7 Cozy Tips to Keep Your Home Warm

With the cooler weather setting in with colder, darker nights, Seeff Properties Botswana looks at some "warm" tips to keep the chill away. It may seem easier to pump up all heating sources from aircons to bar heaters, but this will just eat away at your electricity supply. Seeff looks at a few tips to keep the chill away without busting the monthly budget. Some of these tips are simple and focus on creating a feeling of warmth and comfort in the home which naturally makes us feel warmer.

1. Light your fire

You may be lucky enough to have a fireplace in your house. Now is the time to light it. Not only do they provide much needed warmth, but they also add a wonderful ambiance to your living space (instantly warming you up). Just a word of warning, never leave your fire unattended, ideally invest in a fireguard.

If you are using your fireplace for the first time in a while, always check that the flue is in the right direction and that the smoke doesn't blow back in to the home.

There are many deals available with wood and coal sellers, keep an eye out for a good offer and get the wood delivered to your door. No excuse to light your fire.

2. Bring the rugs out

Most homes have ceramic floor tiles. These are wonderful and cool your home down in the hot summer, but they can be very cold in the winter. Adding rugs in key living areas such as the lounge or dining room can really reduce the feeling of cold radiating from the floor. Add them to your bedroom, your hallway, anywhere that you spend a lot of time and want to be warm and cosy. They will naturally protect your slippered feet from the cold floor.

Rugs also add to the psychological feeling of comfort and softness, naturally creating a warmer felling environment.

3. Adjust your bedding

We all know about throwing blankets off the bed in summer and then digging them all out the cupboard in winter. Our top tip is to work with layers. Several layers will trap warmer air into your bed and keep you feeling warm throughout the night. Layers are also practical with the variable winter temperatures. When there is a warmer spell, it is easy to take one blanket off the bed.

There are many home décor and furnishing shops around town now. Have a look around and invest in flannel under sheets if possible. These are fantastic and take the chill out of getting into bed at night. This is one of our favourite tips and really doesn't break the bank.

4. Stop draughts

We all have them... draughts really are the main cause of feeling cold in your home and are unpleasant to say the least. Stopping draughts under doors is quite straight forward with the simple purchase of a draught stopper (usually available in most car parks around the country). Draughts around window frames can be minimised using those same door draught stoppers. Alternatively, roll up some towels and place them along the draught. Some people have also been known to use some non-damaging masking tape stuck over the gaps or rubber strips carefully placed around the frame. Not only to draughts blow in in the cold air, but they also let the warm escape from your home.

5. Draw the curtains

A recent conversation at the Seeff office revealed that the trend in winter was "sun down, curtains drawn". As soon as dusk starts setting in, it is a good idea to close your curtains to keep in any warmth that built up throughout the day. During the day, open up curtains and windows and try and let in as much warmth as possible.

Not only do many windows have draughts, but the panes of glass also radiate the cold temperatures into your home. Minimise this chill with drawing your curtains early.

6. Add mood lighting

Mentioned previously, a cozy, warm look can have a huge impact on the psychological feeling of warmth.

Rather than having your main, overhead lights shining bright, try adding side or standing lamps and mood lighting. This subtle lighting makes you feel instantly cozier and warmer. String lights (or fairy lights) are a great addition to your living spaces. These subtle lights add a warm glow to your space.

Another tip would be to replace bright white lightbulbs with warm white. The yellow glow has a much warmer tone and adds to the overall feeling of warmth.

7. Scatter throws and blankets

The more throws and blankets, the happier (and cozier you will be). As mentioned above, with the numerous home stores around, there are plenty of options of shops that will suit your budget. Blankets and throws are a real treat in winter and help when you want to curl up on the couch at the end of the day. All members of your family can grab a blanket and keep warm. Drape them over armchairs and roll them up on your sofa. Not only will they add to your warmth, but they will make your living areas look stylish.

At Seeff, we are ready to embrace this cooler weather, grab a mug of hot chocolate and enjoy our cozy homes with our loved ones. Stay warm and, as always, stay safe.