What I Fixed Last July That Made Summer Easier This Year

Last summer, by the middle of July, I was already tired. Not just because of the heat, but because my home felt off. It wasn’t just about sweating through the afternoons or tossing and turning at night. Something about the space felt harder to live in. Brighter than I wanted. Heavier somehow.

At first, I thought I needed to crank the AC more or buy a better fan. But after a few days of sitting under the ceiling light in my living room, I noticed something strange. I was sweating in one spot, even though the air felt fine elsewhere. I turned off the light. The room instantly felt cooler.

That was the moment I started to think about the lighting in my house, especially in summer.

I didn’t replace everything. I didn’t buy smart bulbs or new lamps. I just looked around, paid attention, and made small changes. And it completely shifted how my home feels in hot weather.

Here’s what worked.

The Living Room Light That Made the Room Hotter
The main light in my living room was one of those older ceiling fixtures with two big halogen bulbs. They were bright, which I liked in the winter, but in July they made the room feel like a toaster. The air felt heavier every time I turned them on.

One day I replaced them with soft LED bulbs. Same size and brightness, but much cooler to the touch. I also stopped using that overhead light and relied more on a standing lamp in the corner with a warm white bulb.

It made the whole space feel calmer. Less glare. Less heat. Just that one swap changed how much I enjoyed being in the room during the afternoon.

If you're not sure which bulb to get, I found a really simple guide at https://50bulbs.com/. It helped me figure out what color temperature I needed without getting confused.

Cooking Without Overheating
Mornings in the kitchen used to be the worst. I’d walk in to make coffee and immediately feel like I needed a cold shower. It didn’t make sense. The oven wasn’t on. The windows were open. Still, it felt stuffy and hot.

Then I realized the two bulbs over the counter were old incandescent ones. They looked fine but they gave off more heat than light.

I swapped them for basic warm LED bulbs and the difference was immediate. The light was softer, and I didn’t feel like I was cooking in a sauna anymore. Even my morning routine felt better just from that one small fix.

The Office Glow Up
My desk is near a window, and during summer afternoons the light coming through can be blinding. At first, I used blackout curtains and turned on my desk lamp to keep things even. But it still felt off.

After some trial and error, I started matching the light to the time of day. In the morning, I opened the blinds and didn’t use any lamps at all. Around noon, I pulled the curtains halfway and turned on a soft LED bulb with a neutral white tone. It gave me just enough brightness without adding glare or extra heat.

I also stopped using the ceiling light completely. It was too much in the middle of the day and made my small office feel like a heat trap.

The article I read on https://50bulbs.com/ explained how certain bulbs can mimic daylight without the heat. That helped me understand why cooler tones work better for staying alert and warmer ones for winding down.

Hallways and Small Fixes
One of the most surprising changes came from the hallway. The bulb there was old and had a cold, bluish tint that always felt harsh, especially at night. I never thought about it until I started noticing how weird it felt to walk through that space after sunset.

I swapped that one out for a soft white LED. It took less than five minutes and suddenly the hallway felt like part of the home instead of a hospital corridor.

It made me realize that even the little lights matter. Bathroom mirror lights, closet bulbs, those tiny hallway fixtures. All of them play a part in how your home feels in the summer.

Better Sleep with Less Light
My bedroom used to be a bit too bright at night. I didn’t think it mattered since I’d fall asleep eventually, but during hot summer nights, every bit of comfort helps.

I put a small lamp on my bedside table and added a very soft, dimmable bulb. Just enough light to read or get around without shocking my eyes awake. I stopped using the overhead light entirely after 8pm.

That one change helped my body wind down faster. I slept better, even when the nights were warm. It turns out the kind of light you use before bed can actually make a difference. A post on https://50bulbs.com/ explained why low Kelvin bulbs are better at night. I followed that advice and never looked back.

What I’d Tell a Friend
If you’re finding your home a little too bright or uncomfortable this summer, try looking at your lights. Not just the fixtures, but the bulbs themselves.

Start with one room. Notice where the light feels too strong or where the heat seems to hang in the air. Swap out one bulb at a time. Use lamps instead of overheads when you can. Choose warmer light for evenings and cooler light for daytime tasks.

It doesn’t take much to feel the difference.

And if you need help figuring out which bulb does what, I really recommend checking out https://50bulbs.com/. The site makes everything easy to understand, even if you’re not usually the type to think about lighting.

A Cooler Summer, One Light at a Time

That hot July taught me that home comfort isn’t just about AC and fans. Lighting plays a quiet but powerful role in how a room feels.

Now, every summer, I go around and do a little check. I ask myself which lights are helping and which ones are making things worse. Most of the time, it’s a simple fix.

Sometimes, the best way to feel better in summer is just to switch off the big lights, turn on a lamp, and enjoy the soft glow instead.