How To Keep a House Cool in Summer Naturally?

Summer is a time for pool parties and barbeques, but not all of us enjoy the heat, especially if you can’t get your house to cool down. You may not have the luxuries of an air conditioner, or you simply don’t want to use one for a multitude of reasons. That’s why I’m going to share some amazingly helpful tips with you on how to keep your house naturally cool in the summer.

Here are eight tips on how to keep a house cool in summer naturally:

1. Create shade.
2. Fill your home with indoor plants.
3. Use the right drapes and blinds.
4. Use kitchen appliances only when necessary.
5. Open your windows.
6. Paint and decorate with light colors.
7. Tile your floors.
8. Ensure your house is properly insulated.

In this article, I will explain how to use the above tips to create a cool and comfortable house during the hottest summer days.

1. Create Shade

If you are outside on a hot day, you automatically look for a nice shaded area where you can cool down and be out of the harmful sun rays, so why not use shade to cool down your house?

Installing awnings outside all of your windows and doors will help create shade and cool down your house. You can get this Yescom Outdoor Awning Patio Window on Amazon.com, which is UV-resistant and easy to install. The awning will block direct sunlight from entering your door and also help keep the rain out during a downpour.

Big trees can also create fantastic shade around your house. Trees take a long time to grow if planted when small, but it is possible to buy medium-sized trees. Trees like a Paper Birch or an American Sweetgum will look beautiful and provide you with the shade you are looking for. Speak to a landscaper before planting them, as some trees have extensive roots that can damage your house.

Another option is to grow vines and shrubs on and along the walls of your house. They will absorb heat and help cool your home.

Read: Why Air Conditioner Is Not Heating?

2. Fill Your Home With Indoor Plants

Indoor plants release oxygen and look fantastic. If your house is super warm, adding some indoor plants will help cool it down and enhance the air quality.

Here is a list of some beautiful indoor plants that will help cool your house, look amazing, and create a calm, relaxed environment.

• Aloe Vera
• Areca Palm
• Peace Lily
• Parlor Palm
• Boston Fern
• Bird’s Nest Fern

You can buy this Bamworld Plant Stand Indoor Shelf from Amazon.com. It is made from natural wood, which is durable and looks beautiful. It has five tiers and can hold up to 12 different-sized plants. This plant stand is ideal for you if you want a lot of houseplants but don’t have the space.

Read: Why Air Conditioner Not Blowing Cold Air But Running?

3. Use the Right Drapes and Blinds

Blinds and drapes can make a massive difference to the indoor temperature of your house. Blackout curtains can block out between 35% to 100% light from entering the room where they are hung, which will help keep it cool. Blackout curtains are stylish and will provide you with some extra privacy.

If you prefer blinds over drapes, you can install aluminum blinds on your windows. They reflect a lot of the sun rays that cause your house to heat up and will help keep your home cool.

4. Use Kitchen Appliances Only When Necessary

Electrical appliances give off heat, so switch off any electrical device you are not using, especially in the kitchen. Kitchen appliances, like your oven, microwave, dishwasher, and surprisingly, your fridge, give off an incredible amount of heat.

If it is possible, grill outside instead of using your oven or stovetop. It will help keep your house cool and give you a reason to spend some time outdoors. When you have to use your electrical appliances, use them only as necessary, and make sure to switch them off when you are done.

Your fridge has to stay on though and creates a lot of heat. Inside it is cold so that your food stays fresh, but if you stand behind your fridge, you will feel that it is hot. Ensure that there is proper ventilation behind your fridge so that the hot air can dissolve and not build up.

Light bulbs create a lot of heat. If you are somebody that leaves the lights on throughout your entire house, you should definitely learn to switch them off. It will help decrease your house temperature and save you some money on electricity. LED and CFL light bulbs give off less heat than incandescent bulbs, so if you haven’t switched your lightbulbs, it might be a good idea.

White LED light bulbs like these AmazonBasics LED Light Bulbs (available on Amazon.com) give off the least heat. These light bulbs are dimmable and have a soft white color, which will help create a cool and comfortable environment. They can last up to 10,000 hours and only use 9 watts of energy, so they will work perfectly.

Read: Why Air Conditioner Heat Mode Not Working?

5. Open Your Windows

If you don’t like using drapes and blinds to shut out the sun’s rays, you can try opening all your windows and doors to create a cross breeze. Make sure that there are no obstacles to obstruct the flow of the wind, like cupboards or closed doors. This technique will work particularly well on windy days.

Another option is to open your windows during the night so that the cold night air fills your house, and then shut your windows and close your drapes or blinds before the sun comes up. This will help keep the cool night air in and the hot sun out.

If it is sweltering hot and you have ceiling fans installed throughout your house or own a few freestanding fans, you can position them as needed to help with the flow of the breeze.

Here is an informative YouTube video showing some interesting ways that you can try to cool your house naturally.

Bonus tip: You can place a bowl full of ice in front of your fan on super hot days to create a DIY air conditioner. The wind from the fan will blow over the ice and create a cold breeze.

6. Paint and Decorate with Light Colors

Redecorating your home can be super fun; who doesn’t want to give their walls a fresh coat of paint? As winter starts to fade and you feel the days getting hotter, it might be good to put away all your winter bedding, drapes, and towels and opt for lighter and thinner options.

Start by painting the outside of your house white, and then continue by painting the inside of your house with cool, soft colors. Light colors reflect the sun’s beams and help keep your house cooler during the hot summer days.

Here are some easy-to-implement ideas that you can try, which will surely help create a cooler environment.

• Use cotton sheets and remove any thick blankets from your bed.
• Swap your thick wooly rugs for light-colored cotton rugs.
• Clean up any clutter; the more items there are in a room, the hotter the room will be.
• Get a small indoor water feature. It will help cool down the area and look fantastic.

You can also try spraying your roof with water at night before it gets dark; it will help keep your house cool during the night.

Read: Why Does Air Conditioner Run At The Same Time As A Furnace?

7. Tile Your Floors

Carpets are fluffy and help keep your feet warm in the winter, but in the summer, they will make your house a lot warmer. If you can afford it, tile all your floors. Tiles will reduce the temperature in your home, especially if you go with a light, cool color, and it makes cleaning much easier.

Laminate flooring is also much cooler than carpeted floors and looks trendy and stylish. You can choose from various colors and enjoy walking barefoot through your house on a hot summer day.

You can always buy some big fluffy rugs to throw over your tiled floor in the winter.

8. Ensure Your House Is Properly Insulated

Make sure the insulation in your walls is still good, and if not, consider having some proper insulation installed. Proper insulation will help keep your house warm in the winter and cold in the summer.

It might sound expensive and like a lot of work to have it redone or fitted, but it will help you a lot going forward.

Read: Why Window Air Conditioner Compressor Not Turning On?

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, these eight tips will help you cool down this summer without having to worry about investing in a new AC unit (or running yours all the time). And don’t forget to wear light clothing and drink plenty of water to boot!