Summer is almost officially here and now is a good time to plan ahead for the upcoming months. As temperatures continue to rise outside, it becomes a challenge to keep our homes cool. The heat entering our homes from outside warms up every corner of the house. While air conditioning does provide some relief, the initial cost of installing one and the subsequent electricity bills are not something everyone can afford.

This leaves us all with the same dilemma: how can we keep our homes cool and protect ourselves from the sun when the scorching heat starts to weigh down on us, all without burning a hole in our pockets? This article will tell you how.

1. Invest in Folding Arms Awnings

Folding Arm Awnings in Sydney might be a new home accessory to some, but they are surely one that has gained significant popularity amongst homeowners across Australia in recent years. They are retractable awnings that are mounted on the roof or a wall with a fabric attachment that helps provide shade to any outdoor area, be it a verandah, garage or backyard. It works perfectly for the Aussies to deal with the extreme weather conditions across the country. Compared to other similar structures, folding arm awnings are so much easier to set up and put away.

Given their incredible versatility, the folding arm awning can be an extremely beneficial addition to your home. They can also be added as a shade for your windows or doors, providing a stylish look whilst blocking the sunlight from entering your home. They are a great way to keep both your outdoor and indoor areas cool and ventilated naturally, allowing you to cut down your energy bills.

2. Avoid sun damage with UV filters

Windows can play a significant part in raising the temperature around your home. This is especially true for rooms that have large windows facing the sun that let in a lot of sunlight. Not only that, but sunlight coming in through your windows can also cause floors, furniture, sofas, ornaments and paintings to fade in color. This happens due to exposure to harmful UV rays from the sun.

One way to get around this problem is to invest in UV filters for your windows, which can help block the majority of dangerous UV rays from entering your home. Such filters should last for some time and are not very expensive either. There are several options to choose from, including both clear filters and tinted filters, allowing you to choose one that you like the best.

3. Protect Your Furniture

As mentioned in the point above, exposure to UV rays from sunlight can result in your furniture’s fabric fading over time. One thing you can do to protect your furniture and extend its life is to rearrange it by moving it away from direct sunlight into shaded areas. High-quality curtains can also be an effective way to keep the heat and light out and protect your furniture. They will also help save energy by keeping your indoor area cool during summer.

Those who want to further protect their furniture can invest in UV sprays. These are available in home upgrading stores or online repair shops and help protect your furniture. You just need to spray it on your furniture after regular intervals to keep your furniture in top condition.

4. Protect Your Flooring

Those who have hardwood floors at home know how much of a problem direct sunlight can be for these floors. Over time, you may notice that the area exposed to sunlight has become either lighter or darker. This happens because wood is very sensitive to sunlight.

One way around this problem is to keep rearranging your furniture so that the sunlight hits all parts of the floor and there is no uneven coloring on your floors. Curtains or blinds also provide a good defense — you can close them during the peak sun hours.

While there is no product in the market to stop sun damage altogether, UV inhibitors can slow down fading. A water-based finish with UV resistance is the best choice for most floors.

5. Frames and Sprays for Pictures

Paintings, artwork and picture frames are expensive pieces that you need to take care of and protect from sun damage. These too can get damaged from UV rays and exposure to direct sunlight.

For your pictures, you can purchase a museum-grade glass or UV Acrylic Blocks when getting them framed. The acrylic blocks are cheap, but the museum glass is much more efficient, so you have to choose which option is best for your budget and needs. For your painted artwork, you can buy relatively low-priced safety sprays. Just make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.

6. Prevent Heat Build-up

There’s nothing more pleasant than a cool breeze on a humid day. While you may feel like closing all windows and doors and keeping the air-conditioner on all day, allowing natural air to enter your house can also make your house cool and comfortable. After all, this is how people have been keeping themselves cool for decades. All you have to do is look around the house and find the direction in which daytime winds tend to blow and keep your windows open to allow the air to pass through your living rooms.

Additionally, dark-colored home exteriors absorb a great amount of the sun’s radiant energy which heats up the entire building. Lighter colors, on the other hand, reflect UV rays and limit heat absorption, keeping your home cooler.

7. Make Use of Plants

When finding ways to protect your house from hot weather, plants provide an effective solution. Here’s a list of a few plants that can help keep your house cool:

• Aloe vera: Apart from having some great medicinal benefits, aloe vera leaves have a high water content that releases cool moisture into the area wherever the plant is placed, making it a great indoor plant during the summer.
• Weeping fig: This is one tree that can grow well both inside and outside the house. Due to its leafy nature, it keeps the air around it cool and moist. It also helps clean the air of any contamination.
• Mother-in-laws tongue: This is one of the best succulents for cleaning the air of any pollutants and releasing oxygen to freshen the atmosphere. It grows well under direct sunlight as well as partial shade.

Conclusion

Protecting your home from the sun is a dilemma every homeowner faces when the summer months come along but the good news is that there are plenty of natural, inexpensive ways to keep your home cool and comfortable. Consider these few tips and you are sure to feel a difference in temperature around the house.