How Made to Measure Blinds Can Help Your Home Stay Cooler in the Summer
Heatwaves can make our homes feel so uncomfortable, especially here in the UK where most of us don’t have air conditioning. The relentless heat can make it impossible to sleep at night, and turn our kitchens and living spaces into furnaces where we simply can’t relax. But did you know that, as well as keeping your home warm in the winter, made to measure blinds can actually help your home stay cooler in the summer?
Below, we explore how effective blackout blinds are at blocking out the heat, and share our top tips to keep your rooms cooler with made to measure blinds.
Shut out the heat (and the light) with blackout linings
Many of us struggle to sleep in the summer, thanks to the high temperatures and long daylight hours. Blackout blinds are great at keeping your room cool, as well as dark. They block out the light, which also blocks out much of the sun’s warmth before it reaches you.
At Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics, our made to measure roller blinds and Roman blinds can be laminated, which adds a white lining to the reverse. You can also choose our blackout option to make the lining even more effective at blocking out light. As well as keeping out light and warmth, the lining helps to absorb outside noise and protect your fabric from sun exposure. Our blackout linings look the same as our standard laminated blinds, so you can still admire your favourite fabric design when the blind is down.
Our blackout lining works just as hard in the winter as it does in the summer, acting as a barrier against draughts rather than heat in the colder months. It does exactly the same job, just in reverse.
Top tips for keeping your home cool with blinds this summer
1) Close your blinds during the day
Close your blinds as soon as the sun starts hitting your windows, and then open them again once the outside temperature drops in the evening. Blocking direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day stops the heat from building up indoors in the first place. This method is much easier than trying to cool your room down once it is already warm.
2) Opt for a blackout or laminated lining
When ordering made to measure blinds for your bedroom, make sure you ask for a blackout or laminate lining. This will help to keep your bedroom dark and also reflect the sun’s warmth before it reaches you. Your bedroom will stay noticeably cooler as a result, and you’ll have a much better night’s sleep.
3) Get the fit exactly right
The heat can easily sneak its way through any gaps around the edges of your blind, even if you have a good blackout lining. Make sure you give precise measurements when ordering your made to measure blinds. These will ensure that they sit flush against the frame, with no room for sunlight or warm air to creep around the sides.
4) Ventilate your rooms after dark
Once the outside temperature has dropped below the inside temperature, open the windows on the opposite sides of your home to create a through breeze. If you want to take it one step further, leave your blinds up and your windows open overnight to let in the cooler air. Then, close everything up again when the sun starts to climb.
5) Choose lighter coloured blinds for sunny windows
Dark fabrics absorb more heat than light ones. We recommend choosing paler colours for your south or west-facing windows, as these will reflect more sunlight rather than soak it all up. If your room catches the full force of the afternoon sun, you could even add some lined curtains for an extra layer of heat control.
Control the light and temperature in your home with our made to measure blinds
At Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics, we offer made to measure roller blinds and Roman blinds in a fantastic selection of unique nature-inspired fabrics. All our blinds are handmade to order in the UK by talented local craftspeople, and are cut and fitted to your exact window size.
We also offer various types of linings and finishes to help you effectively control the light and temperature in your home. Choose a blackout or laminated lining to help keep the heat out during the summer and lock the warmth in throughout the winter. Or, opt for a double-sided or patterned lining to make your blind look as good from the outside as it does from the inside.
Not sure which fabric to choose? You can order up to five free fabric samples to see the designs in your own home before deciding. Browse our full fabric collection and place your sample order today.
FAQs
Do blackout blinds actually keep a room cooler?
Yes, blackout blinds keep your rooms cooler. Blackout linings block direct sunlight, which stops the heat from building up indoors. They also help to keep your rooms dark at night and absorb outside noise.
How can I keep a room cool in summer without air conditioning?
To keep your rooms cool in summer, we recommend closing your blinds or curtains during the hottest part of the day. You should open them again in the early morning or evening to let the cooler air circulate.
Are thermal blinds only useful in winter?
No, thermal blinds are useful in summer as well as winter. They help to keep draughts out and warmth in during winter, and also block heat from the sun in the summer. The same lining is effective all year round, it just works in reverse.
We sell fabrics exclusively designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott, along side small, bespoke collection of Made to Measure items which includes curtains, blinds, sofas, footstools, chairs, headboards, and quilts, all handmade specially for you by master crafts people.
