Every day we are hearing of the struggle with electricity and energy bills rising. So i thought the best thing i can share with you at the moment are some handy hints using furnishings to make your home warm and cosy!
Full blockout curtains with a pelmet still remain to be the best window covering you can have in your home for insulation. Fabric covered pelmets as pictured below are timeless and classic. Some newer homes tend to often build a recess into the ceiling that acts as a pelmet, giving the curtains a more modern and sleek look. Either way works great, as the pelmet seals the air flow, and the blockout lining offers the best protection to trap the heat in your home in winter. The insulation benefits can be further improved adding a layer of bumph interlining in between the fabric and blockout lining. Puddling the curtains on the floor also adds extra insulation benefit, although having your curtains hang just 1cm off the floor as most people prefer will still have almost the same result.
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To stop any pesky drafts don't forget about the good old door sausage. Whilst many are made of sand or rice. Both of these fillers can have problems absorbing moisture or in the case of rice attracting mice! So another handy filler is polyethylene pellets. If you want to try and make these at home, i suggest making a calico sausage for the filler, and then making an outer sausage with any great fabric of your choice. Finish the outer layer with velcro at one end, this way the outer layer is removable and can be washed.
Some of my favourite products at the moment to keep you warm in bed this winter include Logan and Mason's Double Wool Under blanket and Sheridan's The Deluxe Dream® '2 in 1' quilt, which includes two quilts. In winter you clip both quilts together for extra warmth, however in summer you can detach one layer for a lighter cover. It really is a fantastic invention.
The St Albans Mohair throw rug is the perfect accompaniment for when you are spending time on the couch. So light in weight, yet so warm. Mohair offers great texture and makes any lounge room look winter ready.
Dont forget a floor rug if you have timber floors or tiles, and my absolute favourite to warm up..... a hot water bottle!
Hope this helps give you some thought starters on ways to keep the cold out this winter. Furnishings such as curtains, rugs, throw rugs etc are so fantastic because not only are they functionally brilliant but they are so important to decorating your home as well.
Sally-Anne x
www.marrscurtains.com.au
www.marrsshop.com.au
