This year, temperatures haven’t hit 30 degrees and above – so far – and yet the season has still managed hot sticky days. Even if you love basking in the sun, there are still going to be times when you’ll need some shade and wish your house was a sanctuary you could be comfortable and actually chill in, regardless of the heat outside. So how do you cool your house down in a heatwave when it’s as hot inside as it is outside?

How to cool your house down in a heatwave with an awning

An awning is the best way to cool your house down in a heatwave. The big advantage an awning has over any blind or curtain is that by covering the window and the surrounding area from the outside, the awning prevents the glare and heat from hitting your house in the first place. This is why an awning is the most effective form of shading.

While the main aim of an awning is to cool your house down in a heatwave, you also get the benefit of increasing your living space. You can enjoy your outside area in comfort, along with any guests you choose to share your oasis with.

How to cool your house down in a heatwave with Cellular Blinds

If, for some reason, you can’t have an awning, or simply don’t want one, all is not lost. While a more typical window dressing will give some shade, the second best way to cool your house down in a heatwave is with cellular blinds.

Choose a fabric with reflective material, and the cellular blinds will reflect the glare and heat from the sun away from your home. And cellular blinds aren’t just for cooling your house down in a heatwave. The honeycomb design traps air and helps insulate you in winter, so they’ll benefit you all year round.

Cellular blinds can be free-hanging, tensioned or they can be fitted in a Perfect Fit frame. Perfect Fit frames snap directly onto your uPVC windows, so drilling isn’t necessary.

Regardless of what kind of window dressing you have, it’s highly recommended that blinds and curtains be kept closed during the hottest part of the day. The same goes for windows, as all you’re doing is letting in hot air. The best time to open blinds and windows is in the evenings when it’s (hopefully) cooler.

How to cool your house down in a heatwave when it’s a high-rise flat

The higher you are in a high rise, the closer you are to the sun, the more you need protective shading to cool your home down in a heatwave. It may sound like a silly joke, but you lack the protection of other buildings and trees. You really are more exposed to the heat and glare of the sun in a high-rise.

If you have a balcony, an awning may still be an option. If not, then we recommend the cellular blinds. And if you don’t care for cellular blinds? Of course, any other type of blind or curtain will still give you shade and help to cool your home down in a heatwave. It’s just that there are specific blinds, and awnings, that will do a much more effective job of it.

How to cool your house down in a heatwave and save money

By cooling your house down in a heatwave by paying attention to your window dressings, you’ll be saving money and energy, as you’ll be using far less air conditioning. If you don’t have air conditioning, having the most effective window dressing to cool your house down in a heatwave could prove crucial.

How to cool your house and yourself down in a heatwave and stay healthy

The year 2020 saw 2,556 deaths caused by heatwaves in the UK. In 2022 it was 2,985. Last year it was 2,295.

So it’s important to stay hydrated, which is generally good advice anyway, but it could save your life during a heatwave. Drink a little often throughout the day. Foods with natural liquids, such as watermelon, cucumbers and strawberries, will be a great help, especially for those who don’t like drinking water.

You might not realise you’re dehydrated. This is more common with the elderly, but it can happen to anybody, so look out for feeling dizzy, confused, breathing fast, feeling sick and cramps.

The best advice is to stay inside to stay healthy and cool in your house in a heatwave.