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The Winter blues have well and truly hit and it’s making home renovations that bit tougher. I got the majority of my new home sorted out during the warmer months of July and August thankfully, but there are still bits and bobs that need doing and the last thing I want to be doing in these freezing temperatures is tidy up my patio! Today I’m going to share some ideas for keeping your home in the best shape in prep for the weather getting even colder…
Make sure everything is in order as early as possible
This includes anything from checking your heating system, the drains, any drafts you may have… getting everything sorted as early as possible will help prevent any stress that may occur when you least need it. Nobody wants the boiler breaking down just before Christmas or having to deal with an ice cold house during the coldest months of the year. Winter bills get expensive enough without them getting higher because you have a draft, and who wants to freeze their mitts off unblocking a drain or fixing a leak? I know I get a lot of cold in my house from my big patio doors in the kitchen and I’m yet to get curtains for them so that’s next on my list! Definitely something to consider, just have a quick scout around each room and look at what you can do to make small changes.
Keep the garden low-maintenance
If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year… it’s to cut the grass as early as possible! Grass doesn’t grow as much during the winter months for obvious reasons, but I left my ‘final’ summer cut far too late this year and ended up having to mow wet grass. Safe to say it wasn’t very pleasant and my poor Doc Martens suffered. I also went out and threw away some of Reubens summer toys as they just end up going all dirty and mouldy being left outdoors all winter. His paddling pool actually ruined a patch of the grass and it’s ended up being left with a patch of sludge which isn’t great to look at. I think eventually I’m going to invest in some artificial grass as gardening really isn’t my thing and this will make my life so much easier – especially at this time of year.
Install the appropriate flooring
I can’t tell you how glad I am that I went for vinyl flooring in my hallway – the amount of dirt we bring in daily in this wet and muddy weather is unreal. It’s constantly covered in mud and the mop is out pretty much every single day, but the good thing is, is that it’s so easy to clean. I quickly sweep or hoover up any dried mud and then I give it a good spritz with my spray mop and it looks new again. I almost went for carpet in my hallway and I can’t even begin to imagine how stained and dirty it would look right now if I had. I also picked up a couple of doormats, one for outside and one for inside and that way it minimises the dirt as there’s two places to wipe your wet shoes before entering the house. This is definitely something to consider if you’re in the process of updating or renovating your own home.
Prepare for the inevitable
Lets face it, if you live in the UK like I do then we get quite horrendous winters. The temperature drops very low, we get high winds and rain, and from my experience, I usually get quite a few power cuts. Not only that but if it snows (it doesn’t always) it can mean being trapped in the driveway. I’ve ensured my pantry is fully stocked and if I hear of any snow coming my way, I’ll be straight to the shops to stock it up even more. My house is covered in candles so I should be set for any power outages, but I’m also going to invest in a couple of thick cosy throws and another hot water bottle or two just incase. I think it’s particularly important if you have any little ones to be prepared for these kinds of things because yes, they usually get resolved quite quickly these days but you still don’t want their poor little hands and feet to freeze!
How are you preparing your home for Winter?
