Latest news with #ChloeBarrow
Tom's Guide
16-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Tom's Guide
I made this one simple change to my living room and it felt much cooler in a heatwave
Summer is here, and like many, I've been struggling to keep cool in my home. Even with my trusted cooling fans (plural) on full blast, or windows wide open, my living room still felt like a furnace. But just when I was considering putting my face in an ice bucket, I discovered this quick and easy trick to make my room feel cooler in a heatwave. The FlexBreeze Pro Mist is a larger fan, though it can act as both corded or cordless, with a up to 24 hour running time (depending on what speed setting you use). Use it on the pedestal or as a table fan with a portable misting tank so you can take advantage of the mist spray both indoor or out. According to designers, our interior choices could be instant heat-trappers — and the reason for making our rooms feel hotter. "Rugs are brilliant insulators, which is great for winter but not ideal when you're trying to cool down," states Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James. "Thick pile or large area rugs can trap heat, especially on hardwood or tiled floors that would otherwise stay naturally cooler. In summer, consider rolling up heavier rugs or replacing them with lightweight flatweave styles." Now, as an interior obsessive, I'm always sprucing up my home to create a relaxing space. From plush cushions and pillows to cozy throws and rugs, these are my favorite soft furnishings to brighten up any room. Little did I know that I'd been making my room feel hotter. With all that said, I decided to store away (reluctantly) my plush, oversized cushions and throws on my sofa, and rolled up the floor rug. While I didn't notice a massive difference at first, I did notice that the room gradually felt cooler — especially in the evenings. By keeping my seating area as minimal as possible, there was better air circulation around the room, without any thick, soft furnishings trapping the heat. Impressive! Although this is a good hack for making your room feel cooler, there are plenty of simple ways to cool down your living room without AC. This includes installing thermal blinds and woven window coverings, to creating a cross-breeze with a cooling fan. Essentially, this involves placing one fan facing inward on the side where cooler air is entering, and another facing outward on the opposite side to push warm air out. Such small changes could do wonders to beating the heat this summer.
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
Three surprising mistakes that are making homes too hot during this heatwave
Nathalia sofa in cool living room layout As we experience warmer summers, many households are finding their homes uncomfortably stuffy. Temperatures are regularly reaching over 30 degrees and, without air conditioning, these hot days can feel unbearable. From gorgeous Georgian town houses to jaw-dropping penthouses, converted campervans to bargain boltholes. Take a peek at the finest homes across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... According to interior expert, Chloe Barrow at Laura James, some small home styling choices could be inadvertently turning up the heat indoors. From furniture placement to soft furnishing swaps, Chloe reveals three common decor mistakes that may be contributing to your home feeling even more boiling than usual, especially during a heatwave. 1. Your Furniture Is Blocking Airflow 'Most people don't realise that placing large furniture pieces too close to walls can actually stifle air circulation. Air needs space to move, especially around naturally cooler areas like walls and floors. If your sofa or sideboard is pressed right up against the wall, you're limiting that airflow and trapping heat in pockets. Even just pulling pieces a few centimetres away can help fresh air move more freely through the space.' Nathalia sofa in cool living room layout 2. Your Rugs Are Making The Room Hotter Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Rugs are brilliant insulators, which is great for winter but not ideal when you're trying to cool down. Thick pile or large area rugs can trap heat, especially on hardwood or tiled floors that would otherwise stay naturally cooler. In summer, consider rolling up heavier rugs or replacing them with lightweight flatweave styles. Leaving certain high-traffic zones rug-free can also help lower the perceived temperature underfoot, making the space feel fresher and more breathable.' 3. You Opted for Blinds Instead of Curtains 'While blinds can look sleek, they often do little to block out heat. Thin slatted styles especially allow sunlight and warmth to seep in, which quickly raises the internal temperature. In contrast, curtains, especially those with a thermal or blackout lining, can significantly reduce heat from coming in. They create a thicker barrier between your home and the sun's rays, helping to keep rooms noticeably cooler. During summer, I recommend keeping curtains drawn during the hottest parts of the day to maintain a lower ambient temperature.' Chloe Barrow's insights serve as a valuable reminder that staying cool during a heatwave doesn't always require expensive gadgets or renovations. Sometimes, it's about working smarter with the space you already have. By addressing these commonly overlooked decor mistakes, households can reclaim a sense of freshness and comfort during the hottest months of the year. So, before investing in fans or portable AC units, take a closer look at your home's layout and furnishings. You might already have the tools to beat the heat.
