How many of you have a love-hate relationship with summer? Well, I do! Because, on one hand, I love all those mangoes & grapes, while on the other, I am seriously stuck on how to keep a room cool in summer. Like, I just hate fanning myself, up at 3AM! Sure, air conditioners help, but they hike up the bill so much! And yeah! They do make my dry skin worse!
Just last week, we were venting about this in our studio when someone mentioned Mrs. Sarojini Nair, an energy expert from Kerala. We set up a video call with her, and wow – she was so friendly. Like, she told us over 10+ hacks to limit the AC use & beat heat smartly. And today, we’re spilling all her best-kept secrets just for you (with permission, obviously!)
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Top Insights
- Wondering on how to keep a room cool in summer? Well, reverse your ceiling fan directions first & then try to integrate LEDs, phase change materials, window films & reflective paints.
- Regular or energy-savings LEDs will help you reduce over 50% of the reflective heat in your room while giving the same brightness.
- Simply closing the curtains won’t help that much. You can also use vetiver rolls, polycarbonate sheets or tinted films to reduce the heat gain drastically.
- Top Insights
- 10 Tried & Tested Expert Hacks on How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer?
- 1. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer by Adjusting Ceiling Fans
- 2. Adopt PCMs – Phase Change Materials
- 3. How to Cool a Room in Summer by Changing the Light Bulbs
- 4. Try to Stick a Window Film!
- 5. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer With the Help of Khus Blinds
- 6. Paint Your Walls with Reflective Paints
- 7. Upgrade to Double-Glazed or Secondary Glazing Windows
- 8. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer via a Window-Integrated Wind Scoop
- 9. Mist Em' Up With Timers
- 10. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer by Optimizing Air-Flow as per Feng Shui
- 5+ Tried & Tested Tips on How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer You'd Wish You Knew Sooner!
- FAQs
- Conclusion
10 Tried & Tested Expert Hacks on How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer?
Well, India is obviously a tricky country. Like first, the temperatures naturally soar above 50°C, the air’s humid and the tree cover sparse. Plus, the concrete roads create a treacherous heat island, the pollution traps heat & the streets suffocate with buildings.
While the rich still have the luxury of adding AC’s & dehumidifiers, the common people ain’t so lucky. In fact, I know how most common people still wrap themselves in cold towels, mist their bedding and drink the ‘matka’ water for some relief!
But hey! These simple DIY hacks last just for 1–2 hours, right? So isn’t there an affordable, permanent solution? Well, the answer lies in these 10 tips from Mrs. Sarojini Nair, a designer & nature enthusiast from Kerala.
“You know, heat & humidity are like those adamant unwanted guests. You want them to leave, but they just stay there, chilling on the couch. So you obviously have to take in some extra efforts to drive them away. Like, you can add moisture-absorbing ferns or lilies to reduce humidity, for instance. Or, you can also use residential humidifiers to keep things cool & dry. Also, take care of the cross-ventilation.”
- Hang a wet towel or bedsheet outside the window after 12 pm. The water’ll eventually evaporate & cool the air before it enters inside.
- Rearrange your room’s furniture and keep clear, long passages for airflow & ventilation
- Soak a thick towel or sponge in cool water & drape it in front of the fan to boost the cool air circulation.
But that’s not all! Here are the 10 fool-proof hacks on how to keep a room cool in summer, we concluded from Mrs. Nair’s interview:
1. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer by Adjusting Ceiling Fans
Just take a moment to think on, and be honest with me. Do your ceiling fans simply push in hot air in the summer? And do your fans still rotate in the clockwise direction?
If yes, then by logic, we’ll have to do just the opposite, right? Like, flip the switch & set the fan in an anti-clockwise direction for exhaust! But how do we do that?
Well, turns out, most ceiling fans these days have a reverse switch that moves the fan in an anticlockwise direction. So, such fans help push the hot air straight up, and create a downward shaft effect below. Basically, a cooling breeze that helps you sweat more efficiently & feel cooler. Plus, Mrs. Nair told us that it reduces your dependency on air-conditioning & saves electricity cost by over 12%.
