5 Ways to Furnish Your Home for a Cool Summer

Doesn’t it seem that all you can think about when you’re drudging through the freezing winter months is the warm breeze of summer? Thinking about the heat while you’re bundled in a jacket, scarf and hat warms you up just a little inside.

But then summer comes, and suddenly the heat you couldn’t wait for leaves you sticking to the furniture.

Is there no reprieve from the elements?!

Yes, of course there is; we’re living in the 21^st century, “ain’t nobody got time” for freezing hands or sticky thighs! It’s funny how extreme weather can make us go a little crazy, isn’t it?

Here are five ways to outfit your home to prepare for the summer heat!

Install Roller Shades

An advantage of the summer season is the bright sunrays that cut through the yard and home. The advantage is also a disadvantage: sunrays are bright and hot. When the sun shines through the windows just right, it warms up the house and casts iridescent spots on the walls and sometimes the TV, ruining your Netflix binge.

The obvious choice here would be to close your blinds, but who wants a dark house when it’s a beautiful day outside? You can enjoy the summer day from inside your home when you install roller shades. Roller shades are inexpensive, require low maintenance and come in a variety of styles. Did I mention you can choose how much of the window your shade covers just by pulling the shade up or down with your hand? You can control all sides of the roller shade; this allows you to choose exactly how much sunshine you want streaming through your home.

Install a Ceiling Fan

As the summer heat goes up, so does the energy bill. In an analysis conducted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, it was found that Americans waste more energy than they use. You can help alleviate some of this waste and save money at the same time by investing in a ceiling fan without lights. Ceiling fans afford you the luxury of turning down your AC while still being able to keep cool. According to NewsUSA, homeowners who make the switch to a ceiling fan save 40 percent on their air conditioning bills.

Install an Outdoor Misting System

You’re not going to want to spend the entirety of the summer season lying starfish-style inside underneath your fan; you will want to go outside. Installing an outdoor misting system and setting a timer for it to mist you at certain periods of the day will get you outside and help you to stay feeling cool and fresh.

Change the Bedding

If you don’t have more than one style of sheet for your bed, your summer night sleep could quickly be shot to hell—it’ll certainly feel like you’re sleeping there! Instead of using the same thermal sheets that you do in the winter, the Huffington Post suggests switching out your heavy bedding for lighter cotton linen. Cotton will let your body breathe and keep you from waking up in a tangled sweaty mess. 

Paint the Roof

As we learned in grade school, dark colors absorb light, and light colors reflect it. By painting your roof a light color, the roof will reflect the sun’s rays instead of absorbing the heat. A white roof will keep the heat out of your house and will help you keep cool. And guess what? Because you’ll be cooler, you won’t be nearly as reliant on the AC, especially as you’ll be using your ceiling fan!

By making just a couple simple updates to your home, you’ll be more than ready for summer.