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Expert confirms how often bedding needs to be washed in heatwave
As Brits brace themselves for another heatwave, you may be wondering how often to change your bedding, especially during the warmer nights. Here, an expert reveals exactly how often should we be stripping down our beds Even if you have a fan on during the night, you're bound to sweat more in hotter weather, so how often should you be changing your bed? Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James, said that homeowners should wash their sheets at least once - if not twice - a week during summer. 'In the warmer months, I recommend washing your bedding every week as a minimum,' she said. 'Hot nights mean more sweat and skin cells accumulate in the sheets. "If you experience night sweats, are prone to allergies, or have pets sharing your bed, I recommend upping this to twice a week to help maintain freshness and to be hygienic." And she said it's important not to forget to wash pillows. "The most common mistake people make when cleaning bedding is not washing their pillows,' she added. "No, I don't mean pillowcases, I mean actual pillows. "I recommend doing this at least twice a year as a minimum, and treat them according to their filling. Synthetic pillows tolerate warmer washes. "But feather or down should be washed cool and air-dried flat to avoid clumping or damage. If you're a night sweater, I'd recommend washing your pillows a couple of times over the summer period." Meanwhile, Clean queen Alison Chadwick from Stockport near Manchester, who has 161,000 followers on Instagram, previously told The Mirror bedding should be washed once a week - even more if you let your pet sleep alongside you. 'We don't let our dog on the bed but if we did I would definitely wash the bedding once a day as Ginger is big, slobbery and smelly - like the one out of Turner & Hooch,' Alison said. 'If he was less stinky I'd probably only wash them once a week.' The 43-year-old 'cleanfluencer' also gave some tips on keeping laundry smelling fresh without having to fork out for expensive products. She says: 'I've found that cheap fabric conditioners are just as good as the expensive ones and you can keep clothes fresher by cleaning your washing machine every six months. 'A great tip is to cut a lemon in two and put a squirt of toothpaste in your drum. Try leaving the door open after every wash to dry out the drum. You can also put bicarbonate of soda in the drum of your washing machine, which helps to soften your laundry.' She also has tips on making clothes that have been worn more than once smell good. 'Anything that you're wearing close to the skin - like T-shirts, sportswear and bras - need to be washed more often, but outer clothes can be worn for longer and there are ways you can keep them fresh,' she says. 'Just freshen them up with Febreeze, Fabulosa or Lenor Crease Releaser Spray."
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
Three surprising mistakes that are making homes too hot during this heatwave
Nathalia sofa in cool living room layout As we experience warmer summers, many households are finding their homes uncomfortably stuffy. Temperatures are regularly reaching over 30 degrees and, without air conditioning, these hot days can feel unbearable. From gorgeous Georgian town houses to jaw-dropping penthouses, converted campervans to bargain boltholes. Take a peek at the finest homes across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... According to interior expert, Chloe Barrow at Laura James, some small home styling choices could be inadvertently turning up the heat indoors. From furniture placement to soft furnishing swaps, Chloe reveals three common decor mistakes that may be contributing to your home feeling even more boiling than usual, especially during a heatwave. 1. Your Furniture Is Blocking Airflow 'Most people don't realise that placing large furniture pieces too close to walls can actually stifle air circulation. Air needs space to move, especially around naturally cooler areas like walls and floors. If your sofa or sideboard is pressed right up against the wall, you're limiting that airflow and trapping heat in pockets. Even just pulling pieces a few centimetres away can help fresh air move more freely through the space.' Nathalia sofa in cool living room layout 2. Your Rugs Are Making The Room Hotter Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Rugs are brilliant insulators, which is great for winter but not ideal when you're trying to cool down. Thick pile or large area rugs can trap heat, especially on hardwood or tiled floors that would otherwise stay naturally cooler. In summer, consider rolling up heavier rugs or replacing them with lightweight flatweave styles. Leaving certain high-traffic zones rug-free can also help lower the perceived temperature underfoot, making the space feel fresher and more breathable.' 3. You Opted for Blinds Instead of Curtains 'While blinds can look sleek, they often do little to block out heat. Thin slatted styles especially allow sunlight and warmth to seep in, which quickly raises the internal temperature. In contrast, curtains, especially those with a thermal or blackout lining, can significantly reduce heat from coming in. They create a thicker barrier between your home and the sun's rays, helping to keep rooms noticeably cooler. During summer, I recommend keeping curtains drawn during the hottest parts of the day to maintain a lower ambient temperature.'
