10 Decor Tips to Make Your Home Cooler This Summer

Ditch the Fuzzy Rugs

If your home is full of cozy wool rugs or fluffy shags, give them the summer off. Roll them up and store them safely, making sure they’re protected from bugs and out of direct sunlight so they won’t fade.

Then, embrace a bare hardwood or stone floor, which is cooler underfoot. For those spots that need a rug, such as beside the bed or under the kitchen sink, swap in a flatwoven rug in a natural fiber.

Invest in Cooling Window Treatments

Gauzy, lightweight curtains create a summery vibe in a room, but often don’t help cool the space when lots of sunlight filters through. To lower your energy bill, invest in shades with a white plastic lining on the outside of the window that reflects light to keep the room cool.

Create Cross Ventilation

For those without air conditioning, cross ventilation that keeps fresh air circulating is your best friend on hot days. To start, open two windows (or a window and a door) across the room from each other, or even across the house or apartment depending on your space.

Set up a fan next to one window to help pull fresh incoming air into your home. The more powerful the fan, the better the airflow.

Stow Blankets and Throws

If you typically pile your bed and living room sofa high with snuggly blankets and throw pillows, they can weigh down the look and feel of your room. Spring and summer is the time to streamline.

Store throw pillows away for the season—that is, after washing any removable pillow covers. If you leave out a pillow or two, swap their heavy velvet covers for lightweight linen or cotton ones.

Instead of keeping cozy blankets or throws across the bed or sofa, store them nearby in a handwoven floor basket, just in case the A/C makes it a little chilly at night.

Cool Down Your Bed

No matter how hot your home gets during the day, it somehow manages to feel warmer the second your head hits the pillow. To avoid summertime night sweats, building a cooler bed is a must.

Start by investing in ultra-breathable cooling bed sheets. Even if you’re not a fan of a top sheet in fall or winter, it may be the perfect replacement for a duvet or comforter this summer. And don’t forget a cooling pillow! So long, night sweats!

Cool It With Color

A fresh coat of paint can go a long way toward cooling down a hot spot in your home. Cool paint colors can make your space feel a bit breezier without dialing down the thermostat. This means avoiding warm hues—like brown, red, and orange—in favor of white, gray, or pastels that make a space feel fresh and airy. 

Add Greenery

Plants lend a light, airy feel to a room, but they also offer a practical, cooling advantage. A plant in a window helps diffuse incoming sunlight, which benefits the plant while lowering the room temperature.

When selecting a houseplant, make sure it’ll thrive in the light your room offers. Most houseplants prefer bright indirect sunlight and will scorch if subjected to direct sun.

Install a Ceiling Fan

If cross-ventilation doesn’t work in your space, or you want to augment it, ceiling fans are a tried-and-true choice. They improve air circulation to create a nice, refreshing breeze without an open window.

If you already have one, make it work harder for you by changing the direction of your ceiling fan for warmer or cooler months. Adjust its setting so the fan runs counterclockwise in summer to create a downdraft and clockwise in winter to recirculate warm air.

Update Your Lightbulbs

Incandescent lightbulbs are so last century. They increase your energy costs and the temperature in your room, so replace those old-school lightbulbs with LEDs.

If you already have a home full of LEDs, you may want to swap out “warm white” bulbs with “cool white” ones. Cool white light evokes a lively feeling that enhances cool colors such as whites, blues, and greens.

Swap Out Dark Accessories

Just like you avoid wearing black when it’s hot outside, avoid decorating your home with dark accessories in the heat of summer. Dark objects absorb more heat than lighter ones, so stick to light-colored accessories to help your room stay cool during hot days.