Keeping Cool in a Heatwave

Debbie Leigh, Design Manager at ILIV offer her handy hints and tips for using your window dressings to help stay cool at home as the temperatures rise.

Should you leave your blinds down all day in a heatwave?

The right window treatment does far more than simply dress a room beautifully, it actively shapes how a space feels to live in. During a heatwave, the answer is a considered yes: keeping your blinds down during the hottest parts of the day makes a real and meaningful difference.

Why?

Sunlight streaming through glass doesn't just bring brightness, it brings heat. Windows can account for a significant amount of unwanted solar gain in a room, and without the right covering in place, that warmth builds quickly and has nowhere to go. Keeping blinds closed acts as a barrier, reflecting heat before it has the chance to settle into your home. This is particularly beneficial on south and west-facing windows where the sun lingers longest.

The fabric you choose matters enormously here. A tightly woven, light-coloured fabric will reflect more solar energy than a dark or open-weave option. Blackout linings and thermal-backed curtains are exceptional performers, but even a well-chosen mid-weight fabric in a pale, natural shade can reduce heat build-up considerably.

Does it actually make a difference in keeping a room cool?

Absolutely. Studies have shown that closing blinds and curtains on sunny windows can reduce room temperatures by several degrees, which in a British summer heatwave, when homes aren't typically built with cooling in mind, can be the difference between a comfortable space and an unbearable one. The effect is most pronounced when you act early: closing blinds before the heat of the day builds is far more effective than trying to cool a room that's already warm.

What else should you do to stay cool?

A few thoughtful steps work beautifully alongside your window treatments:

1. Layer your window coverings. A sheer voile allows soft, diffused light into a room while still providing a degree of solar protection. Pairing a sheer with a heavier curtain or blind gives you flexibility throughout the day.
2. Embrace natural, breathable fabrics throughout your interiors. Linen and cotton upholstery, loose-weave textures and lighter colourways all contribute to a room that feels cooler and more relaxed, both visually and physically.
3. Create cross-ventilation in the cooler hours. Open windows on opposite sides of the house in the early morning and late evening when the air temperature drops, then close everything up as the day heats up.
4. Think about colour and light. Pale, cool tones on walls and in soft furnishings reflect rather than absorb heat. A considered interior palette isn't just aesthetically calming, it's practically cooler too.