Temperature isn't the only thing that rises during the summer—with your AC in high gear, your electric bill can be higher than you'd prefer, too. So you decide not to turn on your central air at all. You refuse to install that window unit. We get it—there are better things to spend your hard-earned cash on. (Ice cream, anyone?) But just because you have no air conditioning doesn't mean you have to submit yourself to being miserable in a sticky, hot house. Here are some of the best alternative ways to keep your rooms cool.
Don't turn on the oven
This is an obvious one. If you feel the need to cook something elaborate, head out to your deck and grill instead.
Sit on the right sofa
"Stay away from leather, unless you enjoy sweating on your sofa during the summer," warns Susana Simonpietri, creative director of design firm Chango & Co. (With her portfolio of easy-breezy homes, she would know.) The same goes for velvet, corduroy, suede, and silk. Instead, Simonpietri recommends sticking with linen or cotton upholstery, which are light and breathable, allowing your body to stay cool. Don't have a sofa in one of these fabrics? That's what slipcovers are for.
Re-paint the house
Simonpietri is a big proponent of lighter hues. "White walls and furnishings will make you feel fresh and give a 'beach-like' vibe to the space, which will help make it feel breezy even if it’s not," she says.
Switch out overpowering accessories
"There are things that are directly related to the way we experience spaces, such as sitting on a leather sofa versus a linen sofa when it’s hot, and then there’s the psychological effect some things have on how we feel in a space," notes Simonpietri. "I find that polished nickel and chrome will feel cooler, fresher, and cleaner in summer months than, say, brass or gold. Similarly, busy prints will feel more crowded and less cool than solid or striped fabrics, and Persian rugs will also feel heavier than a sisal rug."
Get the air flowing
According to online design and engineering resource Auto Desk, opening windows across from each other in a room—but not directly opposite—creates a path for air to travel. It also allows the fresh air to mix with the stagnant air in the space.
Embrace the ceiling fan
"Some people aren’t fans of ceiling fans, but I think the right ceiling fan is the best friend of a non–air conditioned apartment," says Simonpietri. "Just stay away from fans with light kits—they are usually hideous!" Good news: We recently rounded up ones that actually look good.
