During the colder winter months, you want your home to become an escape from the chill. You want to get home to a warm home, have a rejuvenating bath and snuggle up on the sofa with a fluffy blanket.
I believe that the transition from summer to winter in your home is just as important as the transition your wardrobe makes during the same time of year. Now, I’m not suggesting you redecorate your entire home, not at all, there are just a few things you can do to make your home an absolute dream during the winter months.
Now, if you’re anything like me, you’ll hate the cold, and after a long journey home of the bus or train you want to arrive to a cozy home, which is warm and inviting, not wander around in your coat for an hour before the heating kicks in.
Crank the Heating Up
Of course, the first thing you want to do is make sure that your heating system is working because if it’s not, you will have to get in touch with a professional HVAC company (learn more here) who can come and repair it for you. Once that has been done, you will have every opportunity in the world to crack on your heating, so you may want to climb into the storage cupboard and set your timer, if you have one.
Waking up in the cold is probably worse than arriving home to it so I always set my heating to come on an hour before I’m due up, this makes a huge difference and will improve your mood for the day (trust me, I can vouch for this). Secondly set the timer to come on an hour before you get home to warm the house before you arrive. Depending on how cold your house this, have your heating on for the next couple of hours before heading to bed. Make sure your heating system is working efficiently as this can help to reduce your monthly costs of having the heating on everyday. Places like Castle home comfort heating & cooling have “Happy Today or You Don’t Pay” policies so they might be worth contacting if you need help.
Hot Water on Standby
If its particularly cold and you’ve had a frosty walk home in the dark then there is nothing you’ll wish for more than a long soak in a steaming hot bath. Now, if your water heater is again on a timer like your heating, then set this to come on for an hour before you’re due home, this ensures that your ready to go when in need. Even if its just a hot shower, it can make all the difference and really help to relax you.
Get the Fire Ready
If you have a real fire or log burner, lucky you.
My fire in the living room is one of my most prized posessions and during the winter months it is my savior. Now, cleaning it can be a chore but I vow to clean it and remake it in the morning before work so when I come home in the evening, I simply have to light it.
If you do have a real fire or wood burner, this can be enough to heat your entire home so the only heating you’ll need is just before you wake up and arrive home to take the chill out of the air. If you don’t have the real deal and are thinking of investing since the winter is coming, there are gas fire pits for sale. These could be a life-saver, especially if you can’t stand cold!
Winter Smells Fill the Air
Winter berries, cinnamon and pine and are all smells which remind me of the winter months and there is nothing nicer than having a home which smells wintery-fresh. From potpourri to scented candles and infusers, this is great way to get your home ready for winter.
Snuggle Up with Blankets
Snuggling up when its cold and wet outside is one of life’s little pleasures.
Investing in a warm, knitted or faux fur blanket is key for the winter months and I couldn’t recommend it enough. Ensure you have enough for each sofa to stop squabbles and if your home is particularly cold, buy some of the beds to ensure no one is cold during winter. These blankets can act as great accessories so ensure you choose ones that fit in nicely with the rest of your home. However, it would be a good idea to clean the blankets at regular intervals as winter can attract flu viruses easily. But cleaning a blanket could be a tiresome task, especially because it takes a lot of time dry. That said, using a dryer, or a clothsline can prove to be helpful in drying blankets quickly. Moreover, if you have a flat surface, then you can put it there for removing moisture from it. If you want to know more about the proper way of drying blankets, then consider reading relevant articles available on the Internet.
Toasty Bedtimes with Electric Blanket
Electric blankets were sent from heaven, and if you haven’t got one yet, what are you doing?
There is no nicer feeling then climbing into a warm bed and in just 10 minutes, an eclectic blanket can do that. There are usually three heat settings and the blanket goes under your bed sheet to give you a cozy feeling when you climb into bed, setting you up for a restful nights sleep.
Decorate with Winter Flowers
As the seasons change, so should your flowers. From bright, colourful flower displays the winter months welcome darker greens, reds and white to give your home a lovely winter feel.
You will notice the flowers change in the florists and supermarkets, so it’s easy to find what’s in season and decorate your home accordingly.
What are your top tips for preparing your home for winter? Let me know by getting in touch today, we’d love to hear from you.