And here are some steps on how to keep a room cool in summer by changing the ceiling fan direction:
- Secure Your Setup
So before you begin, switch off the fan (including the power at the switch or circuit breaker), wear your rubber gloves & get a wooden stool. Basically, do everything necessary to avoid getting a shock!
- Identify the Direction Switch
Climb up to check the fan’s motor housing & check if you see a small toggle switch. It’s usually located near the light kit or along the motor side. If not, check if your fan’s remote has a reverse or direction button directly.
- Toggle the Switch
If you have a manual switch, simply flip it to the other direction. And if you have a remote one, just press the “Reverse,” or “Opposite” direction button. Either way, you might see a “Summer,” or “Anti-clockwise” label on the switch.
- Turn the Fan Back On
Finally, turn the fan back on, check if it’s spinning in an anti-clockwise direction, adjust the speed & relax! You’ll have a pretty cool room in just 10–15 minutes.
Quick Tip: Remember to clean off all the dust & grime from the fan blades, as it’ll eventually hinder the air flow & reduce the fan efficiency.
2. Adopt PCMs – Phase Change Materials
You know, last week, we were just interviewing Mrs. Nair, when all of a sudden she asked us, “Do you know there’s a natural AC that doesn’t need maintenance for over 10–12 years?” Now, obviously we pointed out names like clay & vetiver. But then, she told us about PCMs. And just like all of you, even we were clueless!
So Mrs. Nair continued – PCM or phase change materials are a group that absorb excess heat during the day & slowly release it at night, just like an AC. So, one, they stabilize indoor temperatures and two, they lower energy use by over 10%.
Today, most designers infuse PCMs in their wall panels, paints or ceiling tiles, but you can also use them (especially paraffin & fatty acids) to cover your furniture. Also, they usually cost between $2 – 40kwh, but then they run for over 25,000 cycles, guaranteed!
Here are some of Mrs. Nair’s tips on how to keep a room cool in summer by using PCM’s:
- Always choose PCMs that have a melting point close to your comfort temperature – say 22 – 25°C. Perhaps Lauryl alcohol, RT25HC or paraffin.
- Try to use PCMs in areas that have significant heat fluctuations; say attics, basements or exterior walls.
- Most experts always recommend fusing PCMs with smart building elements. Say reflective window films or insulated drapes, for example, to reduce the solar heat gain & cooling costs.
3. How to Cool a Room in Summer by Changing the Light Bulbs
- Average Cost: Roughly between ₹70–800 based on the size & wattage
Do you know that incandescent bulbs covert only 10% of the energy to light & release the rest as heat? Shocking, isn’t it? Well, that’s why rooms with such age-old bulbs are harder to cool, no matter how much you try!
But then, Mrs. Nair has two options for you. Like, you can either replace incandescents with LEDs and reduce the extra reflective heat in your room. Or, you can simply use dimmers, the ones with adjustable brightness to reduce radiation. Also, try to boost natural light a bit – say by using screens, jalis or pergolas to avoid the overuse & heat radiation from bulbs.
Alternately, you can also go for smart bulbs. Trust me, they’re a literal wonder. Like, they’ll let you lower the brightness & heat output during peak afternoon hours just with a remote. Indeed, one of the best hacks on how to keep a room cool in summer, isn’t it?
Quick Tip: Always go for “cool” or “daylight color” temperature light bulbs to reduce the radiative heat & keep the room cooler.
4. Try to Stick a Window Film!
Touch your exterior window shutter with your bare hand. Is it smooth and tolerable? Or is it too hot & unbearable to touch? If yes, your window shutters might be the true culprit!
You see, they make window shutters with frosted or laminated glass these days. And while this glass saves you from heavy wind & dust, it doesn’t provide heat control as such. So for that, you need to coat it with a film.
And, Mrs. Nair suggests you can either use spectrally selective films that block over 80% of the sun’s infrared rays or the typical low-e ones that eventually reflect radiant heat. Even tinted & reflective films are popular, but those are limited to south-facing private spaces only. These usually cost ₹50–300, based on size & opacity.
Then, there’s the ceramic window film too. It’s actually a fast-catching concept that reflects over 80% of the radiant reflective heat. Also, it has a near – invisible finish. So, you can use it in your living room, dining, etc. It usually costs ₹6000 for a 2X6’ roll.
