Summer is here — and whilst relaxing under the sun on the sandy shores may seem fun, getting trapped in your home designed to retain heat definitely isn’t! This is especially true for those of us in Europe, who most likely don’t have central air conditioning.
So, the goal is to devise wise solutions that minimise heat gain whilst encouraging good ventilation. If you’re looking to beat the heat in your home, these interior design tips will make a considerable difference!
Ensure Good Ventilation
Ventilation is one of the most inexpensive ways to cool your interior. The trick to ensuring a well-ventilated home is using different methods to avoid heat buildup.
Begin by opening your windows when the temperatures are relatively low, for example, early in the morning before it gets too hot. This ensures fresh air enters and circulates around your space. Bonus points if you have large windows!
Complement this by installing exhaust fans in the bathrooms, laundry, and kitchen. These are a one-way street to the outdoors; hot air rises and leaves the space, whilst fresh air enters. Additionally, they remove stale air and unwanted odours from the room. Additionally, heat buildup in the attic (or the top floor of your house) is a common problem contributing to overheated interiors. To cater to the issue, install vents in the higher levels of your home. These encourage warm air to rise and leave the house, keeping the interior cool.
Consider UV-Resistant Glass
The sun’s rays are pleasing to wake up to early in the morning, but not so much in the afternoon when they can quickly add to the temperature of the home. To keep them out, opt for UV-resistant glass for the windows. You can also consider double-glazing to prevent the heat from entering your home.
If you’re not in for a major upgrade to the windows, use the right window treatments to do the job — more on that below.
Focus On The Window Treatments
Window treatments, such as curtains, draperies, and blinds, can be used to ensure good ventilation or to keep the sunlight out.
If your location experiences cool breezes often, you may want to opt for light, airy window treatments, such as sheer drapes. These allow maximum air to enter when the windows are opened.
On the other hand, if your house receives plenty of sunlight — such as having major windows on the south-facing side of the home — you may want to opt for window treatments that block sunlight. These include blackout curtains and opaque draperies.
If you’re struggling to choose the right window treatments, here’s our quick and comprehensive guide!
Use Light Colours For The Walls
Dark colours tend to absorb heat faster than light colours. This means they can make your house feel like a sauna in no time! So, choose lighter shades for the walls and major furnishings — though the 60-30-10 rule allows coherent proportions of bold hues, too.
Whether you go for warm or cool colour tones, there are plenty of light hues to choose from. And they don’t necessarily have to be neutrals! For example, beyond beige, white, and grey, you could go for ice blue or baby pink.
Added benefit: Light colours make spaces feel brighter and more open!
Leverage The Use Of Fans
If you’re looking for a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution to keep up with the insane heatwave, ceiling fans are the answer! There are also a multitude of other ways to incorporate energy-efficient materials into your home.
Ceiling fans circulate the air all across the room. The moving air, in turn, has a cooling effect when it comes in contact with the skin.
You should especially consider installing them if the weather you live in is hot for long stretches of time. If you experience short spells of heat, a pedestal fan makes for an easy upgrade that can be tucked away for the rest of the year.
Incorporate Plants To Help With Humidity
Heat and humidity often go hand in hand. If you’re struggling with a humid indoor environment, consider incorporating humidity-absorbing plants. These will also naturally purify the indoor air and add to the aesthetics, of course.
Here are the top humidity-absorbing plants that can help beat the heat in this scorching summer season:
English Ivy
Calathea
Spider Plant
Boston Fern
Bamboo Palm (shown in the image above)
Alternatively, you can opt for a dehumidifier. In addition to reducing humidity levels, dehumidifiers remove dust particles from the air and make your home less susceptible to mould and mildew.
Final Words
As you can see, there are plenty of clever interior design tricks to beat the heat and keep the insides cool. Try any of the easy tips above — ensure good ventilation, use light colours, keep the sunshine out, and more — and hopefully you'll start to feel things cool down at home.
We hope you have a safe and fun summer. Soak up the sun whilst it lasts, but also be sure to stay hydrated and cool!
Need some help with updating your place to better manage the summer heat? Just book one of our Interior Design Gurus here! They can look at your space over video chat and give you tips, ideas and guidance on how to achieve an interior that you love.