With Britain in the grips of a heatwave, it's the perfect time to unwind and enjoy the garden rooms, orangeries and conservatories that can see little action during the winter months. However, if yours has become unbearably hot of late, you might like to take action for now – and the next heatwave.
The experts at Thomas Sanderson, the UK's leading windows styling company, have provided practical tips and tricks to help make your conservatory feel cooler this summer.
1. Ventilate (properly)
Obvious? Not so – you might be failing to ventilate properly, which will have little impact on your attempts to cool a conservatory (who knew there was such a thing?). Aim to open windows on opposite sides of your conservatory, creating a through draught that allows air to flow through the room rather than stagnating.
In addition to cooling a space, correct ventilation will also keep indoor air quality pure, flushing airborne pollutants and moisture from the home. Note that this method works best when the inside temperature is warmer than outside.
2. Use fan hacks
Enhance the ventilation achieved by opening windows with the addition of a fan. Placed by a window, a fan will keep air circulated and prevent the greenhouse effect. Positioning a bowl of ice in front of a fan is a hack you may not have heard of, but it can be helpful for circulating cool air in a space.
If you're looking for a long term solution, it may be worth installing roof fans which work effectively to cool a conservatory during summer, while warming a space during winter.
3. Kit it out with blinds
Simple, yet effective, blinds help to control the temperature of a room by blocking out sunlight and preventing it from heating a conservatory. Easily adjusted, they're an effective option for controlling the amount of light allowed into a space.
An even better alternative, automated blinds ensure full control over the blind settings at all times. With a conservatory roof letting in the majority of sunlight, roof blinds are also an obvious addition, helping to create a cool conservatory. Opt for a thermal material, as this will offer a lot more heat protection than standard materials.
4. Rethink your space
Take a moment to rethink the way you use your space, making specific changes with heat in mind. Start by reducing the amount of 'stuff' in the room, as the more space available, the better the air flow.
It's also advisable to opt for natural materials, such as bamboo, for any furniture in addition to increasing the number of house plants in your space – they effectively absorb moisture and reduce humidity levels.
Want to go one step further? If your conservatory's scheme is dark, it may be time for a change. Opting for lighter and cooler tones will reduce the amount of light absorbed and with it the temperature of your conservatory.
Feeling any cooler yet?
