Beat the heat: smart ways to keep your home cool this summer

How to beat the heat at home

When the mercury rises, it can feel impossible to keep your home at a comfortable temperature – many properties simply weren’t built to cope with the intensity of the summer sun. If you're struggling with a hot and stuffy interior, there are a few clever tricks that could bring relief. From DIY cooling solutions to top tips from the experts, these smart ideas will help you beat the heat and stay cool, calm and collected.

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Switch off electronics

While sitting in front of the TV and putting your feet up might seem like the perfect heatwave activity, it can actually create more warmth in your home. Gadgets such as TVs, DVD players, radios and laptops generate heat and only add to the rising temperature. So, keep everything switched off to help cool you down.

Keep windows closed during the day

It might seem odd to shut up shop when the temperature rises but closing your windows during the heat of the day can really help the house stay cool inside. Open them up at night when the air temperature outside drops to capture some breeze.

If you have sash windows, be sure to open them equally at the top and bottom. This allows the cooler air to flow in through the lower opening and the warmer air to escape through the top.

Draw blinds and curtains

Keep things cool around the house by keeping the sun out with appropriate window treatments, especially in south-facing rooms where the sun blazes in.

Install sun-blocking curtains or blinds that block up to 99% of UV rays like these Duette thermal blinds from Thomas Sanderson. They also stop furniture fading and help block out light at night for a better sleep. Wooden shutters are another great and stylish option for keeping rooms dark and cool.  

Cool down your workstation

With many of us embracing hybrid and remote work routines, you may be yearning for the blissful days of sitting in an air-conditioned office. To keep things as cool as can be when the mercury rises, purchase a small USB desk fan or mini air-conditioning unit to keep next to you on your desk.

This portable table fan by Gingko via The Design Gift Shop features a silent setting so you can keep it running during work calls.

Invest in an evaporative air cooler

There's more than just traditional fans and air-con units on the market these days. Enter evaporative air coolers. These units use natural water evaporating technology to draw in hot, dry air and make it cool. As well as reducing the temperature, these nifty products also work double-time as dehumidifiers, cleaning dust particles from the air. Win-win!

Purchase a cooling pet mat

The summer heat doesn't just affect the human members of your household. Spare a thought for your four-legged friends, especially the fluffy ones. Ensure your furry family members have a means of coping with the warmer climes too by investing in cooling mats. Typically filled with a non-toxic gel, their self-cooling designs will ensure your pets stay chilled out all summer.

This cooling mat from Online Home Shop contains a cooling gel that's activated when the product is immersed in water. Once activated, the cooling effect lasts up to five days.

Paint your walls blue

In 2019, paint brand Valspar worked with Professor Charles Spence, head of the Crossmodal Research Laboratory, to see how wall colours can affect the perception of human body temperature. The study placed 157 participants in three separate rooms painted different hues, each set to the same ambient temperature of 18°C (64°F), and asked them to record the temperature they felt in each room. The study found that over a quarter (28%) felt coolest in the navy blue room, with some even claiming that they felt up to three degrees cooler than the actual room temperature.

Lay down floor tiles

If you're yearning for a cooling effect underfoot when the summer rolls around, it's time to rip up your carpets and lay down some tiles. Carpets retain heat, while natural stone such as slate, limestone or ceramic tiles will repel heat, keeping you cool in the summer.

This striking blue and white ceramic design from Hyperion Tiles is sure to create a bold statement in a hallway or living space.

Help hot air escape

If your property has an attic with a window or vent, try opening the attic hatch on really uncomfortably hot evenings. As hot air rises, this will give it somewhere to go and can help cool down the rest of the house.

Switch off lights

There's little need to have your lights blazing during the long summer evenings, especially when it's a hot one. Light bulbs give off heat so by switching them off you can help keep room temperatures in your property down while saving on energy too.

Unplug your appliances

The same goes for the appliances in your home. From toasters and microwaves to kettles and coffee makers, items that have to be plugged in will be generating heat. So if you're not using them switch them off, especially at night when your body temperature can soar.