And finally, if you are a bit tight on the budget at the moment, then you always have the clear temperature control film. It’s a smooth, polished film that reflects over 90% of the UV rays & 50% of the infrared heat. Plus, it’s super affordable, starting just at ₹4,250 for a 30 X 60 inch sheet.
Caution: Avoid using any harsh ammonia, bleach or alcohol-based cleaners as those may dissolve your window film and let in heat.
5. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer With the Help of Khus Blinds
Cost of Vetiver Curtains: ₹700.00 to ₹3,500 for a full curtain or ₹60/m.
You know, back then, the question of how to keep a room cool in summer was pretty sorted! Yes, the temperature was scorching, but mom always had a khus water pot to cool us down. Ah, do you even remember how it tasted? Cool? Refreshing? And what if I told you that you can enjoy the same vibe even now?
Well yes! Turns out, you get khus (vetiver) curtains even today. So, these are simple, woven or braided, vetiver grass blades over a frame. While they primarily lower the radiant heat & brightness, they also exude an aromatic aura & repel pests.
And even hanging them is really easy. Like, they’ll already have hooks or ribbons. So, you can just tie them to your curtain rods, spray some water on them and enjoy a cool breeze back home.
Moreover, Mrs. Nair also told us to hang them on the exterior walls if possible. This way, they’ll block the sun before it hits the glass & reduce the cooling time drastically. Also, do wipe up your vetiver curtains at least once a week to avoid dirt from seeping in!
Quick Tip: Pair your vetiver curtains with other cooling strategies like cross ventilation, misting or normal water coolers once the temperature goes beyond 43°C.
6. Paint Your Walls with Reflective Paints
Average Price: ₹3,000–8,000 for a 20L bucket.
One of the best & easiest answers to how to keep a room cool in summer is to use reflective paints, especially on the walls & roof. So, reflective paints are a special type of glass bead or retroreflective-pigment-fused paints that send over 90% of the light, along with its latent heat, back to the source. So surprisingly, they reduce the indoor temperatures by over 5°C without any external push.
However, Mrs. Nair suggests using reflective paints with a high SRI (Solar Reflectance Index) in India. So, lighter colors like white, off-white, pastel shades would be a great choice. Also, try to add more coats on the high impact south or west-facing walls, shutters & garage doors to reduce the overall heat gain drastically.
Quick Tip: Try to apply a thin, UV-resistant clear coating over the reflective paint for more radiant heat reflection & durability in the long run.
7. Upgrade to Double-Glazed or Secondary Glazing Windows
Estimated Polycarbonate Sheet Cost: ₹20–50/ sq. feet
How many of you think that your south or west-facing windows are the biggest culprits to solar heat gain? Well yes, I feel the same too! In fact, you know, I even wanted to change all my flat’s windows to a tinted one. I even shared the same with Mrs. Nair.
But then, she told me to add a secondary layer of acrylic or polycarbonate to all of my shutters. Now, one, it’s obviously way cheaper than replacing the whole window and two, it creates an air gap that reduces heat transfer. So you know, your room temperature is really stabilized.
Here, you can either go with twin-wall or multi-wall panels to reduce heat transfer or with the normal reflective sheets to stop the radiant heat. Alternately, even the modern electrochromic (smart tint) polycarbonate sheets are great! Like, they’ll automatically adjust their tint as per the sunlight & reduce solar gain without compromising on visibility. Trust me, it’s one of the best hacks on how to keep a room cool in summer.
Quick Tip: Try to go with polycarbonate sheets with built-in UV stabilizers or protective coatings to block the film degradation & UV rays simultaneously.
8. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer via a Window-Integrated Wind Scoop
So, a wind scoop is basically a Middle Eastern style wind catcher. Like, a simple funnel that captures the outside breeze and directs it inside through a narrow duct. So basically, this technique helps focus air to your family areas, boosts natural ventilation & accelerates the hot air exhaust.
Now, as you all know, cool winds blow from the southwest to the northeast in summers in India. So, Mrs. Nair told us that the best place to add wind scoops is along the western windows.
