Now that it’s August, it’s no question that the weather is going to get hotter and stay hotter. Outdoor weather won’t begin to cool down until well into winter - especially on the coasts - and between quarantine and staying at home, it’s beneficial to ensure that you’re doing all you can to keep your house as cool as possible from both the inside and the outside. 



Home renovations can mean many things, and it doesn’t always have to mean demolishment and taking on a big, expensive project. When it comes to cooling the inside of your house, there are plenty of small, everyday things you can do to reduce the amount of heat that enters and stays inside your home. 

Electricity: Be Mindful of Using It

Now that nobody is allowed at the beaches, there’s no other way to cool down but by staying indoors. Many people will want to blast their air conditioners, especially during hot summer afternoons, but overtime, the expenses become costly. You should ensure that it is well maintained with a HVAC service annually, otherwise costs will just increase. Here are a few other ways you can bring the temperature down when you’re inside.

Lightbulbs increase heat - Electric light bulbs produce heat, and even with a running air conditioner or open windows, leaving the lights on in a room contributes to the heat in your house. During the daytime, make it a point to rely only on daylight. 

Doing this is not only more cost and energy-efficient, but it will reduce the temperature indoors. If you don’t think you’ll be able to spend the whole day without turning on the lights in your home, consider switching to energy-saving light bulbs or solar-powered electricity that can dim light radiation and save energy.

Use your doors smartly - There is no room in any home that takes in light from outside in the same way. Depending on where you live, the location of your house in relation to the sun, and where windows are placed, some rooms in your house may be cooler than others. 

Make the most of the cool air by shutting the doors to the rooms if no one is using them. While it might make more sense to keep the doors open and have the cool air circulate through the rest of the house, it’s easier to trap cool air into a smaller place. Be sure to keep the doors closed! It’ll also help your rooms to stay cool enough for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Design: Play Around With Light-Reflective Colors

Light-colored decor - From the fabric of your couch pillows to the color of vases that are set on the table in your kitchen, the colors of a room can have a major effect on the way light is reflected in your home. Colors like white, light gray, and pastel pinks, purples, and blues absorb less heat than darker colors. 

According to arttherapyblog.com, these cool colors project feelings of calmness and peace. Staying away from black decor and furniture will not only help your interior feel cooler but also give off the energy that your home is lighter, minimal, airy, and calming.

Architecture: Install New Roofing and Windows

If you’re looking to make long-lasting changes to the temperature of your home, you might want to consider investing in more serious home renovations such as new roofing or window installation. 

Living in states that are consistently warm almost all year-round, such as California or Florida, might be a good reason for you to hire an independent contractor to help you get the job done. Before doing research on qualified contractors, however, you’ll want to make sure they’ve met all the requirements to getting licensed. 

Cooler Roofing = Cooler Temperature - Just like the colors of your interior decor, the color of your roof also has a major effect on the temperature of your home. For homes with attics, the color can affect how much heat is absorbed in the area above your ceiling, and if all the heat is absorbed from the sunlight outside, the upper area of your home will always be warm. 

It’s important to know whether or not the material and technology your roof is made out of is updated or not. By knowing this, you’ll know what needs to be done in terms of roof renovation to keep your home cooler. 

The right windows keep cool air in - If you’re a homeowner that’s looking to cut costs on using your AC, investing in the right kind of windows might be the more cost-effective way to go. By getting windows that are built to resist heat or have a dark tinted exterior, you reduce the amount of heat and sunlight that enters. 

If you can’t invest in newer windows at the moment, that’s okay! Leaving them open, even just a crack, during the night will allow for cooler night breezes to fill your home. Closing them first thing in the morning will help to keep that cool air indoors, rather than letting the sunlight in.

Whether you’re looking to invest a lot or just a little in staying cool in your home this summer, it’s always important to make sure your living space is comfortable to live in, especially because we’re spending so much time indoors now. Stay cool this summer, and let us know what temperature-reducing tips worked for you!