Our Tips on How to Keep Your Home Cool During a Heatwave | 247 Blog

1. Switch out your bedding

Cosy duvets are perfect for winter, but can turn your bed into an oven during summer. Swap them out for a lower-tog or ditch them for light and breathable sheets made from cotton or linen. Avoid synthetic fabrics to keep things fresh and airy.

2. Place fans strategically

Air conditioning might be a luxury most of us don't have, but fans can be a great substitute. Place them strategically around your home to promote air circulation. For an added cooling effect, put a bowl of ice or a cold towel in front of your fan - instant DIY air-con at a fraction of the price!

3. Keep your doors and windows closed

It might seem counterintuitive, but opening doors and windows when it's hot outside will allow warm air in. The best course of action is to keep them closed, which also stops pesky flies from inviting themselves over for a staycation! 

4. Reduce heat from appliances

During a heatwave, avoid appliances that generate heat. Instead of using the tumble dryer, hang your clothes out on the line or on a clothes-horse. Minimise how often you use your oven or stove by opting for the air fryer or batch cooking meals that can be served cold like pasta salads or our favourite - picky bits! 

5. Use energy-efficient lighting

Incandescent and halogen bulbs not only use more energy but also generate excess heat. Switch to energy-efficient LED bulbs to reduce both heat-output and your energy bills! LED bulbs also have a much longer life span when compared to other types meaning you won't need to change your lights as often!

6. Stay hydrated

It's essential to stay hydrated, especially during warmer weather. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to compensate for the water you lose through sweating. Add cucumber slices or lemon wedges for a refreshing, summer-y beverage! 

7. Hot water bottle hack

It might sound strange, but a hot water bottle can be your best friend in summer too. Fill it with cold water and a few ice cubes, and tuck it under your sheets before getting into bed for a cool and comfortable night's sleep. 

8. Use a dehumidifier 

Excess humidity can make your home feel warmer than it actually is. A dehumidifier can help reduce the humidity levels in your home and make it feel cooler. There are plenty of other benefits too including eliminating allergens and dust mites in the air and preventing mold or mildew from growing. 

One of the simplest ways to keep your home cool is keeping your blinds or curtains closed. This prevents the sun from heating up your rooms. We recommend closing them between 10AM and 3PM when the sun is at its strongest. Adjust this depending on the direction your windows face: close your blinds earlier in east-facing rooms, and keep them drawn later into the day for west-facing ones.

If your home seems to get particularly stuffy during the summer months with lots of south-facing windows, or if you're particularly sensitive to heat and struggle to get a good night's sleep when it's warm out - it's probably worth investing in blinds that are specially designed to insulate your home and keep the heat out. 

Blackout blinds are a great option for keeping your home cool. Whether it's blackout roller blinds or Roman blinds with blackout lining, these window coverings block out much more light than standard blinds, meaning they're more effective at keeping rooms cool during the day. Plus, they'll help you sleep better during the summer months by blocking out those early morning rays!

For a quick and easy solution, selected blackout roller and Roman blinds can be upgraded to Twist&Fit no-drill installation, meaning you can have your blinds fitted and keeping your home cool in no time. 

These Energy Saving Blackout Roller Blinds come with a solar protective coating to reflect the sun away from your home. Available in vairous shades and with our trusty Twist&Fit upgrade, they're perfect for quickly cooling your home while adding style.

To make keeping your home cool even easier, these blinds are available with motorised controls, allowing you to open or close them at the touch of a button. On top of this, you can pair them with smart hubs and set routines to have your blinds take care of keeping the heat out automatically - no more accidentally leaving the blinds open and coming home to a bedroom that resembles a sauna!

Featuring comb-like pleats, Honeycomb Blackout Blinds work to trap air, creating a barrier of insulation at your windows edge. Add to that their blackout functionality and you have an all-in-one window dressing solution to keep the sun's rays at bay. Depending on the style you go for, cordless controls will be available as and option or come as standard, making it even easier to keep those shades closed throughout the day. Add to this multizone controls which allow you to let light in at the top or bottom of your window and you have a versatile window covering perfect for blocking out the heat! Available in a huge range of styles, there's a honeycomb blind for all window types.

Free-Hanging Pleated Honeycomb Blackout Blinds

Traditional installation using brackets drilled inside or outside the recess, though we'd always suggest fitting blackout thermal blinds as close to the window as possible to minimise light bleed and maximise insulation! Available with cordless operation and multizone controls. 

Perfect Fit Honeycomb Blackout Blinds

Boasting a full-frame for an integrated appearance, these blinds simply clip onto your uPVC windows and doors using brackets inserted under the beading. Providing a fuss-free installation with minimal light bleed and top-notch insulation- with multizone, cordless controls as standard.

Clip Fit Honeycomb Blackout Blinds

These blinds share the same fuss-free installation as Perfect Fit Blinds, but feature a narrower profile and aren't fully framed, making them perfect for uPVC bi-fold doors! Upgrade to multizone controls at no extra cost with cordless operation as standard.

Stick Fit Honeycomb Blackout Blinds

If your home doesn't feature uPVC windows and doors, don't fear! Our Stick Fit blinds offer the same thermal and blackout benefits as the rest, but are fitted using adhesive side channels rather than brackets, making them suitable for all window types - with fuss-free cordless control as standard. 

If you already have window dressings you're happy with, or prefer non-blackout styles such as Venetian blinds, you can still enhance your window's heat blocking abilities. Adding blackout-lined curtains will reduce the amount of light that gets in as well as adding an extra layer to block out the hot air! Plus you can make a super interesting design feature out of this pairing, coming up with your own cohesive window dressing combos for a statement look that's fabulous and functional! 

Being made almost entirely of glass, it's no surprise conservatories can really take the brunt of the heat during the summer months, sometimes getting so warm they're off-limits until things cool down. Ideally, your conservatory should be a space you can enjoy year-round, and we have the window dressing to help you do just that!

For conservatories, we'd recommend opting for thermal blackout blinds, to help combat the heat by blocking it our and trapping the cool air inside. The style you go for is up to you, but you're most likely going to find that our no-drill solutions offer the best look and fitting process. For uPVC windows, opt for our Perfect Fit or Clip Fit Honeycomb Blackout Blinds, or for other window types go for Stick Fit Honeycomb Blackout Blinds!

For more inspiration on conservatory blinds, check out our Conservatory Blinds Ideas blog.