WINTER is soon to be in full swing and if you haven't done so already, now is the time to prepare your home for the season ahead.
With a little groundwork, and the right purchases, your house can be stylish and satisfying, as well as winter-proof, in no time.
1. The living spaces
Quality fleece blankets have a kind of elegance that can only be described as chic, in the proper and accurate sense of the word. A simple buy, they can change the feel of a room (they're particularly good in living rooms and bedrooms), marking a new focal point for colour and presenting a cosy and comfortable atmosphere.
For the particularly indulgent, bring in some new cushions and throws for the dining room, too, and eat with pleasure.
2. The places you don't think of
'Make a house a home' they say, and the most fundamental way to do it is to indulge in luxury. A beautiful winter home should be stylish, comfortable and warm; but there are plenty of areas that get neglected. Think, for example, of the porch: not always remembered, let alone thought of as part of the house proper, it's home to some of the items we use most.
After all, a pair of shoes or a good winter coat are left on the floor out there or absently hung up, gathering cold. Without that extra care, a porch can shatter the aura of luxury that the rest of your hard work has managed to create.
The problem is easily rectified. Invest in a blanket to cover the coats and keep them warm, and buy a shoe cabinet to store your footwear tidily. Two birds with one stone.
3. The bathroom
We've all been there – the alarm goes, and you snooze; you just can't wrest yourself from that comfy, snug, warm bed. But work calls, and it's just one, quick, cold dash from the bed, through the hallway, to the bathroom. And as wonderful as it is to turn on a hot shower and feel its warmth, the freezing bolt to the bathroom and the cold tiles, are a kind of week-day trauma.
The solutions are simple. First, clear all obstacles: a cluttered bathroom is not only annoying but also time-consuming. Bathroom storage is affordable and tidy; it's a no-brainer. Second, if you can, invest in ways to warm the room up: heated towel rails, or even just a well-bled radiator. It's the little touches that make the difference.
