Turn up the heat

Many South African homes have lovely open-plan design and big windows − which is great for summer and our outdoor style of living. In winter, however, those very same spaces can be draughty and those windows can send shivers down our spines.

So, here are some tips to keep warm this winter:

• • A lot of a home’s heat is lost via leaky doors and windows. A little DIY can make a cosy difference.

• • Don’t try and warm vast spaces. Move your winter living into the smaller rooms. Look at your insulation, and investigate power-light wall-mounted heaters that you can leave on at very little cost.

• • Soft furnishings warm up a room. If you don’t have carpets, put some rugs down; if you have undressed windows, think about getting curtains or blinds. Close the curtains as soon as the sun is no longer shining directly onto or into your home to keep some of the warmth inside. These measures can raise a room’s heat retention by good couple of degrees.

• • Dress in layers. Heavy coats are uncomfortable when you’re trying to relax, but a couple of light thermal layers do the job as well and you can really move in them. Modern synthetic fabrics are super light, super warm and super washable.

• • And then, of course, there’s always body warmth. Now this is worth sharing. Cuddle up with books or DVDs for the ultimate in cosy nights!

Source
Shoppers Friend, June 2012