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Abstract Due to financial and construction limitations, existing museum buildings often do not allow the retrofit of complex HVAC systems. Thus, an attractive way to improve the quality of the microclimates in the museum rooms is to improve the control of systems that are already installed. This paper presents novel proven control strategies to drastically reduce the temperature and relative humidity fluctuations in the exhibitions halls of a Polish museum in a moderate climate. The methods comprise improved control of existing indoor temperature and ventilation airflow control systems, without humidification and dehumidification devices. Simulations were performed with EnergyPlus software; the multi-zone model of the building was calibrated and verified with existing measured data. A warm period of the year was simulated, and six weeks of it were experimentally validated. The existing heating and cooling systems comprised radiators and in some areas, fan-coils. Through improved control schemes and the addition of outdoor air fans, the period with the small relative humidity fluctuations (<±5%) increased from 2% to 88% in the season. Highlights • Control microclimate strategies in the exhibitions halls are presented. • Combination temperature control together with ventilation is analyzed. • When hybrid ventilation is used, de- and humidification devices are not needed. • The proposed methods have significantly greater impact on microclimate in summer. • The proposed systems are not expensive and easy to implement in existing museums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]