There's never been a better time to master how to cool a room quickly and efficiently without air conditioning, ensuring your home feels more comfortable during hot weather.
In trying to reduce heat, you may end up making common cooling mistakes that only create a warmer environment. By exploring all the options, we've ensured there's a solution for every space; so whether you're in a room without windows or don't have one of the best fans to hand, there will be an effective method you can try to bring down the temperature of the room you're in as quickly as possible.
To avoid this, we've spoken to the experts and compiled a list of the best tried-and-tested methods for cooling down any room in the house.
How to cool down a room without AC: 16 expert tips
From hanging damp sheets at windows to using one of the best dehumidifiers, these are the best expert-approved ways to cool down a room, without the aid of air conditioning.
If you're particularly concerned about keeping a bedroom cool in the evening, you can also refer to our guide on how to sleep in the heat for expert-led solutions to help you sleep soundly during the hot weather.
1. Keep curtains and blinds drawn
During the summer months, it’s a good idea to keep your curtains or blinds closed during the day to block out sunlight, which can increase the room’s temperature.
As simple as this one may sound, keeping your blinds closed throughout the day deflects the sun’s powerful rays from heating your house.
To block out direct sunlight and heat, make sure your blinds and curtains are closed during the day - it’s much easier to prevent a room from getting too hot before it’s too late by keeping them cool throughout the day.
Blackout blinds, curtains, or solid shutters are another longer-term option to consider, as these are designed to block light completely and keep bedrooms dark and cool in the summer while insulating against the cold when temperatures drop over the winter months, too.
2. Use fans more effectively
While any type of electric fan can be a great relief when it’s excessively hot, using them strategically, using a few handy fan hacks can increase their benefits no end.
If you have a ceiling fan, make sure it is set to rotate counter-clockwise; this ensures that the blades push air down and create a cool breeze. And turn it off when you leave the room because ceiling fans cool people, not rooms.
When it comes to table or floor-standing fans, make sure yours is pointed in the right direction to get maximum airflow. The corner of a room is a good position so that more of the room is covered evenly.
Choose a spot where there are no large items of furniture to block the flow of air. Tower fans are a good option as they cover a larger area than rotary fans and create a sheet of air rather than a tunnel effect.
"When selecting a model, air circulation is key, so consider a fan that oscillates both horizontally and vertically," advises Dennis Wessels, from air treatment experts Duux. "Opting for an adaptable, portable fan that can be effortlessly changed from full to table height allows for greater flexibility between rooms and positions."
Best misting Shark FlexBreeze Misting Fan
This can be completely cordless, taken outside, and positioned however you like. The biggest win is the misting function, which dramatically cools you down and fast.
Best budget Levoit Classic Fan
This is an incredible value, speedy, and silent. It's up there with Dyson and Shark for speed, but it's just a little tricky to store when you don't need to be kept cool.
Best for sleep Dyson CF1 Cool Fan
Compact, elegant, and really efficient, this is not an impulse buy. It's an investment in keeping your room cooler. And, with its almost silent function, it is perfect for the bedroom.
3. Use a dehumidifier
While you can't really compare the merits of air conditioners vs dehumidifiers, the latter does come in handy when it comes to making you feel more comfortable in a hot room – a valid reason to buy a dehumidifier in summer.
While a dehumidifier doesn't technically lower the temperature, it reduces levels of humidity in the house, which can make the atmosphere feel close and uncomfortable.
Reducing the moisture content in the air, it allows it to flow more quickly, and the faster it moves, the cooler it feels – that's how fans work.
Easy to use MeacoDry Arete One
The MeacoDry Arete One is a brilliant all-rounder. It's simple to use, great for large spaces and quiet – what more could you want?
Good for large spaces ProBreeze 20L Dehumidifier
Our Pro Breeze dehumidifier review revealed that this model has enough capacity of 5.5L of water, plenty to keep a large room feeling cooler.
Best multifunctional model EcoAir Desiccant 8L Dehumidifier
In addition to aiding your cooling journey this EcoAir dehumidifier is incredible at drying clothes. The Desiccant 8L features three drying modes and two laundry.
