While many people rely on expensive air conditioning units to beat the heat in the summertime, not everyone is on board with these appliances. Whether you're trying to keep your energy costs down, object to the environmental impact or simply enjoy using prefer to fans instead, there's more than one way to stay cool indoors. However, you may encounter a variety of other difficulties by opting for the no A/C route this season that often come as a surprise. Here are some tips to keep in mind as the mercury continues to rise.

Dark colors
Believe it or not, certain shades of furniture and home accents can actually make your house feel slightly warmer. Dark furnishings will actually attract and absorb sunlight more than lighter hues. In order to keep your home as cool as possible, think about switching out cushions, fabrics and pillows for colors like light blue, white or cream, which will deflect the sun's rays better. A lovely white shag area rug paired with a cream leather sectional sofa can be a cool and refreshing improvement on your living room.

Home appliances
Air conditioning units aren't the only appliances sucking up energy in the summertime – washers, dryers and dishwashers are also major culprits. If you're coming up against a particularly hot day, try to limit using these until the cool air of the evening arrives. Not only will this limit energy use during off-peak hours, but you'll avoid pumping more heat into your home when the sun is high in the sky. Similarly, computers, video game systems and televisions can generate a lot of heat when left on, so switch them off whenever you're not using them.

Open windows
While opening the windows might seem like a good way to get fresh air circulating, this can also allow more heat from outside to enter your home. Instead, installing weatherproof or storm windows will help block hot air from entering and cool air from escaping. Similarly, consider limiting the amount of sunlight that enters by using blinds or drapes in the middle of the day. Tall trees and bushes that cast shade on your home's exterior are also helpful.