Use thermal or blackout blinds
Investing in a pair of thermal or blackout blinds, such as the above range from Hillarys, is another option to
consider if you can afford it.
“Keep those blinds shut during the day and you’ll stop the sun from turning your home into a greenhouse,”
suggests Askew.
Open your windows at night
It’s not always possible in cities, but if you can bear the street noise outside, open your windows in the
evenings and you’ll feel a cooling breeze overnight.
Temperatures fall considerably at night, so opening windows will allow cooler air to circulate through the
rooms and help you sleep better.
Be sure to close them again in the morning though, before it gets hot again.
Peace lily: houseplants can bring moisture to a
stuffy roomBuy a house plant or two
House plants act to bring moisture into a stuffy room so there’s really no better time to stock up.
The most effective plants, according to Freddie Blackett, chief executive of Patch Plants, are peace lilies and
rubber plants. Blackett suggests grouping plants together to create your own microclimate.
“As well as looking good, house plants can be a saviour in a heatwave. Through the process of transpiration,
plants increase the humidity of the surrounding area, adding moisture and often reducing indoor
pollutants.”
Go for cotton or linen sheets
Both cotton and linen are breathable fabrics and much better at keeping you cool during a summer
heatwave than polyester and other human-made fabrics, which will only make you sweat more.
“Choosing the right bed linen can have a huge impact on sleep,” says Lucy Ackroyd, design manager at
household linen maker Christy. “Cotton, silk and linen are all natural fibres that are breathable and can help
regulate temperature, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.” Cotton is particularly good
because it wicks moisture away from the skin.