When the thermometer soars, keeping your home cool becomes a real challenge. With simple actions, natural tricks, and smart arrangements, it’s possible to turn your home into a true haven of freshness, even on the hottest days.

1. Close and protect early in the morning

In the early hours, close shutters, blinds, or blackout curtains to block out the heat. External protections are the most effective because they stop the sun’s rays before they hit the glass. If you don’t have shutters, adhesive solar films or adjustable slat blinds can significantly reduce indoor temperature while still letting in natural light.

2. Ventilate at the right time

Open wide at night and early in the morning to let in fresh air, then close as soon as the outdoor temperature exceeds that inside your home. Creating a cross breeze with two opposite openings helps speed up cooling. For maximum effect, a damp cloth or a fan facing the incoming air will enhance the cooling sensation.

3. Use humidity to your advantage

Dry damp laundry or place slightly moistened clay pots in sunny rooms: evaporation naturally lowers the ambient temperature. This technique, inspired by arid climates, is simple and requires no special equipment. You can also lightly spray tiled or stone floors, which will then release a pleasant freshness.

4. Reduce indoor heat sources

During hot spells, limit the use of the oven and stovetops that generate heat. Turn off anything non-essential, especially electronic devices, and opt for cold meals or outdoor cooking.

5. Create shade and cool spots

Install pergolas, awnings, or stretched sheets to shade terraces and balconies, reducing the heat entering through openings. Climbing plants such as vines or ivy provide natural shade and lower the temperature through evapotranspiration. Even a few well-placed pots can create a cooler spot, pleasant to enjoy during the day.

6. Think about colors and materials

Light colors on walls, roofs, and terraces reflect light and limit heat build-up. Replacing a dark floor with a lighter covering can reduce the perceived temperature by several degrees. This trick, used in whitewashed Mediterranean villages, remains effective and easy to implement.

7. Invest in good insulation

A well-insulated home stays cooler in summer and warmer in winter by reducing thermal exchange with the outside. Materials such as wood fiber or cellulose wadding regulate temperature longer thanks to their high thermal capacity. A well-insulated roof is particularly important as it’s where heat enters most quickly.

8. Use fans smartly

A fan doesn’t cool the air but improves the cooling sensation by promoting sweat evaporation. Ceiling fans are particularly effective, as they circulate a large volume of air steadily and quietly. For an instant cooling boost, place a frozen water bottle or a bowl of ice in front of a standing fan: the air passing over it picks up cool moisture, creating an effect close to natural air conditioning.

9. Use air conditioning in moderation

If you have one, avoid large temperature differences with the outdoors (ideally 5 to 6°C maximum) to limit energy consumption and protect your health. Too much thermal shock can cause headaches or fatigue, especially during a heatwave. Use air conditioning occasionally, in combination with other measures, for greater efficiency and sustainability.

By combining protection, ventilation, natural humidity, vegetation, insulation, and a reasoned use of fans or air conditioning, you can keep your home pleasant even in the height of summer. A comfort that benefits both your well-being and your energy bill.