But since most of us live in the city and can only dream of living beachside for the whole of summer, we'll have to make do with our own creativity and find other ways to beat the heat in our own city dwellings.
Summer also brings about a considerable hike in the budget. Apart from increased travel expenditures, the water, fuel, and electricity bills are also expected to skyrocket. We use the air conditioning more, spend more time in the shower, and spend more time using the car to travel to cooler places like malls and spas. Indeed, summer is an expensive season, and we need all the tricks we can get to stop the heat from burning holes in our pockets.
1.) Use curtains and blinds to curb the heat. Dark curtains do well to block out sunlight- which would greatly benefit those with bedrooms facing the west, to mitigate the afternoon sun's killer heat.
2.) Make sure to have a shade over the outside portion of your air conditioning unit, like tree branches or awnings. This is to help your unit run efficiently, and avoid getting overworked due to excessive sun exposure. In conjunction to this, make sure you replace your air con filters regularly to improve its performance, especially if you live in a dusty area.
3.) If you have a ceiling fan, make sure its blades are positioned to blow air downwards, and that it runs counter clockwise. This will allow cooler air to circulate the room, as opposed to the recycled warm air that an upward blade orientation will create.
4.) On a decorative note- take a risk and go for bold colors. You don't have to paint your walls orange- a few key accessories will do. Replace those old-school pillow cushions with brightly colored ones, and don't be afraid to put contrasting colors together. Add indoor plants if you want a more subdued effect while retaining a summer vibe.
5.) Use the afternoon sun to dry your clothes. Install clothes lines in the back area of the house, or whatever area gets the brunt of the sun's hot rays, and do away with the dryer for the meantime. This is also a good time to air out your beddings, cushions, mattresses and the like.
6.) Organize your closet so that summer clothes are placed in front- in with the camisoles and shorts, out with the jackets and coats. Similarly, it's your summer cosmetics' time to shine, so be sure to have your OFF lotions, sunscreen, cooling powder and SPF enhanced powders handy.