Plus, she even told us to install it at an angle – say 60 or 70°. This angle, she said, creates a naturally downward airflow that helps lower indoor temperatures, by over 5 – 10°C. Plus, you can combine this scoop with interior vents or strategic coolers & fans for more air conditioning.
Quick Tip: Always complement your wind scoop with reflective roof coatings or DIY shading devices – perhaps an awning or pergola to reduce the solar heat gain altogether.
9. Mist Em’ Up With Timers
Average Cost: ₹1,000–2,000 as per brand & capacity
Who doesn’t like cool water misting in summer? But then, who has the patience to stand and mist the room every half & hour? Well, turns out, technology does!
So nowadays, you get these time-controlled misting sprays. These have a long jet tube, just like that of a water sprinkler, and a clock at the top. So, these nozzles produce a very fine mist after a set interval, say 20–30 minutes, and help create an evaporative cooling effect. In simple words, they lower the room’s temperature by over 5 – 10°C without leaving the surfaces over wet.
And the best part is that you can also club them with other cooling devices, say table fans or cooler for example, for more effect. It’s just that these misting devices won’t ever work with well or hard water. So either get a water-conditioner or use distilled water for a finer mist. You can also use your RO water if you have one.
Quick Tip: Invest in a hygrometer or a humidity-level-checker to help calibrate your timer for optimal humidity & moisture-control.
10. How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer by Optimizing Air-Flow as per Feng Shui
One of the easiest & most affordable hacks on how to keep a room cool in summer is to boost the air-flow as per feng shui. But what is it & how do you achieve the same?
So, Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice of rearranging things for free energy flow. While one way is to move furniture away from the doors & windows, the other is to use low-profile furniture that doesn’t block any air. Mrs. Nair also suggests using light, breathable fabrics, perhaps cotton, linen or bamboo for a cooler environment.
Finally, you can also place some water element, maybe a small fountain or aquarium in the eastern direction to cool the air naturally. One more hack is to place plants; especially spider or snake plants along the air inlets. They’ll eventually purify air & boost gentle circulation all along your room. Trust me, Feng shui’s furniture strategy is indeed one of the best hacks on how to keep a room cool in summer.
5+ Tried & Tested Tips on How to Keep a Room Cool in Summer You’d Wish You Knew Sooner!
- Turn off and unplug all the unnecessary electrical appliances, especially dishwashers, dryers and ovens when not in use. This will help you reduce the overall latent heat drastically.
- Always close the curtains, drapes or blinds after 1pm to lower the total solar heat gain by over 60%.
- Do you live on the top floor? Well, then it’s best to paint your roof with a white lime wash or reflective paint to deflect heat. Other than that, try to add some wet clay tile stacks or greenery for more insulation.
- Make Plants Your Best Friends: Add moisture-releasing plants – say Areca palms, Aloe vera or peace lilies on each of your window sills to cool the air naturally.
- Say No to Synthetic Fibers: Skip the synthetic rayon & faux wool carpets and try to go with natural Jute, Sisal or Bamboo rugs. Like, they don’t absorb & retain heat that much and stay cool underfoot.
- Shift your bedding on the Ground: Well, we all know that hot air rises & cool air settles down in any room. So, it’s best to shift your bed on the floor or even in the basement for comfort. Also, just dampen a sheet or towel & use it as a blanket for more comfort.
FAQs
Conclusion
So, now that you know so many tips on how to keep a room cool in summer, let us know your best pick. Would you add polycarbonate or tinted films to reduce the heat gain? Would you get some misting sprayers for your living areas? Or, would you just change the ceiling fan direction for now. Whichever method you choose, it’ll lower your room’s temperature by at least 5°C for sure!
And if you do need help with any installation / material procurement, then our expert designers are just a call away!
About Me
Shruti Soni
Shruti Soni, also our in-house content editor, is a design graduate with a love for writing, research, and all things DIY. With multiple SEO and CMS certifications, she’s spent 3+ years creating instruction manuals & guides that are both simple and expert-backed. A true Shahrukh Khan fan, she balances content creation with movie marathons and dog cuddles in her free time.
