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Cosy up! Winter’s on its way.
Thursday, October 13, 2022
When the clocks go back and it gets darker earlier, there’s a lot you can do to keep your home warm and energy efficient this winter and make it look really inviting too. It may be cold and wet outside, but your home can be a haven so here are our top tips for ways to cosy up for winter.
As days get shorter, we use lighting more, so choose energy efficient, dimmable LED bulbs to create a warm glow as well as minimising running costs. For added cosiness use slow burn candles and fairy lights to good effect.
Every degree lower on your thermostat can reduce your heating bill by as much as 2% so it really is worth wearing an extra jumper indoors and if you’re away for any period turn the thermostat down to 55F/13C, as low as you can without risk of freezing your water pipes. Heating costs are such a significant part of household energy bills so it pays to economise where you can. Start with draught proofing, a relatively low-cost way to stop heat escaping from window frames and doors. Consumer group Which? recommends blocking unused chimneys with a special inflatable balloon, and silicone-based filler to close gaps in between floorboards and skirting. Fitting reflector panels behind radiators on uninsulated external walls will keep your room warmer and could save you around £25 a year. You can buy panels for approximately £8. All low-cost items, they could pay back over the winter.
Protect your home from the winter weather. Keep drains and gutters free of leaves and check for damaged roof tiles by looking inside your loft for chinks of daylight. While you’re up there check your loft insulation for savings of up to £135/year according to Which? It needs to be at least 270mm thick for optimum impact. Your loft will be colder as a result so make sure you insulate any water pipes in the loft.
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.
Use of natural materials is the next big trend for interiors. Make your home feel warm and inviting using wood, stone, and linen to create texture and tranquillity. Chocolate brown and warm earthy tones are back alongside neutral elegance and large potted plants. A 70’s retro trend encourages the pairing of mustard, orange and jewel colours and velvet is definitely back! Velvet cushions and boucle throws add depth, warmth and texture.
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!
