Heatwaves are becoming more and more common in the UK, so being able to keep cool in the summer months is a growing priority. Mediterranean-style temperatures aren’t quite what we’re used to and everything tends to go a bit barmy in the UK, but there are smart ways to keep cool. So, can you do to keep your cool this summer and how can a garden room help?
Why a Garden Room Can Be a Heatwave Hero
One of the best things about a garden room is that they’re designed with modern materials and insulation, which may be in complete contrast to the rest of your property. Luckily your garden room can become a safe space to shield from the sun
- Natural ventilation – One of the main features of a garden room is that it’s built to bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors, so is fitted with large doors or windows allowing fresh air ventilation. A stifling conservatory can become more like a greenhouse but a well-designed garden room helps circulate air and keep the environment cool.
- Shaded location – by definition your garden room is in the garden, so it can be positioned in the shadier part, near trees or foliage and away from direct glare. At the height of temperatures during the day, your garden room can have natural shading to make it a cooler setting.
- Better insulation – Unlike older outbuildings, contemporary-built garden rooms are built with insulation in their design, meaning they’ll deliver in every season. In the summer, they can be a comfortable setting for you to escape to and relax or get on with work/studying.
- Custom shading – You can modify your garden room and fit it with with blinds, louvres or solar shading options that let in light but prevent the sun’s rays from causing excessive heat/UV.
The way that a garden room has been smartly built and designed means it can be a safe haven to escape from the rest of your property that is more likely to trap more heat.
Other Top Tips for Staying Cool at Home
There are lots of other ways to help yourself in a heatwave, let’s look at some tried-and-tested ideas:
- Keeping your curtains/blinds closed during the day and your windows shut, to try and stop lots of heat entering, especially if your windows are south-facing.
- Once it gets to the evening time and temperatures start to drop you can open your windows to let cooler evening air circulate and hopefully help to bring some much needed relief.
- Use fans wisely – fans are great, but not if they’re just circulating hot, stale air. Put a bowl of ice water in front of a fan which can create a cooling breeze.
- Cooling mats – if you’ve got pets then cooling mats can be a great addition for them to rest on. Or if they’re not using them then have a go yourself!
- Cool down your body, not just the room – take cool showers, wear light cotton clothing if possible and put cold water on your wrists and ankles to help cool the rest of your body down.
- Stay hydrated – drink water regularly to avoid dehydration and avoid alcohol!
Warmer British summers means we all need to be aware of how to protect ourselves in hotter months. A well-designed garden room can be part of the solution – offering a tranquil, comfortable environment to thrive in. As well as a few simple changes inside your home, you can create a good mix-up to keep cool.
For more advice and info about your own garden room, get in touch with our team at Bridge Timber today.