4. Improve the air flow by opening windows
One of the best ways to cool down a room without AC is by creating a continuous stream of airflow by opening two windows on opposite sides of a room, to try a window air conditioning hack. Alternatively, opening windows in adjacent rooms and keeping the doors open allows air to flow through your home.
"Maintaining airflow is important to displace warm air, so when the outdoor air is cooler than indoors, opening multiple windows will help create a breeze through the home," says Stephen Beresford, from window experts REHAU.
Heat rises, so if you have a loft or an attic, opening windows or hatches will allow rising heat to escape, and it's also a good idea to prioritise opening windows upstairs for this same reason. Not only will it give hot air in the house somewhere to escape to, but it will also bring down the room temperature in the bedrooms before you need to try and sleep.
Ensure the air from the lower floors is flowing upwards. To do this, ensure your windows are open downstairs before opening them all upstairs. This will create a vacuum and encourage the rising hot air to flow up and out.
5. Choose a portable unit
While this method does involve AC, it's not in the truest sense because portable air conditioners are much more affordable and accessible. There's no need for installation, and you can move the appliance from room to room.
"The best advice on buying a portable air conditioner is to ignore gimmicks and go for a larger capacity," says Chris Michael, MD of air treatment specialist Meaco. "Many people underestimate the cooling size and can be disappointed when they find that their portable air conditioner does not offer enough cooling on the hottest evenings."
"To get a good night’s sleep, turn the air conditioner on a few hours before you go to bed. Keep the bedroom door closed and the blinds and curtains closed. The hose from the air conditioner needs to go out of the window, but use the window blocker to seal off the rest of the window to make the air conditioner as efficient as possible."
This Pro Breeze portable air conditioner is a top-rated Amazon choice with pleasing reviews (4.1 out of 5 overall) for ease of use and cooling performance. With its 50-litre sealed water tank, this portable unit is equipped with a high-performance motor that operates various multi-purpose modes, including auto, air cooling, dehumidifying, fan-only and energy-saving sleep modes.
This is Amazon's choice for portable air conditioners, with an impressive 4.8-star rating. With a 1000ml sealed water tank, the air conditioner unit can work continuously for 9-10 hours. The small but mighty device offers 3 modes (Natural Wind/Low Cool Mist/High Cool Mist) and 3 wind speeds (Low/Natural/Mid/High) to ensure suitable cooling at all times.
6. Close doors to keep out the heat
This simple tip quite literally shuts the heat out and traps the coolness in. If you're using cooler rooms during the hottest points of the day, a benefit of any north-facing rooms, it's the idea to shut doors to stop hot air from generating from other rooms.
Closing doors in rooms that you’re not using can help trap cooler air in the rooms that you’re in. If you don’t shut off certain areas of your house, it allows the cool air to dissipate, and every room will end up at a similar temperature. And if that temperature is hot, your room will not stay cool for long.
And if you have doors with gaps, especially those that lead outside, putting towels at the doors will help to keep the cool air in, acting as a simple and inexpensive form of insulation.
7. Create exterior shade at windows
Another effective tactic that will keep downstairs rooms cool is to create shade outside the windows, especially in rooms where you are likely to relax during the hottest parts of the day – this method is called shadescaping.
Consider moving the garden parasol or gazebo to a position directly outside the windows to shelter rooms from the sun bearing down on them, causing rooms to feel hot and humid.
Of course, window treatments such as curtains and blinds do the job indoors, but it's more effective when you reduce sun exposure by blocking the direct sun from the outside, too. Covering the windows is also an easy way to block your neighbour's view, should you wish to walk around with fewer layers to beat the heat.
8. Hang damp sheets in front of the windows
An instant cooling home hack when it's really hot outside is to hang damp sheets from the curtain poles in front of any open window, especially at night. The moisture from the sheets will help to cool any incoming breeze from outside. The hot air provides a great solution for drying laundry indoors.
Using the same principle, you could alternatively try spraying curtains with a mist of cold water, and keep the water in a bottle in the fridge so it's refreshingly cold.
