Shutters

These work better than blinds and curtains, as long as they’re installed outside so that they prevent the sun from shining onto the glass. Solidwood shutters are effective but could make a room dark. Louvre shutters (pictured here) let in a breeze and a bit of light. They require no energy and also act as burglar-proofing. Tip West and east facing windows should have shutters with vertical louvres, as the sun would hit these windows at a lower angle, says architect Etienne Britz, whereas the louvres for north-facing windows should be horizontal, as in our photo. Price From R2 034 for a 36cm x 1,17m pair from Swartland swartland.co.za