For the majority of the year, my Edwardian cottage, is bordering on Arctic temperatures. It doesn't matter whether it's finally 'shorts weather' outside and the sun is shining, inside remains undeniably nippy. That said, for two or three months of the year when things really warm up, trying to sleep upstairs becomes an experience that, I imagine, is akin to hanging out in a pizza oven. In short, it becomes unbearably hot.
This has lead me to look into installing air conditioning or, at the very least, investing in a portable unit – anything to get a good night's sleep and reduce the horribly stuffy atmosphere that develops in the bedrooms.
The thing is, I have rarely been bowled over by the appearance of air con units – so do I really want one in my home? To help me decide whether or not to take the plunge, I reached out to the experts to find out if there is a way to get air conditioning units to blend in a little, while still doing their job.
Is air conditioning always an eyesore?
When I think of air conditioning, I think either of those great big wall-mounted units you see in offices that have slightly yellowed over time, or hulking great portable beasts that require you to hang an unsightly pipe out of your window for all to see. Is this what you have to give into if you want to cool down a room in your house this summer?
"Ugly AC is a personal obsession of mine," picks up Kevin Pennington, owner and MD of Lancashire Air Conditioning. "But air conditioning does not need to be ugly. It is ugly because we do not have a fully developed air-conditioning market in this country and most people are just buying units in an emergency from anywhere. They're not thinking about the design, just about how to get their kids to be able to sleep when the house is boiling hot."
Sam Carter, heating and cooling appliances expert at Appliances Direct, agrees that the issue often comes down to a lack of research, rather than a complete absence of attractive options. "In the UK, home air conditioning popularity is growing, but there is still a little education needed on the types available, and the pros and cons of each. However, a little research before purchasing should help you find the right appliance to fit your needs."
Kevin is owner and Managing Director of Lancashire Air Conditioning. He specialises in domestic AC installations in England and has installed over 1,000 units personally and managed many more. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of UK-stocked AC units designed for homes and is a member of the Institute of Refrigeration, holding the designation TMInstR.
Sam is a radiator and heating expert with 4 years of experience. He is dedicated to helping customers as they shop for radiators, heaters, dehumidifiers, and air conditioning online. His role requires extensive product understanding to help customers find exactly what they need, quickly and confidently. He has specialist expertise in product specifications, installation, efficiency and environmental considerations, alongside home style trends.
Can you vent portable air conditioning units subtly?
Let's start by looking at portable air conditioning units, usually the go-to for UK homeowners who use them in summer and store them in winter. I actually tested one out not too long ago and, while it cooled the room quickly, the fact that the ducting needed to be hung out of the window ruined things a bit. So, what's the solution?
"In the UK people tend to start with loud, ugly portable units and they fling the hose out of the window," says Kevin Pennington. "The next step up from this would be to core a hole through the wall and fit an exterior vent. This should cost around £200-£300, plus the cost of the unit.
"It leaves the outside looking better and makes these units more effective because you don’t have a window open, but ultimately you are still left with a loud – and arguably 'ugly' – portable unit," he continues. "Once people have got fed up with the noise and appearance, they tend to upgrade to a properly fitted unit."
That said, Sam Carter is keen to point out that the design of the best portable air conditioning units has really progressed in recent years meaning they aren't always the hefty eyesores they once were.
"Portable air conditioning units don’t need to be bulky or get in the way – modern units come in a variety of sizes, colours and styles, so you can usually find one that fits into your space in a more subtle way.
"Modern top-end portable units are designed with a smaller footprint and in premium finishes," adds Sam. "Manufacturers are utilising matte textures, minimalist digital displays, and sleek, vertical silhouettes. Instead of looking like a jarring appliance, modern portables are designed to blend into the room like a high-end air purifier or smart speaker, allowing them to sit discreetly alongside furniture or houseplants."
Shop portable air conditioning units
Not only is this cooling unit impressively powerful (14,000 BTU in fact) but it looks the part too thanks to its stylish fabric cover. It also works as a fan and dehumidifier and can be controlled using your smart devices
With its smart grey and white colourway and minimalist detailing, this unit can be operated via your smartphone, is fitted with an air purifier and has a long exhaust hose (1.8m) for easy positioning
Looking more like a speaker than air con, this unit can cool spaces up to 24m² and combines a dehumidifier and fan. It can be moved around on castors using the handy side handles
Are all wall-mounted air con units big white boxes?
If you want something a bit more permanent then it is worth looking at wall-mounted vs portable air conditioners. Wall-mounted is usually seen as the next step up. Again, the examples I've seen have not been too inspiring up until now, but is that changing?
