My house is COLD
We’re getting to the end of winter & by golly it is COLD!
This morning all the rooftops are covered in ice, as I sip my hot coffee on the way to the first job of the day – one inside a house, safe from the elements. But is it as ‘safe as houses’ in our homes? Why are some rooms so much colder than others, even with central heating? How do I get my house comfortable all year ‘round without the huge electricity bill?
There are some easy ways to make sure your home doesn’t waste energy & keeps warm in winter.
- Find drafts
Sounds weird, but even the most solid houses have drafts. These can be from under doors, through uncovered windows, creeping through floorboards or even light fixtures or exhaust fans that are not on. The reason why our coffee thermos stays warm is that it is enclosed from all leakages & is insulated. If you left the lid off, the coffee would go cold. If you’re not sure where your draft are coming from, light a candle, you will usually see where the breezes are.
- Insulate
This can be the non-fun one which can be expensive. Look at the structure of your home. Do you have insulated ceiling cavities, underfloor insulation, are there blinds or curtains on all windows & can you close doors tightly to block off drafts? Eskies keep the cold in due to the thick walls & you need to do this with your home. But don’t fear, you can always do cheaper options, even as a renter, to keep the chill out. This is mostly with decoration.
- Decorate
Put heavy curtains or blankets over windows – this is where you lose most of your heat. Place draft-stopping ‘snakes’ at the bottom of doors. Add rugs to cold floors to take the chill down & extra throws to your sofa & bed to give your body extra heat. While in the bedroom, add a woollen underlay to your bed as mattresses aren’t made up of much & the cold under the bed will hit straight on your spine. Luckily, these are all things that you can invest in which you can take with you if you leave the house & also put into storage in summer if they aren’t required. These items can also be quite decorative & add much more personality to your home.
- Live like it’s winter
Wear warm clothes. You don’t have to dress like you’re going to the snow inside your house, but wear socks or slippers in winter. Wear natural fibres closer to the skin, like woollen long sleeve shirts. These breathe & help you not sweat like polyester fibres. Our bodies need to adjust to all the seasons, having a constant temperature in the house sounds great but we need fluctuating temperatures to keep our immune system strong & help us from getting sick.
- Turn the heater down
Studies have shown that even a couple of degrees lower on our thermostats can save hundreds of dollars when the bills come in. Try to get used to a slightly cooler temperature in your home. Not only will this help you adjust when you walk outside but when you have done the ‘draft stopping’ you may not need to have it as warm inside.
Save money, decorate more & enjoy the winter months. That’s how to get through until the sun shines again!
Get all the information you need with these free Interior Design posts –
Colour Psychology in your Home – http://www.mystereedesigns.com.au/colour-psychology/
Decorating Open Plan Living Spaces – http://www.mystereedesigns.com.au/planning-open-plan-living-spaces/
The Hamptons Style – http://www.mystereedesigns.com.au/the-hamptons-style/
Budget Kitchen Makeover – http://www.mystereedesigns.com.au/budget-kitchen-makeover/
Proportion Design Principles – http://www.mystereedesigns.com.au/design-principles-my-favourite-proportion/
Lighting your Home – http://www.mystereedesigns.com.au/let-there-be-light/
Leave a Reply