At this time of year when the South African sun is at its most fierce, it’s tempting to keep the air conditioner on 24/7 or to constantly stay in front of the nearest fan. However, we need to find sustainable ways to keep ours homes cool during summer.

Give these five tips a try to naturally cool your space on those scorching summer days:
1. Keep your windows and blinds closed
This might seem like a simple trick, but most of the heat in our home comes from our windows – especially if they are south- and west-facing. Always keep in mind that it’s better to keep the heat out to start with, rather than trying to get rid of it. If you live in an apartment or safe area, open up your windows and blinds once the sun goes down to get in some fresh air. Light-coloured and moody blue blinds and curtains are right on trend this year and will block out and reflect incoming light.

2. Outdoor kitchen
One of the biggest sources of heat in your home is your appliances. The obvious one is the oven, and although you can’t skip making food, dust off the grill or use the braai – something we South Africans shouldn’t have a problem with! Further, try to make time for kitchen prep at night when it’s cooler.

3. Look to nature
With Pantone naming Greenery as their colour of the year, many homeowners will be opening their homes to the outdoors. Adding a well-placed tree to your garden or adding some plants in your home can make a huge difference. Although it won’t have immediate effects, a tree outside big windows or doors will have a significant impact on the temperature in your home, and also add extra shade and beauty to your outside property. If you don’t feel like the admin and maintenance of having more trees, a stylish umbrella outside your window will also do the trick.

4. Classy cool decor
Never underestimate the power of colour in your home. We mostly choose colours according to our décor and the style we want to incorporate into our home, but colours can also be stimulating, soothing, fun, healing, and a great way to regulate temperature in your home.

If we go back to the colour wheel, it indicates that blues, greys and greens are your cool colours. If used correctly, they should have a calming and soothing effect, which automatically inspires a cooler atmosphere. If you don’t feel like redecorating your home, add coolness with these colours through pillows, curtains or, as mentioned above, a few green plants.

5. Keep your cool
Keep in mind that maintaining temperature during summer is ultimately about keeping your body cool and not only your home. Blankets, jackets and fires make handling winter easy, but you can only take off so many clothes in summer! Keep your body cool by choosing the right clothes, with light cotton or linen fabric, drinking lots of water, having a cold shower every now and then and optimising your sleep.

Let us know if you have any tips to add. If you need our help to cool down your space, contact us and we’ll be happy to come to your home and have a look to decide which solutions will work best.