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KEEPING YOUR HOME COSY THIS WINTER

IF there’s one thing we need when the temperature drops and the skies look threatening this Winter it’s a cosy home.

We tend to spend more time at home then anyway and it becomes our welcome refuge from snowy days and seasonal deluges. The plus side of this is that we can really appreciate where we live and make it as warm and welcoming as possible.

We all know that energy bills may be rising this year and that we may have to think carefully about when and how much the heating goes on. But, there are other ways to help make your home better insulated and just feeling a lovely place to be in during chilly evenings.

Getting your BOILER serviced is the sensible way to approach Winter always. Call in the experts and you’ve got an efficient boiler and peace of mind for months. Update your THERMOSTAT for the same reason. A thermostat controls your home’s temperature by communicating with your boiler and in older homes with older heating systems can degrade over time, which can affect your home’s temperature. Updating it can prevent energy from being wasted and save you money.

If you’ve not insulated your LOFT yet, this is a really sensible investment. You could lose up to a quarter of the heat in your home through the roof otherwise. Insulating the loft, attic or flat roof is a simple and effective method of helping prevent heat-loss.

Now is a good time to ensure your FRONT DOOR is in good working order and keeps the weather out and your costly heating in. If it doesn’t, it’s definitely worth investing in a new one – preferably one that lets some light into your hallway to prevent a gloomy atmosphere as soon as you step over the threshold.

DRAUGHT EXCLUDERS can also do a good job around the front door or your kitchen door as gaps under doors are one of the fastest ways for hot air to escape. Seal in that heat with some of those cute sausageshaped excluders, or you could even make your own.

Keep your HALLWAY welcoming with soft shades and complementary lighting. Visitors get their first impression of your home here so make it a good one.

Investing in COSY TEXTURES throughout the house is always a good idea. Cushions in textures like velvet, wool and fake fur can offer instant warmth in key places like your living room or bedroom.

SOFT LIGHTING is always cosier than brash lights so try not using ceiling lights and using table lamps instead around the room. Even a gently coloured lightbulb can make a difference: think of how a rosy glow affects a seated area.

CANDLES also come into their own in Winter. They offer that lovely light that makes us feel more relaxed and that’s even better if it has your favourite scent so shop wisely – there are plenty of pleasantlysmelling candles at various prices

You can’t beat an OPEN FIRE when the winds are blowing outside and you’re inside. If you’re lucky enough to have a handsome fireplace, an open fire can prove a highly effective room centrepiece – you feel warmer just looking at it!

There are a real variety of fires on offer these days, including wall-mounted fires which can look even cosier with a wood surround as the flames are reflected in the warmth of the wood. Then there are everpopular wood-burners, which are a very effective heat source in main rooms.

Make your WINDOWS energy-efficient throughout your home. If they need repairing or changing, there are plenty of excellent suppliers experienced in getting just the right sort for you.

And your home won’t just be warmer, the extra insulation will be helping those pesky energy bills as well.

Adding SPACE HEATERS to rooms like an open-plan kitchen or bedroom which can be tricky to heat will boost home warmth. As they’re portable, you can also take them from room to room so if your study or a child’s bedroom needs an injection of warmth, space heaters are a great solution.

Keep your FURNITURE away from your walls. Placing furniture against walls stops the airflow coming through properly which can lead to cold areas in your room. Just moving it forward can improve this and make your room look more spacious. Position your furniture - like your desk, bed or sofa - around any heat sources without blocking them to make the most of the warmth. Try to keep away from any draughty spots like by a window or door.

Cosy THROWS are also useful at this time of year. A cheerful throw in a richly textured material can make a sofa or armchair look and feel much warmer. Layer floors with RUGS. They work particularly well on wooden floors in

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BEFORE

Tracy with David Dukes from nuimage

AFTER

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REPLACEMENT DOORS BATHROOMS

Winter to offer a different, cosier element than other times of the year and prevent heat from being lost. They also look nice!

Heavyweight CURTAINS can also prove very useful in Winter. Thermal-lined curtains help keep out the cold especially if you have single-glazed windows. At the very least, go for lined curtains which can prevent warm air escaping and reduce general heat loss.

The sun usually sets at around 4pm in the height of Winter so, to make most of natural warmth, keep your curtains open until around 3pm.

You’re more aware of COLOURS throughout your home during the colder months – not just because you’re in the home more but also because our mood is strongly affected by colour.

So, if you’re considering re-decorating, consider warm hues that make you FEEL cosier.

Bring NATURE into your home as well during Winter. We need to keep that healthy connection.

Having plants inside your home is not only aesthetically pleasing but creates more oxygen for your family to breathe which positively affects health.

Plants can also help purify the air by cleaning it with their extensive root system. So Nature is helping you get through Winter healthily before it welcomes the warmer months.