Keeping Your Home Cool Without AC
Ready for your summer savior? There are ways you can design hack your home that will help keep the heat at bay and send some shade your way.
1. Become a fan of fans.
The old tried and true method is to simply point a fan directly at yourself and let the air do it’s thing, but there are ways to use fans that will actually dispel hot air. Place box fans in windows so they push hot air outside and adjust ceiling fans so the blades run counter-clockwise, pulling hot air up and out rather than pushing it around the room.
Design tip: Update your ceiling fan with a medallion or paint the blades a shade that corresponds with the rest of your décor.
2. Opt for cotton sheets.
There’s a reason cotton clothing is so popular in the summertime; it breathes easily and promotes ventilation and air flow. Say farewell to satin, flannel and silk for the season and go for a lightweight, light colored cotton sheet. Added bonus: it will freshen up your space, which will make it feel lighter and cooler.
3. Say goodbye to heat and puffy eyes.
Want to know how models keep themselves looking fresh and dewey? Ice facials! Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. Basically you fill a bowl up with cold water and ice, pin your hair back, and dunk your head three times in 10–30 second intervals. Do this in the morning and you’ll start the day wide awake, fresh faced and best of all, COLD.
4. Curtain call.
That’s right folks, unfortunately if you want to beat the heat you might have to forfeit some of your beloved natural light. A lot of unwanted heat enters through your windows- especially those facing south and west. Closing the blinds or drawing the curtains can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees and if you do have AC, your bill will also drop significantly.
5. Take a cool shower.
Before you hop into your nice, overheated bed, step into the shower and let a cold stream wash over you. Your body temperature will drop and you’ll crawl into bed sweat-free and feeling refreshed.
6. Pillow talk.
Buckwheat is useful for more than just delicious, healthy pancakes! Trade in your down pillows for buckwheat hull pillows. This multi-functional grain can help keep you cool on scorching hot nights because it doesn’t absorb heat. Learn how to make your own, here.
7. Let the evening air in.
Temperatures tend to drop in the evening so before you go to bed crack the windows for a while and let the tepid night breeze flow in. For optimal fresh air, create a wind tunnel with your fans by facing one in and one towards the window.
8. Bring your bed down low.
Heat rises so the higher you are off the ground, the hotter you’re going to be. Switch it up for summer and put your mattress on the ground or exchange it for a simple futon.
9. Ditch the lights.
This one is a no-brainer, but lightbulbs create heat. Since there are more hours of daylight during the summer give the lights a rest! (Romantic candle-lit dinner, anyone?) But when you need to turn them on, opt for compact fluorescent lamps instead of incandescent bulbs.
10. Keep your food cool and your drinks cooler.
Eating refreshing cold foods like fresh fruits and veggies (and popsicles) will obviously keep the temperature of your body cooler than if you gobble down a plate of spaghetti. This is a great excuse for regular Happy Hour iced cocktails; just make sure to drink plenty of H2O, too!
Your ancestors did it, so you can live through the heat without AC, too! Get your space ready for summer with Laurel & Wolf interior design services.
Xoxo, Laurel & Wolf