You can also utilise doorways in the same way, provided there's a flow of air passing through. "Hanging a dampened sheet over the doorway can create a natural air conditioner," explains James De Meo, HVAC engineer and master plumber at This Fixed House. "As air flows through the sheet, it will cool down due to the evaporation of the water."
9. Switch off electrical devices
Aside from obvious appliances like ovens, any electrical devices, such as laptops, TVs, and lamps, give off heat and contribute to the overall temperature of a room. So if you don't have AC, switching devices off when you're not using them is a great way of reducing unnecessary extra heat fast and effectively.
"It’s counterintuitive to use appliances that generate heat in a room that you’re trying to cool," says Andy. "So bear this in mind before deciding to use ovens, hair dryers, etc."
You should also avoid having these electrical items too close to you. For example, don't sit in bed with a laptop on your lap, as this will raise your body temperature and make the room feel warmer.
Also, turn off all the plug sockets you can to help keep things cool because electrical sockets kick out a surprising amount of heat. Being conscious and turning off power sources can also save energy around the home at the same time.
10. Welcome plants and greenery indoors
Welcoming the outside in is an enduring interior design trend, but did you know it is also a great hack for how to cool down a room? "Bringing nature inside is a great way to not only cleanse the air in your house but also to help circulate cooler air," says Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at Money.co.uk.
"This works when certain plants, such as weeping figs, snake plants, rubber plants, and Chinese evergreen, to name a few, absorb warm air. Through the transpiration process, they release oxygen and cool moisture into the room. Not only this, but they look great too."
All the best places to buy plants will be able to advise on the most suitable houseplants to keep your room cool, depending on light quality and whether or not you have pets, because certain common houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs.
A great plant for those who don't want to have to do much to keep it thriving, as it's one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive. The plant arrives in the chic mustard pot.
11. Change the lightbulbs
The lightbulbs in a room can contribute to its overall temperature, as explained by Ben, an energy expert: "If you still have incandescent bulbs in your light fittings at home, and haven’t already made the switch to LED light bulbs, then it could make a difference."
"Incandescent bulbs waste around 90% of their energy by emitting heat and could limit you if you're trying to decrease the temperature of a room." Not to mention saving energy in the process, a small step towards more sustainable living at home.
Head to your local hardware store to pick up some new bulbs, a relatively small price to pay to quickly help cool down a room without AC. Incidentally, the right lightbulbs cannot only keep you cooler, but they can also be a great way to get rid of mosquitoes.
Perfect for kitchens and living rooms with spotlights, these long-life and professional-quality, 35W equivalent, dimmable GU10 bulbs offer a cool white colour temperature.
This set of 3 warm white bulbs is the classic shape for floor lamps, table lamps and drum pendant lights.
These candlelight LED bulbs are ideal for chandeliers and pendant lights to create a slimline silhouette.
12. Reduce heat in the kitchen by cooking outside
Cooking outside, if you have the space, is an easy way to help reduce the heat in your home by reducing your use of appliances such as ovens, gas hobs, and kettles, which all produce heat and will increase the temperature of a room when used. Why not fire up the pizza oven instead?
Thanks to current kitchen trends, there are lots of different outdoor kitchen ideas this summer, from fully functioning kitchen spaces in gardens to makeshift cooking solutions with a camping stove.
If you haven't ventured outside since last summer, make sure you know how to clean a BBQ first, to prepare for a season of alfresco cooking.
13. Utilise small cooking appliances
While cooking outside is the preferred solution to reduce the heat in a kitchen for those who have no outdoor space, this is not an option. In this instance, look for the quickest methods for cooking indoors, making use of smaller appliances rather than firing up the oven - that's where the best air fryers are invaluable.
"Make use of your microwave and air fryer," suggests Ashleigh Tosh from MuscleFood.com. "These are a quicker way to cook, so there will be less heat in the kitchen." Because you can cook so many things in an air fryer, it doesn't in any way limit your mealtime selection.
14. Create a cross breeze
Welcome a cross breeze of continuously moving air to ensure your room feels instantly cooler. “A good hack to ensure the air flows quickly into a room is to create a cross breeze with your windows," suggests Andy.
