Blog
Cosy up! Winter’s on its way.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Now that the clocks have gone back and the evenings are darker earlier, there’s a lot you can do - from wood burning stoves to draught excluders - to make your home warm and energy efficient this winter. And a few changes here and there can make it look really inviting too. It may be cold and wet outside but your home can be warm and relaxing after a long day. Here are our top tips for ways to cosy up ready for winter.
During the winter, as days get shorter, we use lighting more, so choose energy efficient, dimmable LED bulbs to create a lovely warm glow as well as keeping electricity bills low. During the day, open curtains and blinds to allow the sunshine in to light and heat your home, then use heavyweight curtains at night to provide an extra layer of insulation and warmth.
Keep an extra layer of clothes on even indoors. Every degree lower on your thermostat can reduce your heating bill by as much as 2% and if you’re away for a weekend turn the heating down to 55F, as low as you can go without risk of freezing your water pipes. Heating costs are a significant part of most household energy bills so it pays to economise where you can.
There’s nothing quite like a real fire or a wood-burner to warm the heart as well as the room. Once you’ve got the right level of heat, keep it in with good insulation. Draught excluders and thermally lined curtains are easy, inexpensive ways to keep your home cosy.
For décor, dusty, old fashioned pinks are on trend this autumn and simple to apply to our homes, adding warmth and colour to your home. They work well alongside metallic, contemporary greys and you can create a serene atmosphere with fairy lights, tactile, textured fabric, cushions and throws to give instant depth, warmth and visual interest. Flickering candles are soothing, especially if scented with seasonal aromas like cranberry and spruce.
As wind and rain set in, it’s time to protect your home, preparing it for the worst weather winter can throw at you. Keep drains and gutters free of leaves to avoid damp appearing on walls. Check your roof for damaged tiles - it’s better to fix the odd tile than to incur major roof repairs with years of neglect. You can check your roof from the inside by looking for shafts of daylight in the loft and while you’re there check your loft insulation is up to scratch.
Outdoor lighting makes especially good sense in winter. On dark evenings it offers greater security; the right lighting helps you identify any unwanted guests and provides a warm welcome home for you at night.
So stock up on logs and kindling for the fire, keep the heat in with curtains and draught excluders, add some soft throws to the sofa and cosy up for Winter!
For more information on making your property ready for sale or to let contact your local Frost office.
