When the temperature outside becomes unbearable, the majority of people immediately turn to their AC unit, however, once the power bill finally arrives, they might instantly regret this choice. Keep in mind that even though it might seem like the easy way out, an AC unit isn’t the only way of keeping your place cool during the summer. The decor of your home may have the effect on the indoor temperature, as well, so here are a couple of decor tips and options, ranging from alternative devices all the way to a new approach to your lighting, that could make your home somewhat cooler.

1. Buying a dehumidifier

The first thing worth taking into consideration is the fact that an AC unit isn’t the only device that’s meant to keep your place cool. A dehumidifier is an efficient device that uses about 1/10 of the energy that’s normally used by an AC unit. It’s also great for cool and damp spaces, seeing as how it can help you effectively prevent the spawning of mold. Still, if you’re living in a naturally humid area, an air humidifier might not be the best of ideas. This is where the AC unit outperforms it, seeing as how it helps maintain the humidity of the room at the same level while making it somewhat colder.

2. Reduce the direct sunlight

The next issue worth discussing is one of proper air circulation. During the extreme heats, this can be particularly difficult but it’s definitely possible. How? Well, by raising all your blinds, lowering your awnings and opening all the windows early in the morning and late at night and keeping them shut throughout the day. In order to make this into a less of a hassle, you could automate some of these processes. For instance, some installers like Aspect Shade offer retractable folding arm awnings and pergolas that have a remote control option.

3. Create an outdoor living area

Now, before we carry on to talk about how this keeps your home cooler, we need to understand why staying inside is so problematic. For starters, you should be aware of the fact that a human body radiates heat that is the equivalent to that produced by a 100 W incandescent light bulb. This means that the more people there are indoors, the harder it is to keep the place warm. However, by making an outdoor living area you can make these things a lot easier on you and your family. This way, even when you have guests, you can greet them outdoors.

As far as the outdoor living area goes, the first thing you need to provide is some shade. The above-mentioned awnings and pergolas are both quite effective solutions but even a shade sail or a simple parasol can do the trick. These two methods, however, lack the automation feature that can make your life so much easier. Other than this, you also need to invest in some proper seating. Fortunately, the outdoor furniture is so elegant nowadays, that more and more people use it indoors in order to get that rustic look.

4. Outdoor kitchen

A range hood can help keep your home odor-free without having to open up your window but it won’t do much to keep the heat out. Even if it does help you out a bit, you need to remember that the majority of homes don’t have range hoods or at least those that are powerful enough to do this on their own. This is why your safest option lies in the idea of making an outdoor kitchen. This way, you get to prepare your meals while keeping your kitchen heat-free.

5. Reconsider your lighting option

This bit may sound a little tricky, seeing as how you need to rely on the natural light while, at the same time, controlling the amount of heat that comes through your windows. Artificial light can be just as bad since incandescent bulbs generate an insane amount of heat. Therefore, your safest bet lies in going LED. These bulbs provide a far superior watt-to-lumen ratio, which means that they use a lot less energy in order to provide the same amount of light. Keep in mind that every single household appliance generates a certain amount of heat. This is why going more energy-friendly during the summer is always a great idea.

Final Thought

The best thing about this topic lies in the fact that the above-listed five decor tips aren’t all that you have available. Indoor plants are known to lower the temperature indoors, as well, while rearranging the furniture to allow for a freer flow of air might also help to a degree. In other words, where there’s will there’s always a way and there are so many things that you should consider before just turning your AC on.