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I'm an interior expert and here's how often you should really wash your bedsheets in summer – it's more than you think
MANY of us are guilty of putting off stripping the bed - it's such a loathsome chore, and sometimes it feels like it takes a lot of energy. But changing our sheets is essential, especially during the summer when the hot weather arrives. 3 The warmer temperatures mean most of us will be sweating through the night, even if we are putting the fans on. And this, in turn, can leave stains and odours on our pillows and sheets that impact our sleep hygiene. So, experts have revealed exactly how often everyone should be washing their bedding in the summer. And it's more often than you might think. Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James, said that homeowners should wash their sheets at least twice a week during the summer. And if you suffer from summer night sweats, then this number could actually be higher. She said: 'In the warmer months, I recommend washing your bedding every week as a minimum. "Hot nights mean more sweat and skin cells accumulate in the sheets. "Not only can this make for an uncomfortable sleep, but it can also lead to odour or irritation if left too long. "If you experience night sweats, are prone to allergies, or have pets sharing your bed, I recommend upping this to twice a week to help maintain freshness and to be hygienic." My bed sheet trick gets wet laundry dry for free - I come from a family of six where the washing is never ending and it's a total game changer But it's not just sweat and skin that make our bedding dirtier more quickly than during the winter months. Leaving the window open and putting the fan on can also impact our bedding. Chloe added: "You should definitely wash bedding more frequently in summer than winter. "In colder months, our bodies sweat less, and we tend to wear more nightwear, creating a cleaner sleep environment. "In summer, it's common to sleep with minimal clothing and open windows, which can bring in more pollen and outdoor particles. "That's not to mention those who experience night sweats and the body oils your bedding absorbs from that. "This combination makes regular washing essential if you want to stay on top of sleep hygiene." Chloe also revealed the biggest mistake that people make when they clean their bedding. CHLOE has also revealed what temperature we should be washing our bedding to make sure we get rid of all bacteria - and it's higher than you think. She said: "In terms of temperature, 40 degrees Celsius is ideal for bedding in summer. "While 30 degrees is more energy efficient, it isn't always enough to kill off bacteria or allergens. "It also won't work if your bedding has visible stains, so a minimum of 40 degrees Celsius is advised. "For pillowcases or sheets with heavy soiling, I'd recommend a hotter 60-degree wash, but always check care labels first. "You can always boost a cooler wash with natural antibacterials like white vinegar or tea tree oil if needed." When it comes to drying, however, she urges people not to use their tumble dryer. Chloe added: "Air-drying is always best for bedding. If you have access to outdoor space, hang your sheets in direct sunlight as the UV rays naturally disinfect and the airflow helps reduce any smell. "If you're relying on indoor drying, ensure you have good ventilation to prevent damp or mildew. "Tumble drying should only be a backup rather than a first choice, particularly for delicate fabrics." She said: "The most common mistake people make when cleaning bedding is not washing their pillows. "No, I don't mean pillowcases, I mean actual pillows. "I recommend doing this at least twice a year as a minimum, and treat them according to their filling. "Synthetic pillows tolerate warmer washes. "But feather or down should be washed cool and air-dried flat to avoid clumping or damage. "If you're a night sweater, I'd recommend washing your pillows a couple of times over the summer period." 3
