs with linens, which don’t hold as much heat. Doing so will also protect the furniture’s colour from fading in direct light.

 

6.   Use Energy-Efficient Lighting

Swapping out incandescent lightbulbs for energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will keep each room cooler during the hottest summer days. LEDs give off far less heat than conventional bulbs and last much longer.

 

Also, avoid turning on overhead lights and opt for table lamps. These options offer more targeted illumination to prevent rising indoor temperatures.

 

7.   Hang Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans may be an obvious choice to keep your house cool in the summer. Fortunately, you can choose different styles, colours and materials to match your home decor. Just remember to run the blades counterclockwise to force heat downward and create a wind-chill effect.

 

Stay Cool at Home This Summer

You don’t need extensive structural changes to make your home cooler in the summer. A few stylish upgrades to your interior design can vastly improve indoor temperature and comfort.