5 decor swaps to keep your home cool this summer
Try incorporating these home cooling design moves. By replacing heavy textiles with breathable fabrics and setting up effective cross ventilation, you can create a cooler home without touching the thermostat. Here’s how to style your way to a cool, summer-ready home.
Get rid of fuzzy rugs
If your home is full of cozy woolen rugs or fluffy fluffy rugs, give them a summer break. Roll it up and store it securely, making sure to protect it from insects and direct sunlight so it doesn’t fade.
Next, embrace a bare stone or hardwood floor, which is cooler underfoot. For those places that need a rug, like next to the bed or under the kitchen sink, swap out a flat-woven rug for natural fibers.
Invest in cooling window treatments
Gauze and lightweight curtains may create a summery vibe in a room, but because they let in a lot of sunlight they won’t help cool the space. To lower your energy bill, invest in shades that have a white plastic liner on the outside of the window as this reflects as much light as possible.
Create cross ventilation
For those without central air conditioning, cross ventilation is your best friend on hot days and will help keep fresh air circulating.
To get started, open two windows (or a window and a door) located across the room or even across the house or apartment, depending on the size of your space. Set up a fan next to one window, so it helps push the fresh air coming in throughout your home. The higher the fan power, the better the airflow. For extra cooling power, try this trick: Place a bowl of ice in front of a fan to quickly cool the air. If you have a second fan, place it facing the second window, so it pulls the air inside your house out.
Pro tip: If you’re working from home this summer, arrange your desk near the path of airflow, so you’ll get a fresh breeze all day long.
Less is more
If you usually have your bed and living room couch piled high with cozy blankets and pillows, it’s time to simplify.
Now is a great time to wash any removable pillow covers and store most of them away for the season. If you decide to leave a pillow or two outside, swap the heavy velvet covers for lightweight linen or cotton ones.
Instead of keeping cozy blankets strewn on the bed or sofa, store them nearby in a handwoven floor basket, just in case the air conditioner gets a little chilly at night.
Cool your bed
No matter how hot your house gets during the day, somehow you can feel warm the second your head hits the pillow. To avoid night sweats in the summer, a cooler bed should be built.
Start by investing in ultra breathable bed sheets. Even if you’re not a fan of a top sheet during the fall or winter months, it could be the perfect alternative to a duvet or comforter this summer.
And don’t forget the cooling pad. So long, night sweats!
