Which Window Stylings Will Keep My Home Cool This Summer?

Do you have a room in your house that no matter how many windows you open just seems to get really hot? Or is your house just a heat magnet in the Summer months? As temperatures rise, keeping your home cool becomes a priority.

One of the most effective ways to manage indoor temperatures is through strategic window stylings. Not only do they enhance your home’s aesthetic, but they also play a crucial role in blocking out heat and maintaining a comfortable environment.

cream cellular blinds in a conservatory with table and chairs

At Feather and Grey Interiors, we are all about creating the perfect solution for your window styling needs, so have created our top six window stylings that will actually help keep your home cool this Summer, along with our tips on how to maximize their potential.

Pleated Blinds

Pleated blinds, also known as honeycomb or cellular blinds, are designed with a unique cellular structure that traps air, creating an insulating barrier between your window and the room. This insulation helps to keep the cool air inside and the hot air outside, making them highly effective for temperature control.

Although suitable for any room in the house, pleated blinds are a perfect solution for rooms that tend to retain heat such as conservatories or orangeries.

In order to enhance the insulation, you can choose pleated blinds with double or triple cells or opt for light-coloured fabrics to reflect the sunlight, further reducing heat absorption. Furthermore, pleated blinds are available with top-down/bottom-up feature, providing flexibility in controlling light and maintain privacy while optimising airflow.

Internal Shutters

Internal shutters act as an additional layer of insulation between the window and the interior of your home. By reducing heat transfer through windows, shutters help maintain a cooler indoor environment. This insulation is especially beneficial for single-pane windows, which can easily allow heat to penetrate.

Closing shutters during the hottest parts of the day, usually from late morning to late afternoon, maximizes their cooling effect. Solid shutters are particularly effective for this purpose. Using reflective finishes such as white also helps to enhance the heat reflection away from your home.

Shutters such as tier on tier or full height with a midrail or split also benefit from louvres that can operate independently from the rest of the shutter. This can help you direct airflow or block direct sunlight whilst also allowing some daylight in as well. Browse through our gallery to view our different shutter styles that we have already fitted for our clients.

White wooden shutters in a living room with dark green walls and teal seating

Reflective Window Films

Reflective window films are thin layers applied directly to the glass surface of windows. They work by reflecting the solar radiation which significantly reduces the amount of heat that enters your home. They also block harmful UV rays, protecting your interior furnishings from fading.

Reflective window films are a great choice for larger windows such as on bi-fold kitchen doors or in conservatories and orangies.

In order to maximise the potential of your reflective window films, it is important to ensure they are applied correctly by a professional to avoid air bubbles which can dramatically reduce the efficacy.

Once installed, window films are easily maintained and very simple to clean. Our professional installers can guide you with the most efficient products to use to keep your window films in optimal condition.

Wooden Venetian Blinds

Wooden Venetian blinds are not only aesthetically pleasing but also effective at blocking sunlight. Their solid slats can be adjusted to control the amount of light and heat entering your home. Adjusting slats to point upwards can prevent direct sunlight entering the room and heating the room.

Wood also has insulating properties which can help regulate indoor temperatures by slowing the transfer of heat from the outside to the inside of your home.

We offer bespoke Venetian blinds, specifically designed to suit and fit your windows perfectly. Achieving the perfect fit not only looks great but also increases the blinds' effectiveness in blocking out heat.

White wooden Venetian blinds in a living room bay window

Roman Blinds

Roman blinds offer a stylish and versatile solution for controlling sunlight and heat. When made with thicker, insulating fabrics, they can provide excellent thermal insulation by minimising the amount of heat that is able to pass through, keeping your home cool.

Take a look at our recent Camden or St Albans project for some examples of our beautifully fitted Roman blinds.

Adding a lining may also be beneficial to act as an additional thermal layer. At Feather and Grey Interiors, we collaborate with an array of premium and designer fabric houses such as Romo, Sanderson and more to offer a diverse selection of fabrics for Roman blinds, ensuring we can find the perfect fabric for you.

Thermal Curtains

Thermal curtains are made with layers of thick fabric designed to insulate your home. They effectively block out sunlight and heat, keeping your interior cool during the summer months.

Opting for full-length coverage is also a great way to maximise the potential of thermal curtains. This design minimises gaps where sunlight and heat can enter, ensuring more effective insulation. The type of lining is also an important factor to consider.

Choose light-coloured or reflective backing to bounce sunlight away from your windows to help keep your room cool.

Our bespoke made to measure curtains enables the perfect fit for your windows, maximising on the heat blocking properties. Additionally, we collaborate with premium and designer fabric houses such as Romo and Villa Nova, ensuring you find the most fitting fabric for your needs.