Some houses are just . . . mean. Sure, your home design looks great, but there may be so many roadblocks to controlling the HVAC in the house,  you wonder if you must choose between an aesthetically pleasing room, or something that’s comfortable. Truth is, you can obviously get the best of both worlds, but it can be challenging (unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money on monthly energy bills).

Maybe your house is freezing in winter, boiling in summer, and no matter what you do, you feel like you’re losing a fight with the thermostat. This problem is generally found in older homes, but the thing is, comfort isn’t only about blasting the heat or cranking the AC.  Often, it comes down to small choices inside the home that make a bigger difference than you’d expect.

Yes, you’re in control, but one must carefully select what goes in your home (and maybe even out of your home too).

Look into Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains aren’t just for teenagers who sleep ’til noon, or for nurseries either (or even bedrooms in general, for that matter), but they can be lifesavers when it comes to keeping a house comfortable.  During the hottest summer months, they block out that brutal midday sun that feels like it’s trying to fry you alive through the window. In the winter, they’re like an extra blanket for your house, keeping warm air inside where it belongs. They can look good too, so you don’t have to choose between style and sanity.

Many people will use shades and blackout curtains together, and  that also works well. IKEA sells a a selection of blackout curtains if you’re on a tight budget, and they’re pretty cute. But with this addition to your windows, you won’t have to stress over the AC wattage or the setting of the heater during the colder months. Bonus: they pair with just about any type of window. Of course you shouldn’t have your AC or heater on nonstop, but the goal here is reduced usage for cost savings.

Consider the Color of Paint

Everyone obsesses over wall colors for aesthetics, but those shades can change how a room actually feels. That may be surprising, but lighter tones help to distribute sunlight and therefore keep a space cooler when it’s hot out.

At the same time, darker walls absorb more warmth and make chilly rooms feel cozier. Maybe it doesn’t make a massive difference, but it still helps to regulate the temperature, and that’s the goal here.

Consider the Greenery

This solution takes more time and patience than the quicker fixes, but it pays off in multiple ways. Plants can act as natural climate control — and that’s just one of their many benefits (they can even add a layer of security around your home). A well-placed patch of greenery provides shade to keep things cooler in the summer and helps block icy winds in the winter. They’re especially effective during warmer months, when foliage is at its fullest.

Your Rugs Matter, Too

A beautiful rug doesn’t just tie a room together — it also works as insulation you can walk on. In the winter, rugs help keep the chill from seeping up through hard floors, making the whole space feel warmer without adjusting the thermostat.

When summer arrives, simply roll it up and store it away to instantly make the room feel lighter and cooler. Since it only takes a few minutes to roll a rug in or out, it’s an easy seasonal swap. Just be sure to choose a thick rug for real insulation; thin ones won’t make much of a difference.