Winter is well and truly here! Extra scarves are being pulled out of storage, gloves are coming on, and on more than one or two mornings recently, we have found ourselves scraping the ice off the car windscreen.
While all that's going on outside the house, keeping the inside of your house cozy and warm is one of our clients' main concerns, luckily there are a lot of things you can do to ensure that the inside of your house remains comfortable and warm all winter long.
There are so many ways to create a warm, toasty home, from smart furnishing decisions to handy tricks and purposeful design choices. Read on to learn our best tips and tricks, plus learn how Swanbuild can build you a home that will stay warm no matter what the mercury goes down to on the outside.
Furnishing for warmth
When it comes time to furnishing your home, there are many ways to add that extra warmth and give your home an added element of cosiness. Let's start with the floors, and the best way to keep your toes from the chilly flooring is with rugs. Hallway runners, area rugs, and even statement feature rugs are excellent insulators against the cold, and they look great. Swanbuild homes built with the Life Made and Sustainable Living package include carpet in each bedroom and the main living space, but don't be afraid to add extra rugs to these rooms for even more warmth.
Throw rugs are a great styling option that not only look good, but also add that extra bit of heat to beat off the winter chill. When choosing a throw rug, look for natural fibres, as they are the best at trapping air. We highly recommend choosing wool; better yet, pick Australian wool for the best quality.
When it comes to creating a warm, inviting atmosphere at home, lighting plays a big role. Swap out harsher, blue-toned LEDs for soft or warm white bulbs to add a gentle glow to your spaces. Layer your lighting with a mix of table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces to create depth and cosiness, perfect for curling up on the couch or winding down at night.
Handy additions
Most houses are good at creating heat but get cold and chilly because they lose it quickly. We recommend a few great tips to every homeowner to keep all that beautiful warm air inside. Doors, particularly your front door, are an area where you lose heat; add a door snake or draught stopper to ensure that you're not allowing cold air to get inside. Windows are also an area your home is most likely losing heat through. One of the easiest ways to keep the heat in is with thick, heavy curtains or drapes. A good set of curtains will trap air between the window and the curtain, creating an insulating layer that slows the transfer of heat.
Another great way to keep your home warm is to add a fireplace or log burner. These aren’t just about atmosphere, they’re a practical way to keep your home warm during the colder months. A well-placed fireplace can provide efficient, long-lasting heat, that will help warm the whole home. Log burners, in particular, are known for their ability to heat large areas quickly and cost-effectively. Not only do they offer a comforting crackle and glow, they’re a smart choice for both warmth and energy efficiency, helping to create a home that feels as warm as it looks.
Purposeful design choices
The most impactful decisions you can make regarding how your home stays warm in winter are during the design process. At Swanbuild, we work with you to ensure that the placement of your new home on your land is oriented towards the sun and can capture as much natural light as possible, improving passive heating and keeping you warm in winter.
When it comes to building your home, insulation and windows are two of the most effective tools we have to beat the winter chill.
Not all insulation performs the same, so it’s important to look at the ‘R-value’ to get an idea of how well it will keep your home warm. The higher the R-value, the better it is at keeping your home comfortable all year round. Every new Swanbuild home is completed with layers of insulation batts to reduce heat transfer that meets or exceeds the R-value requirements set out in the building code.
We also offer the option to choose upgraded insulation to improve your home warmth. Not only will your home stay warmer, but added insulation means a more energy-efficient home, reducing your overall power bills.
Any surface of your home that directly touches both the indoors and the outdoors is where you will lose the most heat. And while windows let in a lot of light, they are also where a lot of heat gets out. All of our homes come with Double-glazed Low E aluminum windows throughout. To improve your home's heat retention, you can upgrade to thermally broken windows, which are the ultimate efficient choice in window manufacturing. They place an extra layer of material between both panes of glass so no surface touches both sides, and the amount of heat lost is kept to a minimum.
Get superior comfort on us
For a limited time only, new Swanbuild clients can upgrade their insulation and windows for FREE when they commit to the part-deposit agreement before June 30th; check out our website for more information.
So, if you are facing the prospect of another chilly winter or simply want to look at options for your new home, reach out to our team now. We can help you design and create a toasty, warm home built for any season.