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Keep your home warm this winter

Keep your home warm this winter

Date: 2016-07-29
Here's how to make your home look and feel cosy and warm this winter - it's about getting the insulation and heating basics right, and then adding a few cosy decor touches to hot things up.

Pull the curtains:Good quality curtains can reduce heat loss by up to 60 per cent through windows that don't have double glazing. Ideally, curtains should be thermally lined, fit snugly round the window frame, and either go from floor to ceiling or have pelmets above.

The wood test:Dry wood burns best. When split and stored under cover, soft wood will season in six to eight months, hard wood can take two years. A moisture-metrewill measure dryness, but for a rough-and-ready test, knock two pieces together. If you hear a sharp sound the wood is probably dry.

It's all about the light:You'll feel warmer sitting in a soft pool of lamplight than under harsh, bright downlights. Candlelight too, creates a cosy feel.

Touchable texture:One of the quickest ways to warm things up is to add something cuddly. such asatextured throw, an animal skin on the floor, even some faux fur (or possum fur) on the end of your bed. A velvet cushion or two will do the trick - rich, warm tones look beautiful in winter. How about a velvet-covered ottoman or a lushly padded headboard?

Wrap up warm:There's something comforting about adding another layer of wool when it's freezing outside. Perhaps it's time to buy yourself a new pair of slippers.

Warming from the inside out:A mug of home-made soup will warm your hands and your tummy. Warm up some spicy mulled wine perhaps. Winter's a guilt-free time to enjoy a filling pudding too.

Keep draughts at bay:Add weather stripping to seal gaps around doors and windows, fit draught excluders for gaps under doors and replace damaged rubber seals around aluminium joinery. And don't forget the old-fashioned stuffed-snake draught excluder.

Keep it light:Your home can feel dark and gloomy in winter. Hanging a large mirror in your living area or over the mantelpiece will reflect light throughout the space and make everything feel brighter.