The cold weather has certainly arrived. It’s raining as I sit here typing this blog post and I can just tell that it’s going to start getting much colder in our house over the next few weeks. I’m pretty sure we’ll get some snow over the festive season, I hope so anyway.
Luckily, we’ve been working towards making our home warm and cosy in preparation for the colder months.
So, today I want to share some simple tips on how to keep your home warm this winter. Most of these tips are easy to implement and will be sure to keep your home extra warm throughout the winter months.
Give your radiators the chance and space to radiate.
This one is very simple yet easy to forget about. Many of us have our washing or furniture blocking the radiator. They end up draining all the heat and the radiator becomes redundant. Try changing the layout of your room for winter. Not only will this allow the radiator to work to its full potential but it will also give your room a fresh feeling and a new look.
Get creative with rugs
Make sure you have rugs on all wooden, hard or tiled floors. They will help to prevent heat from being lost through the floor. They’ll also be handy for keeping your feet warm on a crisp morning.
Hot water bottle
I love a hot water bottle. I find them the best way to keep warm and toasty throughout the winter. A couple of years back Phil treated me to one of these extra long hot water bottles for Christmas. It’s been so good that we’ve been buying them for other family members ever since.
Pop a hot water bottle into your bed before you get in. It will keep you nice and toasty throughout the night.
Winter duvet tog
Check the tog of your duvet and make sure you’re using a winter one. The higher the tog rating, the warmer your duvet will be. For winter you want to be aiming for something above a 10.5 tog.
Throws and blankets
Make good use of throws around your house. I put them on my bed so they can be used as an extra blanket throughout the night. I also have a basket near my sofa with a couple in. On a chilly evening, it’s easy to grab one and wrap up warm while we watch something on TV.
Close the door
Keep the doors shut around your house. That way, the rooms you’re using most will be able to retain the heat from the radiators. Hallways are often extra chilly so you don’t want to let any cold air slip in.
Curtains
During the day keep your curtains open and let the sunshine into your home. Be sure to close them again just before it gets dark.
If you’re in a new home or need to invest in new curtains then opt for something lined. Heavy weighted curtains will help to keep the warmth in and the cold out.
Skirting boards
Make sure the skirting boards in your home have been sealed. If not, you can grab some sealant to fill the gaps.
Get cooking and baking
Making dinner or doing a spot of baking means using the oven and this can really warm up the kitchen. We spend a lot of time in our kitchen so it’s often warm in the evening and we’ll continue to work there ’til we head up to bed. Be sure to keep the doors closed though, you don’t want to lose out on the bonus heat from your oven.
Layer up
This might seem like a really obvious tip but it’s one so many people opt to do last. Have some cosy and warm PJs to wear around the house as well as fluffy slippers and a warm cardigan or dressing gown. Layering up will help to keep you warm and toasty in the evening.
I hope you’ve found some of these tips on keeping your house warm and cosy useful. If you have any other tips then feel free to leave them in the comment section below.