With temperatures dipping below freezing and months of winter still ahead of us, you could turn up the heating and benefit from a warmer home. However, just relying on your heating isn't enough – and could be costing you more than you think each year.
Blinds2go Design Manager Chloe Dacosta has shared a handful of simple hacks for retaining as much heat in your home as possible.
1. Open your windows (yes, really!)
"Although in general, keeping your windows closed and covered is the best way to retain heat" says Dacosta, "opening your windows for just 10 minutes a day is a highly recommended tip by experts."
Keeping your windows open helps reduce condensation and damp, replacing "moist indoor air with drier air" without risking the entire room getting cold.
If you want to fit blinds around your windows without any fuss, No Drill blinds are an accessible option that allow you to peel, click or twist them into place with minimal effort.
2. Know when to let the sun in
While keeping your blinds and curtains closed can keep you toasty, it's worth letting the sun in when you can.
"Keep an eye on when and where the sun is shining and alter your blinds or curtains, accordingly", says Dacosta. Electric blinds are also convenient, as you can "easily change your shade levels" without even needing to get up from your sofa.
3. Layer for extra warmth
Mixing blinds and curtains for a textured look is a popular trend right now, but it's also a great way to keep the heat in.
They "double the barriers between your room and window", helping to reduce draughts and heat escaping. Thermal blinds are a great place to start.
4. Invest in shutter blinds
Shutter blinds are fitted in the window recess, creating a buffer that reduces the amount of heat that escapes. Research from the BBSA (British Blind & Shutter Association) shows that shutters can reduce heat loss by up to 28%, which really adds up over the winter months.
5. Check for draughts
Complete blackout blinds are an efficient way to offset the little draughts that add up over time: gaps around doors, windows, chimneys and even floorboards.
Have a room you're not using? Try closing curtains and doors, then turn off your radiators. In rooms you are using, "keep the doors propped open at least a little to encourage good circulation of warm air".
An all-season upgrade
By doing at least some of the above and investing in thermal blinds, you'll have ticked off a bonus sixth hack: they'll keep your home cool as summer arrives.
Blinds block and reflect solar heat, meaning you'll be less reliant on air conditioning and save energy in the process.
Why Blinds2go?
- Free, 5-year extended warranty on all Blinds2go products. Learn more here.
- Its SureSize Measuring Guarantee is complimentary – if you measure wrong Blinds2go will replace your window covering with a new one at the right size. Here's how to claim a replacement.