5 Decor Swaps to Keep Your Home Cooler This Summer

Design your way to a chill, summer-ready house. Katarzyna Bialasiewicz/Getty Images/iStockphoto/TNS

As the temperature outside rises, the annual quest for a cooler home begins—but without spending a fortune on our utility bills.

Try incorporating these home-cooling design moves. By swapping out heavy textiles for airy fabrics and setting up effective cross-ventilation, you can create a cooler house without touching the thermostat. Here’s how to design your way to a chill, summer-ready house.

1. Ditch the Fuzzy Rugs

If your home is full of cozy wool rugs or fluffy shag rugs, give them the summer off. Roll them up and store them safely, making sure they are protected from bugs and out of direct sunlight so they won’t fade.