When you’re designing a home, you’ll be thinking about all kinds of different things. What will the home look like? How big will it be? Where are you going to build it? What many first time designers don’t think about, though, is how it will work with the local climate. If you don’t take this into account, then you may see the climate damage your home in ways you hadn’t thought of.
That’s why it’s so important to think about the local climate when designing your home. Here are four ways your home’s interior can work to adapt to your local climate.
1. Placing Windows For Maximum Airflow
Any good Miami interior designer can tell you that in a hot climate, you need a home that’s designed for maximum airflow. The air conditioning units and fans can do a lot to cool down your home, but they can’t do everything. That’s why the design needs to be perfect.
There are multiple ways you can adjust your home’s design in order to maximize airflow. One popular method right now is to create open living spaces, allowing for more airflow around the home. One of the best methods, though, is to place windows opposite each other. If both windows are open, it allows for maximum airflow throughout the home. Changing the placement of your windows can be a large job, but it’s worth it for the cooling effect on your living space.
2. Shades Can Block Out The Heat
No matter where your windows are placed, they are going to let in a lot of the sun during the day. The more sun it lets in, the hotter your space will be. You can avoid this if your windows face the North or South, as they won’t be taking the full force of the sun at any time of the day. However, even if you can do this, the sun is going to beat down on your windows and create more heat. That’s where the humble shades can come in.
Hanging a good shade on your window can block that sun out, keeping the room cooler and making it much more comfortable to live in. This is the rare interior design feature that’s both practical and beautiful. Buy blackout shades and you’ll get the full effect of the sun block, and if you pick a pattern or style you love, you’ll love looking at them too.
3. Insulate Your Pipes
Now it’s time to think about designing a home for a colder climate. One threat that’s always present for those in colder climates is that of burst pipes. Water freezes in pipes when the weather gets colder, expands, and then bursts the pipes. The results can mean a lot of repair work on your pipes, and even some time without access to water in your home.
To avoid this, you’ll to ensure that your pipes are well insulated when they’re being installed. If you’ve just bought an existing home, you can have them insulated by an expert to ensure they stay safe.
4. Under Floor Heating
Those in cold climates are always looking for ways to stay warm in their home. One method that’s become more popular in recent years is that of installing underfloor heating in their homes.
This style of heating can be used anywhere in the home but is currently very popular in bathrooms. No one wants to step out of the shower onto cold tiles, so underfloor heating can make the room nice and toasty for you.
Any interior design firm Miami will tell you that the benefits of underfloor heating are numerous. Firstly, it distributes heat evenly around the home and keeps your feet warm even on the coldest days. As well as this, it doesn’t need bulky or unattractive radiators or units in the home in order to work. That means more wall space to dedicate to decorating your home the way you want it.
There are lots more options for decorating your home to take advantage of the climate. If you want some ideas, talk to your local interior design company Miami to see what they can do for you.