We recently spoke to home design expert, Jess Nunn from The Home Chaperone, who shared with us 5 key tips to keep your warm this winter.
When the temperatures start to drop and you begin to feel that chill in the air chances are you don’t tend to venture out as often as you normally would in the warmer months so it pays to create a snug sanctuary to escape the cold.
The cooler months are on their way and if you’re anything like me and love nothing more than snuggling up on the couch, wrapped up like a burrito in a blanket watching episode after episode then listen up because we have some great tips to help you turn your home into a warm and cosy winter retreat.
Here are our top 5 tips to cosy up your home this winter.
1. Add a door to the rear hallway
The cost of heating an entire home can really spike during the winter months, that’s why it is super important to create zones in your home. By adding a door to the rear hallway you can heat only the areas that you are actually using instead of wasting energy on heating the rooms that aren’t being used. As an added bonus, it keeps the noise levels down for sleeping kids or babies.
2. Be aware of solar orientation
A well thought out orientation can really improve your heating (and cooling) needs. North facing windows receive sunlight all day long. In winter, the sun is lower in the sky which allows light and warmth into the space. In summer, the sun is higher in the sky, so the windows become protected by the eaves. We recommend positioning your living areas towards the north and avoiding positioning the Alfresco on the North side as it will block the sun in winter. South facing windows receive very little (if any) direct sunlight and don’t require shading, so eaves are not necessary. In winter, heat escapes through these windows so it’s recommended to keep windows small.
3. Add seals your doors and block out blinds to your windows
If you shiver just at the thought of that nasty draft coming through the door in winter, it really is a no-brainer! Adding seals to your doors can really improve the comfort of your home without the need for one of nanna’s knitted draft stoppers. Adding thick block out blinds to your windows can also help reduce drafts and retain the warmth inside your home.
4. Incorporate cosy lighting
When the days begin to get shorter you can incorporate cosy lighting in your home to make up for the lack of daylight. For example, adding an extra power point to your living room so you can brighten up a dark corner and installing ‘warm’ lighting throughout the home as opposed to ‘cool light’ which tends to throw blue tones. Here’s another hot tip, ‘Smart’ lighting is now becoming a popular option in homes, so these days you can adjust the brightness and colour of your pendants or lamps all from your phone.
5. Upgrade underlay
Carpet underlay may seem like a pretty insignificant topic, but did you know that by upgrading the underlay, it’s not only adding extra cushioning under foot but it’s also helping retain warmth in the carpet? Adding rugs to high traffic areas in the cooler months is another great way to create a cosier home.
And finally our last little bonus tip that you will 100% thank us for is to move the tap mixer in your shower so you can turn it on without the high pitched squeal that comes after being pelted with ice cold water as you scramble to adjust the temperature of the water.
