Bakersfield Home - December 2022

Comfy cozy: 5 style ideas for warming up your house this winter

Peaceful atmospheric lighting

Our natural human circadian rhythms dictate that warm yellowish-white light (as opposed to cooler blue light) helps us relax and unwind. In general, light bulbs marked “soft white” or “warm white” will warm up any room. Lighting experts recommend using ceiling and non-symmetric wall lights to create the most comforting settings, but firelight and candlelight can also add a relaxing ambiance.

Comfortable furniture

(BPT) - As days get shorter, temperatures fall and we begin to spend more time indoors, many of us are looking for ways to make our homes more snug and cozy. After all, the winter months can be much easier to withstand when our homes become havens of warmth, calm and comfort.

As British poet Edith Sitwell once wrote: “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire: It is the time for home.”

The good news is that creating your own home haven need not be difficult if you understand how to create such environments through smart decor choices. With that in mind, here are five key decor elements that can go a long way toward making your home seem luxuriously warm and inviting - for both residents and guests.

Soft and luxurious textiles

The upholstery, drapes, curtains, lin-

ens, bedding and throws you pick can have a major impact on comfort levels. It may be worth spending more to purchase high-end textiles with high thread counts. One hundred percent cotton, bamboo or silk often feels best against the skin, but some luxury brands also use synthetic blends to their advantage.

Rich-looking hardwood floors

Hardwood floors offer unparalleled warmth and beauty to any home regardless of its architecture and design style. And thanks to technology, engineered hardwood flooring now offers the extra protection needed to keep them gorgeous even under duress.

Engineered hardwood flooring, for example, is three times more impactand scratch-resistant than traditional white oak hardwood flooring. These floors are even water-resistant to help stand up to winter’s toughest effects.

Plenty of manufacturers create furniture that’s stylish but not particularly comfortable. If your pieces fit that description, you may wish to exchange them for styles that allow you to come in from the cold, settle in and fully relax. Perhaps it’s time to invest in a new pillow-top mattress, a cushy sectional couch that can seat your entire family around the TV or dining room chairs comfortable enough for gameplaying and lingering conversations.

Warm color schemes

Because warm colors such as reds, yellows, oranges and yellow-greens tend to remind us of sun, sand, and heat, they can make us perceive rooms as warmer and cozier. You may wish to boost that phenomenon by painting one or more of your rooms in those colors, or by choosing a neutral, subtly tinted tone in one of those shades. Many decorators suggest balancing the effect of intensely warm colors with accents in cooler hues.

With colder weather on the way, there’s much you can do to make your home a haven of comfort for your family. Take steps now to evaluate your home and think about improvements that could make it warmer and more wonderful throughout the winter months.

Stock photo and article provided by Brandpoint. © 2022 Brandpoint - All Rights Reserved.

5 outdoor upgrades that add value to a home

and perceived value. For a custom look, consider infill options like contemporary rod, mesh or glass inserts that optimize sightlines and deliver a modern flair.

3. Create an outdoor room

Another value-add upgrade to any deck or yard is a pergola. This relatively easy addition creates the look and feel of an outdoor room with structural prominence that adds architectural appeal. Today’s pergolas offer customizable shade options to provide shelter from the sun and elements, extending the livability of an exterior entertaining space by offering cool relief on hot days.

4. Enhance privacy

(BPT) - When it comes to adding value to a home, think outside the box. According to the 2022 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine, nine of the top 10 home improvement projects proven to deliver the highest return on investment (ROI) at resale were exterior renovations.

From the front stoop to the backyard, outdoor remodeling projects can add tremendous value by boosting curb appeal and function - factors that have a big impact on how much money prospective home buyers are willing to pay for a home. To pique the interest of potential buyers before they even walk through the front door, here are five eye-catching exterior upgrades sure to pay off in the long run.

1. Upgrade your deck

Recently, outdoor living has propelled to the top of homeowner and homebuyer wish lists. According to Remodeling, installing a new deck can add $12,000-$15,000 to a home’s resale value equating to a ROI of 62-

65%, depending on whether the deck is built with wood or composite material.

A composite deck offers long-lasting beauty and low-maintenance benefits that appeal to today’s timestretched consumers. Unlike wood, high-performance composite decking, such as Trex, requires minimal upkeep as it is engineered to resist fading, scratching and mold, and won’t rot, warp, crack or splinter. With no sanding, staining or painting required, composite decks attract homeowners looking to spend more time enjoying their outdoor spaces rather than maintaining them.

2. Replace railings

One of the most visible aspects of a deck, railing is often the first thing prospective buyers notice and has the power to set the tone for an entire outdoor space. If the existing railing is beginning to show signs of wear, replacing it with something new and modern can give a deck an instant facelift that will boost curb appeal

The past few years have left us craving safety and serenity. Thus, privacy is more important than ever. To enhance the sense of seclusion in an outdoor space, incorporate decorative privacy screens. Made of sturdy, low-maintenance materials, panels are offered in both permanent and moveable options, are available in multiple patterns and colors to complement the aesthetic of any outdoor setting, and are ideal for enhancing privacy around decks, patios and pools.

5. Highlight the home with outdoor lighting

Landscape, string, railing and deck lighting are simple and cost-effective upgrades that can highlight the eye-catching features of a home’s exterior after the sun goes down. Outdoor lighting can also add value as a wayfinding tool to enhance the safety of an outdoor space and extend the amount of time homeowners are able to spend enjoying the outdoors after dark. For easy, DIY-friendly assembly, look for plug-and-play components that are durable and waterproof.

Stock photo and article provided by Brandpoint. © 2022 Brandpoint - All Rights Reserved.