Blog
Snuggle up! Winter’s coming.
Friday, October 27, 2023
As the clocks go back this weekend and the evenings get darker earlier, you can still do a lot - from wood burning stoves to draught excluders - to keep heating bills down and make your home cosy this winter. It may be cold, wet and windy outside but your home can be a relaxing haven after a long day. So have a look at our top tips to cosy up and get ready for winter.
During the winter, with less natural light available and for fewer hours, we use more electric lighting, so opt for energy efficient, dimmable LED bulbs which give out a lovely warm glow and keep costs down. Open curtains during the day to let sunshine flood in to light and heat your home, then close heavyweight curtains overnight for extra insulation and warmth.
Wear an extra layer or two of clothes even indoors. Every degree less on your thermostat equates to a reduction in your heating bill of up to 2% and if you’re heading off for a trip away, turn it down to 55F, the lowest you can go without running the risk of water pipes freezing. Since heating costs account for a large part of household energy bills it really pays to economise if you can. This year in our network area we are almost into November with only a couple of Frosty nights.
There’s nothing quite like a wood-burner or log fire to warm the heart as well as the room. And once the room is warm, keep it warm with some good insulation options. Draught excluders around doors and windows and thick, thermally lined curtains are both inexpensive and easy ways to keep cosy.
Interiors are buzzing for boucle and other textured textiles this winter with cushions and throws adding instant warmth and visual interest to any room. With teddy bedding every day’s a duvet day! A neutral colour palette is here to stay, at least for now, but mix it up with rusty reds, blush pink, oyster grey or dusky blues and you’re on to a winning combination of warmth and visual harmony. Add to a serene atmosphere with fairy lights and flickering candles especially calming if scented with cranberry, cinnamon and spruce.
If it’s not too late already, protect your home from winds and rain by clearing drains and gutters of leaves. Check for damaged tiles on your roof - it’s always better to fix single tiles than to run up a major roofing repair bill through years of neglect. Looking for shafts of daylight in your loft as these will indicate where light (and rain) is getting in and while you’re up there check that your loft insulation is still good.
Make sure that outdoor lights are working properly throughout the winter. Good lighting adds an element of security, helping you to identify unwanted guests and giving you a warm welcome home in the evening. So stock up on firewood, keep heat in with draught excluders and curtains, add soft teddy throws to your sofa and snuggle up for Winter!
For more information on ways to protect your home contact your local Frost office. Our award winning teams will be happy to advise what will add to the value of your home.