Keep steam down

Steamy showers, steaming pans, boiling kettles and laundry can also exacerbate a hot and humid home. If you're cooking, keep lids on your pans to keep the steam in. Leave putting the dishwasher or washing machine on a cycle until the coolest part of the day and keep hot showers to a minimum. Have a quick cold shower instead – it's a lovely way to refresh yourself before you retreat to bed.

Cross-ventilate your living spaces

When it comes to creating interior ventilation, it might not be as straightforward as opening a window. When it's hot outside, opening a window will only increase your home's temperature.

In order to create effective airflow, you need two openings – one for the air to flow in and one for it to escape through. Open a window on the shaded side of your house to draw fresh air inside. Then, on the side facing the sun, open a window that's located high up to usher hot air outside.

Get yourself a good fan

For a more economical and environmentally friendly option than air conditioning, get yourself an effective fan or two. Dotting them around the house in a heatwave helps create air movement and can be a quick cooling solution. There's a huge range of fans out there from simple desk fans to ceiling fans and futuristic tower models. If you're putting one in your bedroom, get as quiet a model as possible and preferably opt for one with a remote control so you can switch it off in case of night-time chills.

This freestanding tower fan from Von Haus takes up minimal floor space and also includes an aroma tray so you can circulate your favourite scents.

Position your fan strategically

To make the most of your new fans, think cleverly about exactly where you place them. On really humid nights, you can create a cross breeze by placing a fan opposite an open window or door. This will push hot air out and let any cool breeze flow in.

Another neat trick during uncomfortably warm weather is to place a bowl of ice in front of a fan, which acts like a homemade AC unit.

Purchase a portable AC unit

If all else fails and the sweltering temperatures simply aren't abating, it might be time to install air conditioning. For those with compact spaces and smaller budgets, a portable air-con unit can be a great option rather than a wall-mounted system. It'll set you back a few hundred pounds (or more for a high-end model) but it could be money well spent for staying cool and comfortable over the summer. Plus, you can stow it away in the winter.

Embrace natural fabrics

The optimum temperature for sleeping is between 16 to 18°C (60-64°F), but when summer sets in this can be hard to achieve and a restful night becomes a distant dream. Avoid tossing and turning by opting for natural fabrics such as linen and cotton. They absorb sweat and are more breathable than other materials.

Don't forget to ditch your winter duvet for a lightweight summer version, or simply use cotton sheets with the option of an extra blanket on top.

Swap your mattress

For the ultimate cool and calm night's sleep, look into getting a mattress that helps regulate your body temperature. For example, some soothing mattresses are made using a gel-infused foam that allows greater airflow and helps dissipate your body heat. You can also get special toppers to slip on top of your existing mattress that act in the same way.

This pocket-sprung mattress from Naturalmat features sustainable, breathable materials that help regulate your internal temperature when the summer heat strikes.

Opt for cooling pillows

Chill hot cheeks and slip off into sweet dreams with a specially designed cooling pillow. You can get ones with gel pads inside or try a comforting cool touch pillow with special fibres that disperse heat and moisture.

If you want a free DIY solution, pop a pillowcase in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer. The cool relief won't last as long but it will offer brief respite. Some people also swear by buckwheat pillows, which allow greater airflow and don't retain heat.

Make a misting spray

Spritzing down your sheets with cool water before you get in at night should help you to at least start the night at a more comfortable temperature. You can easily make your own by filling a spray bottle with water and keeping it in the fridge. Give it an extra kick by adding a couple of drops of relaxing lavender oil, cooling eucalyptus oil or aromatic rosemary.

Fill a hot water bottle with ice

Believe it or not, it might be time to dig out your hot water bottle – bear with us. While these winter essentials are perfect for keeping you cosy in the cooler months, they're also ideal for hot, humid nights. Simply fill the bottle with cold water, pop it in the freezer, and you've got a makeshift ice pack ready to go!

Chill your bedding in the freezer

If spritzing your sheets still doesn't do the trick, you can pop your bedsheets in the freezer for the ultimate cold embrace. This will keep your bedding as cool as can be and ensure a peaceful night's sleep – just remember to put them in an air-tight freezer bag.

Sleep on the ground floor

If the heat in your bedroom really gets too much, it might be an idea to sleep in the cooler downstairs rooms during a heat wave. Create a little temporary bedroom in your living room with a low-level futon or better still if you have a basement, make a den down there until the heat subsides.

