It’s finally summer, and although that means lots of good things like warmer temperatures, longer days, and lots of outdoor activities, it’s also important to do what you can to make your home feel fresher at this time of year so it’s an inviting place to come home to rather than being hot, stuffy, and uncomfortable. With that in mind, here are some things you can do to ensure you make your home as fresh as possible. 

Let In Natural Light

One thing that’s definitely going to help make your home feel fresher is to let in as much natural light as you can – after all, summer is all about bright, sunny days, so your home needs to match. Natural light doesn’t just brighten up your space, but it also makes it feel more spacious and airy, so it’s a good thing all round. 

Some things you can do to make this happen include keeping your windows clean and keeping your curtains and blinds open during the day, for example. And if your windows are old or inefficient, now’s a great time to upgrade them – you’ll let more natural light in, but you’ll get other benefits too, like more energy efficiency and more security. Click here to find out more. 

Declutter The Space

A cluttered home is sure to feel more stuffy and perhaps even overwhelming than a nice, neat one, especially during summer, so make sure you take some time to declutter and reorganize your home, and especially your living spaces. 

Start with the areas that tend to accumulate the most stuff, like the counters in your kitchen, the dining table, or your entryway. You can donate items you don’t need or store them somewhere (in a garage or storage unit, for example) if you want to keep them but don’t want them in your house anymore. Be as brutal as you can when you’re decluttering because the more you can get rid of, the brighter and lighter your home will feel. 

Choose Lighter Fabrics

If you’ve got any heavy fabrics in your home, whether that’s your curtains, your bedding, or anything else, switch them for lighter ones during the summer months – you can switch them back when winter starts creeping round. 

As well as the material itself, which can change from wool to linen or cotton, for example, you’ll need to look at the colors of whatever it is you’re adding to your home. In winter you can have darker colors for a cozier feeling, but in summer you’ll want lighter shades to brighten everything up. As an extra benefit, those lighter colors will reflect sunlight rather than absorb it, so your home will be cooler and more comfortable as a result. 

Add Some Fresh Scents

Your sense of smell really does a lot when it comes to how you feel, and that’s why bringing in the fresh scents of summer by using essential oils, scented candles, fresh flowers, and other means is such a great idea. 

Some scents are fresher than others, and some favorites are lavender, citrus, and eucalyptus, for example, but you’re sure to have your own favorites as well. Just don’t use heavier scents, even if you love them – they’ll make the air feel cloying and unpleasant when it’s hot outside. Save them for the festive period and focus on light and fruity smells for now. 

Improve Air Circulation 

Good air circulation is crucial if you want to keep your home fresh and cool, so think about how you can improve yours. You can use ceiling fans to help circulate the air and reduce the need for your air conditioning to be on all the time (that’s going to save you money, but of course, if you live in a really hot climate, you’re going to need the air conditioning as well, so don’t make yourself uncomfortable), for example. If you decide to do that, remember to clean the blades of the fan so you don’t accidentally spread dust all over your home, as that wouldn’t be too nice at all. 

You can also put some box fans on your windowsills and use them to draw cool air in from outside in the mornings and evenings when the sun’s not too hot. Or just place standard fans around the house if you prefer. 

Finally, when it comes to your HVAC system, get it serviced before the weather gets too hot (or as soon as possible after if you forget). A well-maintained HVAC system will work much more efficiently and do a better job while also using less energy, so you’ll be cooler and save money at the same time.