"Of the all the standard white units, I’ve always preferred the Worcester Bosch 3200i series and I also like the LG Standard Plus units," reveals Kevin Pennington. "The LG unit is particularly attractive because it has a chrome strip across the bottom which makes it look slightly less industrial. However, we have to be realistic – both units might work incredibly well but they are still white boxes."
The positive here is that if you are prepared to pay a little more in the name of aesthetics, wall units do come in colours other than white, and in some sleeker designs too, as Kevin points out. "There are some really beautiful units available to members of the public if they are willing to just spend a little more money.
"The LG Artcool mirror is a very attractive unit, with smoked black glass on the front. Taking it up a notch is the Toshiba Haori," he suggests. "This unit has an interchangeable fabric cover and with either the default fabric or a custom fabric chosen to complement the room it can look phenomenal. You can even get units that look like photo frames now."
Daikin have also recognised the need for something more aesthetic with the new, design award-winning Stylish range of air con units. Available in a range of finishes, including silver, black, fabric, wood effect, a bright blue and even a leather effect, the kit comes with everything you need for a more blended interior approach. It's also once of the slimmest models meaning the size is less obtrusive too.
So, while there's no getting away from the fact that you will still need to mount a box at high level on your wall, there are at least now options other than white that can help you blend air con into your interior slightly more seamlessly.
What is the best way to blend in an air conditioning unit?
If you don't love the idea of your air conditioning costs spiralling, there are still ways of blending in more affordable designs, as Tom Houlker, director and air conditioning expert at Houlk Air, explains.
"Air conditioning can blend in as long as you don’t treat it like an afterthought. The worst installs are those where the unit is just installed onto the nearest spare wall. If it’s lined up properly, kept clear of clutter, and placed somewhere that makes sense with the room, it can look neat and blend in," says Tom.
"The best-looking jobs are usually planned early, before the room is finished," continues Tom. "That gives you a chance to hide pipework, choose a better position and avoid awkward runs across walls. With retrofits, I’d focus on a clean install rather than trying to make the unit disappear completely.
"A slim wall-mounted unit in the right place will often look better than badly boxing something in," he recommends. "Tidy pipework, straight trunking and sensible positioning make a huge difference, because people notice messy work far more than they notice the unit itself."
As an alternative, while this unit isn't an air conditioner as such, it's still a really effective product when it comes to cooling down a room. In cooling mode it passes air over a honeycomb system featuring ice cold water, expelling it around the room in an oscillating motion. It requires no outside ducting either.
What is the most attractive type of air conditioning?
There are several different types of air conditioning available, each with their own set of pros and cons. There tends, however, to be one clear winner when it comes to good-looks.
"If you don't mind spending a good amount of money, nothing is better than a hidden ducted system," states Kevin Pennington. "This is the gold standard of systems. The air conditioning unit is hidden in an attic or in a plastered space like a bulkhead. Most of these units use plastic or metal grills to allow the airflow to enter and be removed from the room and these can look very nice.
"For a really great finish, however, we use gypsum vents," he continues, "which are plastered into the ceiling directly and can be almost invisible. That said, these systems are expensive and only a few companies are able to install them to a high standard."
Tom Houlker agrees that, for a sleek finish, ducted systems are the best option but points out that careful air conditioning installation is required for it to be worthwhile. "Before choosing one, check that you actually have enough ceiling or loft space to properly house the ductwork," he advises.
"You still need proper airflow and service access, because if a unit is boxed in too tightly or hidden behind joinery, it can struggle to cool, collect dust, become harder to clean, and cost more to repair because engineers can’t get to it as easily."
FAQs
What is the best way to duct portable air conditioning to the outside?
For many people in the UK, using air conditioning to keep a house cool is not often required, meaning portable units are ideal. That said, knowing how to vent them to outside in a way that doesn't ruin the kerb appeal of your home or get in the way inside, can be tricky.
There are several ways to approach this and Sam Carter explains the most common (and simplest). "Most portable air conditioners are supplied with a window kit which allows you to neatly fix your portable AC to your window without looking messy from outside. There are options for all window types including window seals that neatly zip around your window."
If, however, you don't relish the idea of your window having to be open to run your air conditioning, it might be better to run the ducting through a hole in your exterior wall, with a neat vent on the outside.
Air conditioning isn't for everyone – and if you have decided to give it a miss, there are plenty of very effective natural ways to cool a house for you to consider instead. Or, if you think a fan will be sufficient, check out our review of the Duux Whisper Flex 2 Fan or the MeacoFan Sefte 10" Pedestal Air Circulator – which was tested during a heatwave.
