The summer heat can make spending time at home feel like a day in the desert. With temperatures set to rise during the hottest summer months of the year, it’s time to get a little creative with ways to cool down your sitting room. Consider making the following upgrades to keep things cool and comfortable throughout the summer.
Get Blackout Curtains
Curtains are an effective way to keep the sun’s rays out of your room. Investing in blackout curtains will help to completely block out sunlight, preventing any excess heat from entering the room. Experts recommend installing neutral-colored blackout curtains designed with plastic backing to further reduce heat gain.
Install a Ceiling Fan
While most people rely on air conditioning systems to keep their homes cool, many forget that a ceiling fan can be just as effective. When it comes to keeping things cool, white indoor ceiling fans are highly effective as they circulate the draft through a room. When used in conjunction with air conditioning, ceiling fans allow homeowners to raise their thermostat settings by an average of 4°F, saving energy and money.
Should you install a ceiling fan in your sitting room, make sure that your fan is set to rotate counter-clockwise during the summer. This seasonal adjustment allows the airflow to create a wind-chill effect, making your sitting room feel much cooler.
Replace Your Incandescent Lights
As you focus on creating a cooler aesthetic, consider replacing your incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lamps. As incandescent bulbs waste a large percentage of the energy they emit, they’re ultimately hotter than other alternatives. Switching out these hot bulbs for a CFL is a great way to shift the temperature in your sitting room while upgrading your summer aesthetic.
Use Plants
Another aesthetically pleasing and effective way to bring cooler air into your sitting room is to get indoor plants. Indoor plants help to boost the quality of indoor air while keeping the temperature down in the summer. Plants help to lower the temperature in a room through the transpiration process in which they lose water while cooling the air around them. Investing in the right greenery will bring your sitting room to life and leave you feeling refreshed.
Summer is the perfect time to make a few upgrades to your sitting room. Keep these ideas in mind as you look for more ways to get cool and comfortable at home this summer.
