While we may not be blessed with sweltering weather all year round in the UK, there is no denying that it can get a bit stuffy and uncomfortable in the home when the sun comes out. If you are searching for ways to make your home cool throughout the summer months ahead, read on.

[Photo courtesy of  Max Vakhtbovych/pexels.com]

Tips for your A/C

Of course, the easiest way to cool your home is with air conditioning, and there are numerous ways you can ensure your system runs more effectively. If possible, provide shade for your air conditioning unit, as this will boost its efficiency by five to ten per cent. You should also make sure that you clean your A/C air filter on a monthly basis. Air flow will drop by around one per cent per week due to normal dust build-up. Another tip is to make sure you do not use a dehumidifier while your air conditioner is turned on, as it will cause the cooling load to increase, which will make the air conditioner work even harder. And, if you have been meaning to get your air conditioning unit repaired for a while, now is the time with a company that provides a quick service, such as Farmen & Dermer AC repair.

Window solutions

Not only do you need to concentrate on your air conditioning unit throughout the summer, but your windows can be key to ensuring your home is comfortable. You should think about exotic infills for your windows. This is a new technology that ensures the space between the panels is filled with argon or krypton, which boost R-values because they are gases that have lower conductivity than air. You should also install mini-blinds or white window shades, as they can lower solar heat gain by as much as 50 per cent.

[Photo courtesy of  Quang Nguyen Vinh/pexels.com]

Quick tips

Now that we have dealt with the most important aspects regarding keeping your home cool during the summer, let’s take a look at some quick tips that will help you along the way:

• Grill – Forget about using the stove or the oven during the summer months; it is only going to make your home feel like a sauna. If you are already sweltering, the last thing you want to do is turn on a 400-degree oven. Instead, use the grill. After all, who doesn’t love a barbeque during the summer months?

• Get rid of incandescent lights – Now is the time to get rid of incandescent lights. Did you know that they actually waste about 90 per cent of their energy in the heat they emit? This is an awful lot of energy and an awful lot of heat. Making the switch can reduce the heat in your home as well as your energy bills.

• Heat-proof your bed – Is there anything more frustrating than being too hot while in bed? This may sound weird, but you’d be surprised how effective it is: fill a hot water bottle with water, and place it in the freezer, and then before bed put it under your feet before you go to sleep.

• Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise – Lastly, you may not realise it, but you need to adjust your ceiling fans seasonally. During the summer, make sure your fan rotates counter-clockwise, as this will create a chilled breeze that will make you feel cooler.

For some more tips on making your home summer-ready, click here.

At this time of year, we all feel that craving for green. The bare trees have been here too long, and the novelty of winter has worn off. The goods news is, spring is around the corner. The daffodils are out already, and soon the leaves will start growing! It’s around this time that we all head out to get the garden ready. In truth, though, your garden isn’t the only way to make the most of the outdoors. There are plenty of ways to bring the outside in. If you’ve been craving nature recently, this list has got you covered.

House Plants

Houseplants are probably the best thing you can do to bring the outside into your home. There are many benefits to houseplants. Not only do they make the place look beautiful, but they also keep the air in your home fresh! If you’ve never had houseplants before, take the time to do a little research. Decide which most appeal, then go out and get them! To get the most from your plants, make sure to buy some vases, too. While some houseplants come with vases, most come in plastic pots.

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Flowers

If a houseplant is too much of a commitment for you, turn instead to flowers. Again, you’ll need to invest in some vases for these. The best thing about flowers is that they’re cheap and low maintenance. As long as you change the water every few days, they can live for at least a few weeks. These also add a beautiful splash of color to any home! If it’s green you’re after, don’t worry. There are bunches of flowers out there with plenty of greenery. All you have to do is look for them! There are some amazing flowers out there at the moment. It’s the perfect time of year for tulips and daffodils!

Wreaths

Why not get unique with your decor choice and experiment with wreaths? Yes, they’re traditionally for Christmas. Even so, they can be an impressive feature at any time of year. Take a look at a company like Worcester Wreath Company to see what’s on offer. You can’t get much greener than this, right? You could incorporate flowers into the wreath as well if you wanted to. That way, it can turn into a celebration of the coming spring!

[Photo courtesy of JÉSHOOTS/pexels.com]

Fruit Bowl

For some reason, the idea of a fruit bowl has become an outdated one. Even so, it’s time to bring it back! If you get creative, your fruit bowl could become an excellent feature. Look out for dishes that compliment your home. You don’t have to opt for the traditional options. Any bowl will do. Look out for one that catches your eye. Think, too, about the fruit you buy. If you’re using your fruit bowl as a feature, you could have a little fun with color coordinating your fruit! Make sure, too, that you don’t leave the fruit too long. A bowl of overripe fruit won’t have the same effect!

When you are raising a family it can be a challenge to create and maintain a beautiful home, especially when you work outside of the house. You may fondly recall the days before children and the fun of planning for your first child and decorating the nursery. It was a delight to plan and shop for baby blankets and bedding and to take the time to select each and every item with care and consideration. When shopping becomes a chore and it’s more of a grab and go situation the concept of home décor often takes a back seat to the practical realities of daily life.

Maybe you need a new shower curtain and rod but the prospect of shopping for shower curtains, hooks and rods is simply too much to fathom – when every minute of the day is filled then it’s time to stop running around and start shopping online. You can shop from home any time of the day or night without regard to conventional retail store hours and without the hassle of packing the kids in the car, fighting traffic and hunting down a parking space. Park yourself in a comfortable chair and let your fingers do the walking.

You will soon find that there are some innovative family-friendly ways to upgrade your bathroom, starting with a curved shower curtain rod. By installing one you will create more elbow room in the tub and make it easier to bathe children and pets. Skip the hassle of shower hooks and select a hook-less shower curtain – that’s one less thing you need to worry about, especially if you chose one with a built-in liner. If you don’t already have a handheld shower head in your bathroom you don’t know what you are missing – they are amazing.