Hang up a hammock

Another option if you're really struggling to sleep in the heat is to set up a hammock in your home or even outside. There's a good reason why hammocks are popular in tropical countries – they allow the air to circulate all around your body. And if that doesn't work, the gentle rocking motion should send you drifting off into a peaceful slumber. If you're sleeping outside you might want to spray yourself with insect repellent first.

Create a cool, calm oasis

If your home is prone to overheating in the summer, think about keeping internal walls light and white in the rooms most exposed to the sunshine. Opting for pale-hued curtains and blinds will also help reflect the sun's rays out of the room rather than absorbing them and holding the heat in.

Use pot plants to lower the temperature

A few well-placed pot plants not only add a nice bit of greenery and an oasis-like feel to your home, but they may also help keep things cool. Many plants, including palms, are known to help cool air temperatures by releasing moisture from their leaves into warm rooms. They also act as natural humidifiers and help purify the air of some pollutants.

Rethink your wardrobe

Rethinking your wardrobe is not only a great way to free up space, but it will make staying cool during summer a lot easier. Swap out your winter wardrobe for loose, lightweight clothing made of natural fabrics. Avoid synthetic materials and tight clothing, and remember, dark colours absorb more sunlight, so stick to light shades and soft pastels. If you're working from home, take the opportunity to wear something a little less office-ready that's airy and comfortable.

This oak wardrobe from Loaf features perforated rattan doors and draw fronts that ensure your clothes are well-ventilated and don't get musty.

Keep skincare products cool

Make your skincare routine a cooling part of your day by placing your favourite products in the fridge, either on their own separate shelf or in a dedicated beauty mini fridge.

You can also lean on DIY solutions to keep your body temperature cool. A damp cloth or a splash of water on your pulse points can be just as effective as a fan. Apply something cold to your wrists and temples and your body temperature will drop.

Invest in insulation

If you're well and truly fed up battling sweltering summer days and humid nights, it might be time to think about a long-term solution. Good insulation not only keeps your house cosy in winter but it also helps keep it cool in summer. That's because it creates a layer of separation between your home and the external climate, reducing the amount of heat coming in through the walls and keeping the cool air inside your home.

Upgrade to double-glazing

Similarly, double-glazed windows aren't just for keeping the heat in your home during winter. Designed to act as a barrier against all outside temperatures, double- and triple-glazed windows will also help reduce the impact of hot weather and keep your rooms noticeably cooler in the summer months.

Cook alfresco with an outdoor kitchen

Many hotter countries set up outdoor kitchens in the summer months when it gets too warm to cook inside. So why not adopt a little of the hot-weather lifestyle and create a space on your terrace or garden to chop, cook and eat? You could really go for it and install an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven for alfresco dinners. You won't want the summer to end.

Create shade with planting

Gardeners can also help keep their properties cool by thinking cleverly about what they plant around their property and where. Strategically placed trees and shrubs can provide shade and keep internal temperatures cooler. Creepers and vines work particularly well by shielding external walls from the sun. Plus, you'll have created a lovely little shady enclave outside that you can retreat to.

Roll out an awning

Not green-fingered? A quicker solution to help cool external walls is to install a portable awning. Use them to create some shade on the southern and western sides of your property where the sun blazes.

Canopies can also offer a shady area on a sunny patio or garden, creating a lovely cool zone where you can seek respite for an alfresco meal or a cold drink. Stringing up some colourful fabric to form a makeshift shelter will also work.

Whitewash your home's exterior

Another more extreme tactic to tackle the external heat is whitewashing the exterior of your property. An age-old trick used by inhabitants of hot countries such as Greece, white reflects the light and helps keep things nice and cool inside. Simply painting your roof white will also reflect the sun's rays away from your home.

Pick up a paddling pool

For those summer days when it is too hot to even sit outside, you can rely on cold water to bring down your body temperature fast. From a spare plastic storage container filled up from the tap to a child-friendly inflatable paddling pool, adding a spot to splash in is guaranteed to make the heat more bearable. Be eco-conscious and try to reuse the water for washing the car or watering plants in the evening.