Blog
Cosy up! Winter’s here.
Monday, December 2, 2024
From the moment the clocks go back, it’s dark by 4.30pm. But there’s a lot you can do - from wood burning stoves to draught excluders - to keep fuel bills down and have a super cosy home. Even when it’s cold, wet and windy outside, your home can be your haven. So take a look at our top tips to cosy up and stay warm this winter.
With shorter daylight hours, we tend to rely more on electric lighting, so choose energy efficient, dimmable LED bulbs for a cosy warm glow while keeping electricity costs down. Make sure that outdoor lights are working to add security, help you to identify callers and give you a warm welcome home in the evening.
Every degree less on your thermostat can reduce your heating bill by up to 2% so keep warm with an extra layer of clothes indoors and if you’re going away, turn the thermostat down to 13c, the lowest you can go without the risk of water pipes freezing in a cold snap. Heating typically accounts for a large part of energy bills in Winter so it is worth economising if you can.
There’s nothing quite like a log fire or wood-burner to create a cosy glow and warm the room. And, keep the warmth in with some good insulation options. Draught excluders around doors and windows are a must along with heavyweight, thermally lined curtains. Leave curtains open during the day so that sunshine can both light and heat your home, then close them early evening for insulation and warmth. Large, squishy sofas are in along with big accent chairs, and loveseats, places you can lounge, lie down, cuddle up and get cosy.
Current interior trends are all about creating warmth, comfort, cosiness, with timeless style. For your colour palette choose earthy tones like rich browns, terracotta, mustard, beige, and burnt orange to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere and bring warmth to any space.
Lighting is crucial for setting the mood so focus on soft, warm lighting that casts a gentle glow, and lanterns for an extra touch of autumnal warmth. As Christmas approaches, add fairy lights and flickering candles especially calming with seasonal scents of cranberry, orange, cinnamon and spruce.
Natural materials like wood, stone, and wool are still on trend, with textures that create a sense of the outdoors and match sustainable, eco-friendly design. Wood adds warmth to a room, while stone accessories provide a rustic, earthy feel. Create cosy corners to unwind and relax using chunky knit blankets, soft cushions, and throws with a mix of textures from velvet to wool.
Choose a couple of statement pieces of furniture and compliment them with subtle accessories to create a balanced feel. Then stock up on firewood, dim the lights, close the curtains, add plush throws and cosy up ready for Winter!
For more information, professional advice and a free market appraisal of your home, please contact your local Frost office.
