Creating Homes for Houston’s Unique Climate
If you’re a Houston, TX local, you will already know all about the city’s sweltering tropical summers! Houston has been classified as having a humid subtropical climate, experiencing the peak of both its head and humidity in August and enjoying the cooler parts of its mild winters in January.
Because of this unique climate, Texas residents need to be mindful when designing and decorating their homes to ensure that they stay cool and comfortable in the warmer weather. Of course, staying toasty in the winter is easier in Houston than it is in snowier states, but this is definitely something to consider too. Here are some great tips for building, designing and decorating your dream Houston home to get the most out of the beautiful regional climate!
#1: Prioritize Shade
Homes that have many wide-panel windows aren’t the most efficient insulators. Glass allows warmth to move out of your living space during the cooler months, and also lets in plenty of heat during the warmer seasons. To combat this, ensure that your windows are well shaded by incorporating covered verandahs and porticoes into your house blueprints – or, if your home has already been built, add spacious awnings over your sun-exposed windows.
Landscaping is another great way of ensuring that you have plenty of shade during the summer heat, and your trees and shrubs can easily be pruned back in the winter to let the warmth in once more. Work with a landscaping professional to incorporate lots of shady foliage in strategic spots in your yard; it will look beautiful and keep your Houston home cool, all at the same time.
#2: Explore the Chimney Effect
This is for those home-owners who are still designing their dream living spaces, or those who already have a home with this unique layout. You may have learnt in high school science class that hot air rises and cool air sinks, so by creating a taller space with higher ceilings, the warmer air in your home will rise further, allowing the cooler air to stay closer to where you and your family spend most of your time. Incorporating the chimney effect also allows for constant air movement, which will continuously replace warm air with cool, making for a more comfortable home all around.
If you are interested in creating this effect in an existing home or a double-storey property, an easy way to do so is to install an operable skylight just above your stairway. When opened, the skylight will draw cool air up from the lower floors, keeping all levels of your house fresh and temperate.
#3: Decorate in White
White and other pale colors are ideal when it comes to decorating homes in warmer climates. Darker colors absorb sunlight very effectively, and while they may look sleek, this tendency allows them to draw heat into your home which is less than ideal in the middle of summer.
Instead, go for pale, neutral tones or clean and crisp white shades for your drapes, living room furniture, bedding and accessories. If you have kids, washed-out shades of tan, beige and stone (or even pastels) might be more practical. These paler colors will repel sunlight, creating a bright and airy feel inside your home while keeping the heat where it belongs – outside!
#4: Opt for Water Features and Plantings
You will undoubtedly already know how refreshing it is to be misted by one of those wonderful misters in the queue at an amusement park or a restaurant. Water features such as fountains, small pools or miniature waterfalls will create a similar effect for your home, and they definitely contribute towards keeping the air surrounding your living space cooler as well. Adding a variety of plants around your water feature will amplify this effect, as plants act as shades, blocking out the rays of the sun before they can be absorbed by the ground and transformed into atmospheric heat.
#5: Create a Courtyard Escape
With summer on the way, some might already be worried about just how hot Houston will be when summer is at its peak. With the climate growing increasingly fiery each year, it is essential to create an escape for yourself so that you can get away from the heat from time to time. The easiest way to do this is to create a cool courtyard for yourself, complete with water features, plenty of shade-giving plants, and a few other choice additions.
A pergola or boma is a great idea, as is a hammock or a comfortable hanging chair for those lazy summer days. If you are busy designing your living space, it’s also essential to make sure that all of the rooms fronting your courtyard have sizeable windows and doors so that the cooling effects of this space can reach into your home too!
Need some expert advice on how to create the perfect Houston home? Our team at Canaima consists of locals who know exactly what the climate is like and how to use it to your advantage. Send them a message today for expert input and assistance with creating your very own subtropical paradise!
