The secret to making your home 15°C cooler – It might be hanging at your window

As UK summers continue to get hotter, Blinds2Go, the UK’s leading online made-to-measure window coverings specialist, is highlighting a simple but often overlooked fix for overheating homes: the right window coverings.

British homes are largely built to retain heat rather than release it, meaning a hot day outside can quickly become an even hotter one indoors. According to BBSA guidance, choosing the right blinds could keep a home up to 15°C cooler, without switching on a fan or air conditioning unit. Choosing the right window coverings can make a significant difference, helping to keep living spaces cooler and more comfortable throughout the summer.

Designed to keep homes cool

From heat-shielding fabrics to insulating honeycomb structures, Blinds2Go’s energy-saving blinds are designed to look good while helping households rely less on fans and air conditioning. The range works to regulate indoor temperature through the warmest days of summer:

Pleated blinds – Their honeycomb design helps trap air at the window, while heat shield technology helps reflect heat away, keeping living rooms, home offices and sunny spaces more comfortable on hot days.
Double pleated blinds – Featuring two layers of insulating honeycomb fabric, these provide enhanced protection against heat and are suited to conservatories and south-facing rooms where heat build-up is greatest.
Complete blackout pleated blinds – Combining a honeycomb design with light-blocking properties, these offer the highest level of thermal protection and help keep bedrooms cool, dark and comfortable for a better night’s sleep.
Roller blinds – Featuring heat-shield backing to reflect heat away from the room, making them ideal for bright kitchens, living rooms and home offices.

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TotalShade Blackout Peach, from £28.65, Blinds2Go, www.blinds-2go.co.uk

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Click2Shade Complete Blackout Pebble, from £24.55, Blinds2Go, www.blinds-2go.co.uk

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How to keep your home cool this summer

Chloe Dacosta, Design Manager at Blinds2Go, explains that opening windows during a heatwave can do more harm than good.

“When you open your windows during a heatwave, you’re actually letting warm air into homes that are naturally designed to retain heat. Once that heat gets inside, it’s much harder to remove, meaning your home can quickly become warmer than the temperature outside,” she said.

“To keep your home cool, it’s best to keep windows, blinds and curtains closed during the hottest part of the day – typically between 11am and 3pm – particularly in south- or west-facing rooms that get the most direct sunlight.”

Thermal blinds are specifically designed to tackle temperature extremes, Dacosta notes. “While it might seem counterintuitive to close your blinds on a sunny day, they create a thermal barrier at the window, helping to keep heat out in the summer and retain warmth in the winter.”

She adds that this effect can be enhanced further with thermal interlining for Roman blinds or curtains, which adds an extra layer of insulation.
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William Morris DuoShade Fruit Primrose Thermal Blind, from £22.75, Blinds2Go, www.blinds-2go.co.uk

Shading from the outside in

For an additional level of protection, Dacosta suggests shading the home externally with awnings. “Unlike internal blinds or curtains, awnings stop the sun’s rays before they reach your windows, preventing heat from building up inside in the first place. This can keep the rooms at the back of your home much cooler.”

“By reducing direct solar gain, awnings can help keep indoor temperatures noticeably lower without relying on fans or air conditioning.”

Retractable awnings offer added flexibility, Dacosta explains, allowing homeowners to extend them during the hottest parts of the day and retract them in the evening or on cooler days to let natural light back in.

As well as improving comfort, she notes that external shading can also help reduce glare on screens and protect furniture and flooring from sun damage, “making it a practical long-term investment for warmer weather.”