The Irish summer may not be the warmest, but it can be a great time to enjoy the extra lights, the odd heat wave, and the fresh air. We have some helpful tips for giving your home a mini glow-up, making it more comfortable in those bright summer months.

So, let’s find a way to deliver a brighter, airier, and more aesthetic home that will keep you looking and feeling cool in the summer months in Ireland.

Let There Be Light!

Maximise Natural Light in Your Irish Home

Let’s face it. Irish homes can be starved for light, given all those dark and cloudy days. But here’s the thing-natural light is not just about brightening up your space; it’s about enhancing your well-being and mental state. So, by making a few simple fixes, you’re not just saving on lighting bills but investing in your health and happiness.

So here are some light-saving light-giving for a brighter summer at home:

• Window Cleaning – If you haven’t done the spring cleaning yet, this is well overdue. A simple window cleaning will help, including all your glass doors and skylights. Check out our innovative Window Vac Device for more effortless window cleaning.
• Install skylights—If you have the budget, why not install simple skylights in areas of your home that need more task lighting anyway, like above the stove or dining table?
• Switch over to Sheer Curtains and Blinds: Sheer curtains or lighter-coloured blinds in your living areas will allow more light to filter through while maintaining privacy.
• Consider frosted windows using a simple glass film if you prefer to avoid blinds and curtains.
• Use more Mirrors and Reflective surfaces and position them strategically in the hallway, on landings or in the bathroom to help you extract and amplify more light from your windows.
• Control those Plants: Look outside your windows to trim overgrown trees or bushes blocking light. Don’t let those overgrown house plants block previous natural light streaming in from your window. Try hanging more of them to give them access to lights without blocking your window sills and hallways.

Paint in a Brighter Summer

If you’re doing a seasonal refresh, then go for some brighter and cooler colours.

Keep the Palette Light and Bright

Use lighter-coloured paints for walls and ceilings to reflect more light back into your room. The lighter colours also have a cooling effect.

• When choosing paint, it’s essential to consider the paint’s light reflection value (LRV). LRV measures how much light a colour reflects. Higher LRV means more light reflection, which can help brighten your space.
• Remember, the choice of paint finish is not just about aesthetics; it’s about practicality, too. The shinier the paint, the more light it reflects, so a high-gloss finish can really brighten up those areas that need it most. But if you’re not a fan of showing any imperfections easily, you can still find a balance with a satin or eggshell finish. The power is in your hands to create a bright and practical space.

Paint if Bright Accent Walls

You may not want to change the whole colour palette of a room and prefer muted, cosier colours for when the seasons change, for example, in your den, living room, or bedroom.

• In this case, opt for one accent wall where you can add some character and brightness, like the wall where the mantel is located, the return on a landing, or the feature wall where your bedstead backs up against. It may brighten your mood and add to the feeling of spaciousness and light.
• Perfect summer accent colours can also be applied to summer blinds or Soft furnishings to keep the mood bright – such as bright yellows, lime or turquoise.

Check out our Interior Paint Catalogue to scan the different finishes and colours at your disposal.

Free Up Your Space

Nothing helps getting an airier, less stuffy feeling than opening up your space for more free movement.

Simply Rearrange Furniture Helps

• Moving furniture away from windows to let even more light
• Keeping pathways in your home clear of clutter to allow light to flow through the room.

Cool Down For Summer Comfort

With the advent of yet more global warming alerts (sometimes it’s hard to believe in an irish winter, but the average temperatures are indeed rising), these adjustments may be a good investment for future years.

In the Irish context it’s not so much about air conditioning as it is about letting the cooler air into your home and being able to control the airflow and circulation.

 It’s also suitable for your respiratory system, as we all learned during the pandemic!

Fans as a stop-gap measure

• We often associate Ceiling Fans with tropical climes, but in this case, they could help poorly ventilated spaces that may need more air circulation.
• Alternatively, invest air cleansing Portable Fans – there are a variety of options in our Portable Fan catalogue.
• Did you know you could create a DIY Air Conditioner? A fan positioned over a bowl of ice produces cooler air.

Simple Cross-Ventilation Measures

Open windows and doors on opposite sides of the house to create cross-ventilation opportunities. This allows a natural breeze to waft through and keeps the air circulating. Cross-ventilation creates a pathway for cool air to enter and draws out warm air, helping to cool down your home.

• Opening windows and doors on opposite sides of the house allows a natural breeze to waft through and keeps the air circulating. This creates a pathway for cool air to enter and draw out warm air.
• Openings at Different Heights: You can even create airflow If your windows aren’t directly opposite each other. Try opening windows at different heights. Open higher windows to let warm air escape and lower windows to draw in cooler air.
• If your home has a chimney, take advantage of the ‘chimney Effect’. Opening the chimney with a downstairs window creates a strong vertical airflow that pulls out warm air, helping cool down your home.
• Remove any physical obstacles that might block the airflow between openings. Curtains, blinds, or large furniture positioned in the path of the cool breeze will inevitably block airflow.

Let Nature Help Cool You Down

Plants are great for cooling down and regulating the air in any environment outside and in.

• Trees and planting where you can on your property, even a balcony or simple urban yard, can provide natural shade and help cool down your home. Trees also release moisture into the air through transpiration, which can help lower the temperature around your home.
• Internally, houseplants can do wonders for creating healthier air. Some plants, such as the Snake Plant, Spider plant Lavender, and Peace Lily, are better than others at purifying air. These plants can remove toxins from the air, making your home a healthier and more comfortable place to be.

Fabric Interventions

Here are some simple changes you can make to your soft furnishings to cool down parts of your habitat!

• Lighter curtain fabrics, both in terms of textile and colour and sheer textiles, will cool things down.
• Go for Natural Fibers, Say No to Synthetics: Natural fabrics like linen, cotton, and hemp used for throws, pillows, and cushions will contribute to a cooler home. Choose natural materials that are breathable and wick away moisture, keeping you feeling cooler on hot days. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester or acrylic, which may trap heat and make you feel uncomfortably sweaty… and stay smelly.
• Choose Lighter Weave Fabrics: For throws and cushions, go for lighter weave fabrics like linen or chambray. Save your velvet or thick wool soft furnishing accessories for wintertime.
• Time for Cooler Bedding: For a cooler night’s sleep, try switching to lighter, breathable, and hypoallergenic bedding materials, like cotton or linen. Of course, you can reduce the toggle on your duvet or just do away with it in exchange for a simple bed cover and lightweight blanket.
• Layer Soft Furnishings For Flexibility. This is Ireland, so there will be cold summer days, too! A layered home decor approach will help you adjust for the temperature changes. So, on cooler evenings, add a light blanket or throw to the living area or throw another light blanket or light toggle duvet over the bed. By adjusting the same way, you can go from a warm day to a cooler night.

Keep the Bugs at Bay

One of the downsides of letting in the air from outside will also be the arrival of summer bugs.

• Choose Natural ways For a bug-repellent haven, like Citronella candles or grow Plants like lavender or marigolds.
• Take out the Trash! Don’t forget to empty the trash regularly, especially the compostable food scraps. Don’t let overflowing bins become breeding grounds for pests, too, and be sure to power wash that bin regularly to keep bugs and flies from breeding.
• Do let Standing Water Accumulate: Mosquitoes and other pests may breed in stagnant water. Empty any water that collects in saucers under potted plants, birdbaths, empty garden plants, or clogged gutters.

Ready For Summer at Home?

These are just a few simple tips that will help you adjust quickly to sudden heat waves in summer without compromising on your insulation when winter arrives!

Check out our catalogue for simple DIY supplies that may help.