5 ways to keep your house cool in the summer
13 August 2025
Summer is here, and the weather is mostly playing along. In fact, the Met Office predicts that we’ll get warmer and longer heatwaves, with temperatures above 40°C now “over 20 times more likely than the 1960s”.
But as the sun shines and people get outdoors to enjoy the warmth, homeowners are often left with the question: what’s the best way to keep your house cool in the summer?
Thankfully, all of our Shared Ownership homes are new build properties. This means that they are purpose-built with things like insulation, thicker walls, and double-glazed windows to keep unnecessary heat out during the warmer months. But if you’re looking to maximise your comfort, let’s run through how to keep your house cool when temperatures rise.
1) Maximise the effectiveness of your new home
There are a number of ways that you can keep your house cool in summer without needing to break the bank. In fact, you probably already have the means to achieve these without even leaving the house:
Make the most of extractor fans
If you’re cooking in your new kitchen, make sure to utilise an extractor fan. This doesn’t just help to get rid of smells; a functional extractor fan will take excess condensation out of the air, drawing away humidity and keeping the rest of your room as cool as possible.
Pick effective window coverings
Wooden blinds deliver an aesthetically pleasing modern finish, but they’re not the most effective tool at keeping the sun out of your home. Instead, choose blackout blinds or thick curtains, and keep them closed during the day to keep your house cool. Then, at night when the sun goes down, open your curtains and windows to let the cooler air into your Shared Ownership property.
It’s estimated that reflective blinds can reduce heat increase by 45%, so this quick fix can really make a difference during the warmer months.
2) Decorate to keep the temperatures down
As well as utilising what’s already available in your Shared Ownership home to keep cool, there are some must-try decorating tips that can have a large impact with a small amount of effort. These are some of the best ways to keep your house cool if you’re still in the early stages of moving in and decorating.
Choose the right colours for walls
It might not seem like it, but picking the right wall colours in your new Shared Ownership home can make a big difference. Lighter colours like white or cream will often reflect sunlight, whereas darker tones like burgundy or navy will absorb it (the Department of Energy estimates that dark colours absorb up to 90% of the sun’s energy). If you’re looking to keep a certain room cool all year round, make sure the walls are as bright as possible.
Introduce lots of plantlife
Plants aren’t just a source of oxygen; they can be a great way to keep your house cool in summer. Houseplants go through a process known as transpiration, which is when water taken in by the plants is ‘sweated’ out. During this process, heat is removed from the air, keeping the room surrounding the plants cool and fresh.
3) Keep the outside cool
If your new Shared Ownership home has a private garden for you to enjoy when the weather’s warm, there are a number of ways to keep this cool in summer, too. Basking in the sun is great, but sometimes it’s nice to create areas of shade for when the heat really climbs.
Harness the power of plants
Nature sometimes offers some of the best ways to keep your house cool in summer. Deciduous trees like beech, red maples, or dawn redwoods lose their leaves in winter, so they’ll keep you cool during the summer months without obstructing sunlight when temperatures drop later in the year. Evergreen alternatives, such as yew or holly trees, will provide year-round shade – perfect if positioned correctly in your garden.
Introduce garden furniture
If you want to add personality to your garden while beating the heat, furniture like parasols or shaded garden seats can kill two birds with one stone. Gazebos are a cheap option for temporary coverage, whereas a fixed awning over some decking can be a great year-round choice if you’re willing to invest.
4) Be mindful of excess heat
Finally, there are a few extra things to be considerate of that will help to keep your house cool in hot weather. These are easy to forget, but once you get into a habit, you’ll be enjoying cool comfort like a pro.
Close the doors of unused rooms
In the same way that you should close curtains and windows of sun-facing parts of your home, keeping doors closed throughout your Shared Ownership property helps to isolate the heat in particular areas. You might be tempted to throw open all doors and windows to ‘air out’ the property, but this can often have the opposite effect.
Avoid heat-producing appliances
Household conveniences like games consoles, dryers, and ovens can put out a lot of heat when they’re in use. The best way to keep a house cool in hot weather? Avoid them! Pick up a book in your downtime, dry your clothes outside using natural sunlight, and consider investing in an air fryer for speedier cooking compared to a conventional oven.
5) Invest in air conditioning
Air conditioning didn’t used to be a common sight in the UK, but as temperatures climb, more and more homeowners are opting for this option when keeping their house cool in summer. In fact, it’s predicted that 5-32% of British homes will have some form of air conditioning by 2050.
Rather than installing a large unit that requires structural changes to your home, you can purchase self-fitted kits that trail a hose out of a nearby window to condition air throughout the day. While this can be one of the pricier options, it’s often very effective for long-term comfort.
| Method | Info | Cost Rating |
| Close curtains and windows | By closing curtains, you keep sunlight out of your home during the day. Just make sure to open them in the evening to let cool air in | Free |
| Avoid heat-producing appliances | Turn off things like videogame consoles and dryers whenever possible, to keep excess heat out of your home | Free |
| Introduce houseplants | Transpiration is a process that sees plants convert moisture into oxygen, cooling the area around them | £ |
| Utilise functional garden furniture | Items like parasols and awnings create comfortable shade and social spaces in your garden | ££ |
| Invest in air conditioning | Rather than bulky setups that require construction work, many air conditioning units can be self-installed | £££ |
Get in touch with the Shared Ownership experts
If you have any other questions about your Shared Ownership home, our expert team are happy to help. Reach out today, and equip yourself with the knowledge to make your new home as comfortable as possible.