Our home is a place where we should feel safe and comfortable. It’s the place where we can be ourselves, relaxed and free of worries. So, it’s no wonder each one of us is trying to make our homes suit our needs in every way possible. This means that the interior of our home, as well as the garden and the backyard, are designed, decorated and equipped according to what we think will make our lives easier and more comfortable.
However, all the improvements we make to our home and garden are not only to please us – they should also protect our health and possibly save us some money. How can it be done, you may ask?
The UV radiation issue
Protecting yourself from UV radiation isn’t something you should think about only during the summer months. UV rays can reach you and damage your skin even during cloudy and cold days, meaning you should protect your skin from them all year round. One more thing to bear in mind is the fact that UV rays reflect off many surfaces, including cement, snow, water and sand. If you think about it, we are all surrounded by one of these surfaces throughout the year. UV rays are most dangerous between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. but the truth is you can’t always choose when to go outside and sometimes you simply want to enjoy outdoors. So, how to accomplish that without risking skin cancer? How to be safe in your own garden and your home no matter what time it is and what the weather is like?
Saving energy, natural resources and money
More and more companies in the field of home interior and exterior improvements are starting to pay attention to reducing the environmental footprint of the households using their products. A growing number of people care about the environment, trying to preserve natural resources but also to use energy-efficient home products and improvements that would also save them some money in the long run. Luckily, there are many ways to do it in your home and garden, and window and retractable awnings, as well as curtains, are one of the best improvements that could protect your health, save energy and money.
The benefits of awnings and curtains
When choosing curtains or if you are considering getting retractable awnings, you need to have in mind just how many benefits they bring to your household.
Better sleep
Sleep is one of the essential needs of every human being, but it’s important that you get quality sleep. As much as you enjoy natural light coming into your home, you need to darken your room to get some uninterrupted sleep. When choosing curtains, you want it to have a double application – to look elegant and modern but also to hide you from too much sun. Types like pinch pleat curtains or s-fold curtains will definitely allow you to choose just how much light you want inside your home.
Enjoying the garden regardless of weather
A canopy or retractable awnings allow you to enjoy the outdoors whenever you feel like it – no matter if it rains or snows, you can still enjoy the fresh air protected and comfortable. Also, even if it’s bright sun outside, they provide you with enough protection to enjoy the day and not to be annoyed by the heat.
Protected from the UV radiation
As it’s been said before, UV radiation is dangerous no matter what the weather is like and they are also able to enter your home because they bounce off the surfaces. This is where the curtains, awnings and canopies come in handy. If you get the chance to enjoy a nice day, quality awnings or a canopy will provide you with the much-needed protection. On the other hand, if you know that UV radiation is very high on a particular day, you only need to use the curtains to block UV rays from entering your home.
Energy-efficient and eco-friendly
During the summer, having curtains inside your home and retractable awning outside will definitely help you decrease the temperature inside your home. Consequently, you won’t have to turn the air-conditioning on, which will save you money at the end of the month. It’s possible to reduce energy consumption even up to 25% in some cases. Roller shade awnings are also very effective at preserving heat during the winter. Using retractable awnings allows you to use sun during the day to heat your home, and you can switch to other heating sources later in the day.
Final comment
These simple improvements can make a big difference to your household. They will not only protect your health but they will also preserve energy sources, helping the environment and saving you money.
Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.
