With temperatures of 25-30°C forecasted for this week and the next, it won’t take long for rooms in some homes to become unbearable. If your rooms have large windows, south-facing glazing or big patio doors, you are likely already familiar with the feeling.
Most people’s first instinct is to reach for a fan, but fans only move the warm air around. The most effective way to keep your home cool during a heatwave is to stop the heat from getting in at all.
The type of window covering you have can make a real difference to the interior temperatures in your home. Choose blinds to keep the heat out, and you can improve how comfortable your home feels throughout these summer months.
Why do houses get so hot in the summer?
Heat and light enters your home through windows and glass doors, and once the heat is in it’s hard to get rid of it. Large glass panes, bifold doors, skylights and conservatories are particularly susceptible to this problem. South-facing and west-facing rooms get the most direct sun throughout the day, so they tend to overheat the most during heatwaves.
Opening windows during the hottest part of the day rarely helps either; if the air outside is warmer than the air inside, you’re just letting more heat in. A better approach is to block the sun before it overheats your rooms, then open all your windows in the evening to ventilate when outside temperatures have dropped.
How to stop your home from overheating
Cooling a room that has already overheated is far more difficult than preventing the build-up of heat in the first place. Blinds, shutters and awnings all work best when used proactively. Close them before the sun reaches that side of the house, rather than after the room is already stuffy.
External shading is particularly effective because it intercepts sunlight before it reaches the glass. Internal options, including cellular shades, shutters and fitted blinds, are still highly practical for most homes and can make a noticeable difference to comfort levels when fitted correctly.
The best blinds to keep heat out during a heatwave
Cellular shades: one of the best options for insulation
Cellular shades (sometimes called honeycomb blinds) have a distinctive pocketed structure that traps air within the blind itself. These air pockets slow heat transfer through the window, which means less unwanted solar heat enters your room in summer – and less warmth escapes in winter.
They work well in bedrooms, living rooms, home offices and conservatories, and can be fitted to windows of just about any shape or size. You could choose a light-filtering option for daytime heat protection, or a blackout option for better sleep.
Shutters: adjustable shade with airflow control
Shutters give you precise control over light, glare and ventilation. The louvres can be tilted to reduce direct sunlight, while still allowing some airflow and natural light into your room. Tier-on-tier shutters are particularly useful during hot weather because the top and bottom sections can be adjusted independently.
They are a great option for street-facing rooms where privacy matters, and look especially good on bay windows. Shutters manage glare and reduce direct sunlight, making rooms feel more comfortable during hot spells.
Choose between MDF shutters, ABS waterproof shutters and solid hardwood shutters to suit different rooms, budgets and styles.
Perfect Fit and No-Drill Blinds: for patio doors and uPVC windows
Perfect Fit and no-drill blinds clip neatly into the window or door frame without any drilling or screws. They sit flush with the glass, which reduces draughts and keeps them stable when doors are opened and closed, making them ideal for bifold doors, French doors, patio doors and uPVC windows.
In rooms with large amounts of glazing, such as kitchen extensions or garden rooms, they offer a practical way to control glare and sunlight without altering or damaging the window frame.
Motorised and automated blinds
During a heatwave, opening and closing your window coverings at the right time can make all the difference. Motorised and automated blinds can be scheduled to close before the sun hits a particular window, which means the room stays cooler even when nobody is at home to manage it manually.
They are also useful for hard-to-reach windows, roof lights and large glazed areas where operating a blind by hand is awkward. If your home heats up while you’re at work, automated blinds can do the job for you.
Don’t overlook external shade: awnings for patios and sunny rooms
If you have a south-facing garden, a sunny patio or large rear-facing glazing, an awning can be one of the most effective shading options available. External shading works by intercepting sunlight before it has a chance to touch the glass at all. The British Blind and Shutter Association notes that external shading is generally more effective than internal shading for reducing heat.
Awnings also make outdoor spaces far more usable during hot weather, creating shade for eating, entertaining or simply relaxing in the garden. We provide premium external awnings across Kent, with manual and motorised options, durable fabrics and professional installation.
Tips for dealing with heatwaves
Good products work best alongside good habits. The BBSA recommends keeping blinds and shutters closed during hot daytime periods, then opening them at night to let the building cool. A few other practical steps can also help:
- Close blinds or shutters before the sun reaches that side of the house, not after the room is already warm.
- Prioritise protecting your south-facing and west-facing rooms, as these receive the most direct sun during the hottest part of the day.
- Keep windows closed while it is hot outside, then open them in the evening or early morning to ventilate and cool the inside of your home.
- Use blinds alongside a fan to circulate cooler air rather than letting the fan push hot air around an unshaded room.
- Switch off appliances and lights that are not in use; they generate more heat than most people expect.
- Choose blackout or thermal fabrics in bedrooms for better sleep comfort during warm nights.
- Consider lighter or more reflective fabrics for rooms that receive very strong direct sun.
- Use automated blinds to maintain a consistent routine on days when you are out of the house.
Visit our showroom in Rochester for tailored advice
Knights Blinds has been serving towns in Medway and Kent since 1972. At our showroom, you can see fabrics, finishes and operating systems in person and get honest, expert advice on which products will work best for your rooms.
If your home becomes uncomfortable during hot weather, our team can help you find a made-to-measure shading solution that suits your windows, your style and your budget. It’s worth bringing along photos or rough measurements of any problem windows when you visit.
Alternatively, you can give us a call at 01634 723088 or use our contact form to get the conversation started.