Creating a cross-breeze in your living room or bedroom will allow some extra relief when it's very hot. A cross-breeze occurs when there is an entry and exit point for air. In bedrooms with two windows, aim a fan out one window while allowing fresh air to flow in through the other.
"If you have two windows that are in line with each other or positioned diagonally, keep them both open," advises Andy."You can also place a fan in front of each window – one fan blows in air from the outside, while the other window is reversed and blows air outside."
In rooms with only one window, keeping the door open allows a cross breeze to form from elsewhere in the house. Fans with added air purifying benefits (such as the Blueair Blue Pure Purifying Fan) are the best for those who suffer from hay fever, as the fan will help filter out the pollen.
15. Put ice in front of a fan
If you don't have AC but you do have a fan to hand, you can try creating a DIY AC with this handy hack. Putting ice in front of a fan is a tried and tested technique (we should know, we've tested it) that does help to cool down a room. Simple yet effective, this idea is especially handy for cooling a room without windows, where you don't have the added benefit of natural airflow.
When you place a bowl or container full of ice in front of a fan, the ice cools the air, creating a cooler breeze, rather than just circulating hot air around the room. Just be sure to place a plate under the bowl to catch any droplets of water.
Alternatively, try freezing two or three small plastic drink bottles filled with water and then positioning the frozen bottles in front of the fan. Spread them out so that they don’t block the fan’s air stream, and switch off your fan’s oscillation setting so that the fan is pointed directly at the bottles. This will have the same effect as the ice cubes.
When the ice melts, just freeze the bottles again – if you have the freezer space, keep multiple bottles prepared so you have a ready supply. You can also add two or three tablespoons of salt to the water before you freeze the bottles, which will lower the freezing temperature of the water and make the ice even colder.
16. Utilise ceiling fans effectively
Heat rises, so it's important to utilise ceiling fans to help disperse the warmer air. "Ceiling fans can be used to circulate air in a room, which can help to cool it down," explains James. "The movement of the air created by the fan can make the room feel several degrees cooler."
To make it more effective, Andy adds, “You want to ensure any ceiling fans are set to anti-clockwise so they don’t distribute the warm air."
FAQs
How do you cool a room in extreme heat?
Summer is great until the extreme heatwaves hit, and you soon realise UK homes were truly not built for rising temperatures. But what can you do to make the heat even just a little bit more bearable?
"In extreme heat, I would make sure to follow the above. Try and get into a habit of following the above when it's warm, and when the extreme heat hits, your home will be better fit for combating it," suggests Nicholas Auckland, heating and cooling expert at Trade Radiators.
"Make sure to ventilate completely at night, meaning opening all doors and windows if possible. You should then also make sure that you're aiming to keep bodies cool rather than the room itself," he adds.
He recommends doing this by directing fans at yourself to keep as cool as possible. That and ensuring your room has total ventilation.
"I also recommend avoiding particularly strenuous activity, and make sure that there's no chance that your heating could fire up," advises Nicholas.
Why is my room still hot even with the fan on?
Even when you've invested in one of the best fans on the market, your room might not feel any cooler. But why is that?
"As stated above, a fan doesn't produce cold air; it simply moves air around, creating a breeze effect, which in turn makes you feel cooler," explains Nicholas. "If you don't have proper ventilation and don't follow other cooling tips, then your room will remain hot, and the fan will simply be moving stagnant, warm air around. This is why ventilation is key when it's hot".
Even risking keeping the fan on overnight, which is not recommended, won't make any difference when there's no air circulation.
Save deep cleaning the house until the sun has set to reduce the amount of heat generated around the home. Doing household tasks such as washing, ironing, and cooking at night can counteract some of the heat appliances kick out. The likes of ovens and washing machines will only add to a rise in temperature around the household, so save chores for the cooler evenings.
If you're someone who particularly struggles with sleeping in the heat, it's a good idea to invest in one of the best cooling mattresses. We'd also recommend opting for lightweight linen cooling sheets that will also help keep your temperature down once the heat waves hit.
