How to Keep Your London Home Cool This Summer Without Breaking the Bank
There’s nothing quite like summer in London - the long days, garden gatherings, and warm breezes drifting through open windows. But when temperatures soar, keeping your home comfortable can become a challenge, especially if you're trying to avoid sky-high energy bills.
As an Interior Designer working across South West London and Surrey areas, I’ve helped many clients design homes that stay cool, calm, and collected during the warmer months. And you don’t need a complete renovation to make a big difference. Here are my tried-and-tested, budget-friendly tips to keep your home cool this summer, without relying on expensive air conditioning.
1. Use Curtains, Blinds and Shutters Strategically
We often think of window treatments as decorative - something to match the sofa or balance a room. But the right blinds or curtains can actually help regulate heat. During peak sun hours, keep blinds or thermal-lined curtains closed, especially on south-facing windows. Linen or white-backed blackout curtains (like these The Shutter Studio) from can dramatically reduce the heat gain in rooms without making them feel gloomy.
If you're looking for a quick upgrade, consider installing wooden Venetian blinds or light-filtering roller shades. They're stylish and functional - my favourite combination.
2. Create Cross - Ventilation
Opening all the windows doesn’t always mean you’ll cool things down. To encourage airflow, open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a natural breeze. In two-storey homes, open upper and lower windows to let warm air escape upwards.
If you're planning a renovation or extension, consider how the layout and window placement can support cross-ventilation—something we always take into account when designing kitchens or open-plan living spaces here in Surrey.
3. Switch to Summer Bedding and Fabrics
Swap out heavy throws, velvet cushions, and brushed cotton bedding for lighter, breathable materials like linen or percale cotton. These fabrics feel cooler on the skin and don’t retain as much heat. Neutral tones or soft blues and greens can also create a fresher feel visually, cooling things down in more ways than one.
If you’ve got a guest room that doubles as a home office, it’s especially worth freshening up the textiles in time for summer visitors.
4. Rethink Your Lighting
Incandescent bulbs give off heat, not ideal when you're already sweating through a Surrey heatwave. Switching to LED bulbs is an easy, energy-efficient way to reduce indoor temperatures and lower your electricity bill at the same time.
LEDs come in various colour temperatures, so you can still get that soft, warm glow without adding actual warmth to the room. They can make a real difference!
5. Bring the Outdoors In - Wisely
Plants are more than just pretty. Some indoor plants, like peace lilies and boston ferns, naturally purify the air and add humidity—keeping your space feeling cooler and cleaner. Just be sure not to overdo it in small spaces, or you'll lose that airy feeling.
And if you’re lucky enough to have a garden or balcony, consider outdoor shading options like parasols or retractable awnings. Shading the exterior of your home reduces the heat that even gets in to begin with.
6. Invest in Small but Smart Upgrades
If you're open to a bit of light DIY, reflective window film is a low-cost solution that helps block UV rays while maintaining your view. Ceiling fans—when installed in the right place—can also help circulate air and reduce your reliance on portable fans or expensive cooling systems. Lucky for us who don’t like huge ceiling fans, there are much smaller options that double up as ceiling lights too, def worth looking into.
These aren’t massive investments, but they make a noticeable difference in comfort, especially in older Surrey homes that aren’t designed for modern heatwaves.
Cool and Collected Interiors - No Sweat
You don’t need to gut your home or install air conditioning to keep cool this summer. With thoughtful tweaks—from clever fabric swaps to strategic airflow—you can transform your home into a cooler, calmer space that works with the season, not against it. Having said that, if you are intent on installing aircons these can be installed retrospectively which is a tempting option especially for those unbearably hot lofts!
If you’re thinking about refreshing your interiors or planning a bigger renovation, I’d love to help you design a home that looks beautiful and feels just right, season after season.
Get in touch for a design consultation or follow me on Instagram @paula_trovalusci for more stylish, practical tips.
