Ten Steps Towards Winter Readiness
Ten Steps Towards Winter Readiness
As we move through the fall and we move toward winter, you need to start thinking about how your lifestyle is changing with the seasons. As your life changes, so should your home. If winter has snuck up on you this year, the good news is that there are plenty of things that you could be doing to make sure that your home stays warm and cozy throughout the cooler months.
No matter where you are located, if you are in the winter season, this time of the year, it’s time to start thinking about what you could be doing to make sure that your home is well protected. For some people that means just clearing out the gutters and making sure their drainage is working.
For others, it means taking the electric chainsaw to the trees outside so that the roof doesn’t cave in from the weight of the trees. Either way, making sure that you are winter-ready is so important if you want to ensure that your home feels comfortable and you don’t void your insurance. With that in mind, we’ve put together 10 steps that you can take towards winter readiness.
First… Remove cool weather window coverings.
Over summer, sheer curtains are right in trend. They’re perfect for the balmy weather, but they’re not so great for the winter when it comes to keeping in the heat and keeping the cool out. It’s time to take down those sheer summer curtains and put up something heavier.
And if your windows are lacking in the window covering department, layered curtains or roller blinds are a great idea. If you prefer to have sheer curtains and coverings on your windows, you can choose to add a window insulation kit and you can buy these online or from hardware stores.
Second… Add textures where you can.
In the summer months, we peel back the rugs and the blankets and we store them away ready for the next cold season. Well, it’s time to roll them back out of your floors, especially those of stone or wood. Can you use some rug coverings and layers to make them feel comfortable for you to walk on?
Also, your bed can have an extra blanket or two and even just a few cushions. Fluffed up can make all the difference when you’re trying to create somewhere snug to cuddle up into layers of texture. It will help you to keep your home very warm through the winter months and you’ll feel warm when you walk through the door.
Third… Go into a winter color palette in the summer.
Paring back that decor in your home and using pops of vibrant color and neutral tones to reflect the season is very common. But when winter approaches, you want those deep colors that are filled with excitement and promise of the season to come.
Even more, think terracottas and dusty pinks or olive greens and deep purples. They should be rich and warm, and they should invite that retreat from the cold. If you already have these colors stuck in your home on rugs and blankets, it’s time to break those out and enjoy them.
Fourth in the steps toward winter readiness… Add a new heater.
How often you choose to use your heater and the size of the space you intend to heat will tell you the type of heater that would be best for you. Electric heaters are both cheap and portable, though they can be quite expensive, so make sure that you do your shopping. You need to research the best possible heaters for the type of home and whether or not you have them in the lounge or the bedroom spaces.
If you don’t have ducted heating through your home already, it might be worth looking into that as well, but sometimes floor heaters can be great for when you are in the office and you’re working or when you are watching TV and just want to warm your toes.
Fifth… Cover those hard floors.
Tiles and concrete floors are brilliant in the summer because they’re very cool to walk on, but covering them up with rugs is an easy, effective way to ensure that you have a comfortable, cozy home.
If you don’t have underfloor heating, then investing in fluffy rugs for you to step on in the morning will make you feel less shocked when you put your feet down to run to the bathroom. Covering up those hard floors is also more comfortable for kids in the house if they’re running around on bare feet or they’re crawling.
Sixth… Get your air conditioning unit done.
You would have had a service for your HVAC unit back in March before the spring season started, and now it’s time to do it again. Filters may need to be changed, and if the air conditioner is in constant use and subjected to dusty conditions, you need to think about cleaning out the filters, replacing any old ones, and making your air conditioner energy consumption lower by 15%.
Seventh… Start stocking up on the firewood.
If you have a beautiful fireplace to enjoy, then stock up on firewood now and keep it dry. This will save you the panic if winter turns up earlier than you thought it would. Nobody wants to be stuck in the cold, so you don’t have to be.
Eighth… Recarpet the bedrooms.
As we said about the rugs, stepping onto a cold floor is just not the one. No one wants to step onto cold floors as they jump out of bed, especially in the winter months. If you’ve been thinking about carpeting the home or even just the bedrooms, the time to do that is now.
Ninth in the steps toward winter readiness… Replace your bedding.
Upgrading your summer bedding to your winter bedding is a good idea. You can even put a heated blanket on your bed, ready to warm it up before you get in. Wool and feather coils are great as those who are seeking will find that cotton and microfiber quilts provide light insulation but not much in the way of warmth.
Tenth… Replace worn linen and towels.
A change in the seasons is the perfect time to clear out the linen club cupboard and replace all of your worn-out towels and blankets. Soft and fluffy towels and cozy flannels are in.
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