The cooler weather means now is the ideal time to update your home for the new season. Follow our magnificent seven top tips for getting winter ready.
Change soft furnishings – curtains, throws and cushion covers can make the difference between light and airy for summer and warm and cosy for winter. You don’t need to change your whole scheme, unless, of course, you want to; just adapt with deeper shades in more luxurious fabrics such as velvet to bring a comforting warmth to your space.
Layer your lighting – we all know it’s dark earlier in the winter months and this gives a great opportunity to play with lighting to make your rooms appear snug. Ditch the overhead for strategically placed lamps. You might want to highlight a feature such as a painting, use uplighters to create atmosphere and target lighting to create a specific area feel, such as a reading corner with a comfy chair. Darker evenings are also the ideal time to break out the candles, which can serve a dual purpose by imparting a wonderful fragrance too.
Get toasty toes – add colourful rugs to bedrooms, living spaces and even bathrooms to take the chill off cold winter floors. But make sure they’re properly taped down to avoid slips and trips.
Dig out your winter bedding – during the warm months, most of us sleep with just a sheet or a lightweight comforter but, as the weather cools, it’s time to turn your bedroom into a sanctuary with a heavier tog rate on your quilt and some funky blankets to add interest and extra layers.
Welcome guests – there are lots of festivals and celebrations coming up, from Bahraini National Day to American Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. It’s a time when many of us will be entertaining visitors, so make sure your entrance hall gives a good impression. Wash windows, touch up any damaged paintwork (tester pots are ideal for this purpose) and put out the welcome mat. If you have outside space, pots of brightly coloured blooms add a cheerful first impression. Have a comfy chair and some storage inside the door where guests can remove shoes and deposit bags, should they wish to do so.
Make a super spare – if you have guests staying over the coming months, or, for that matter, even if you don’t, now’s a great time to make the most of your spare room. Make sure linens are crisp and fresh, matching towels set out on the bed are a nice touch and a small basket of essential toiletries such as a razor, mini soaps and deodorant will show that you’ve thought about your visitors’ comfort. A note of the WiFi username and password will also be very welcome since, it’s apparently considered a social no-no for guests to request it. Plus, if there are any electronics in your guest room, make sure you leave out simple operating instructions.
Look after your electrics – though they only get used for a few weeks a year, most of us have a radiator or heater tucked away in a cupboard somewhere, now’s the time to dust them off and get the annual service completed so you’re not taken by surprise when the annual cold spell arrives. And, since it’s about time to turn the air-conditioning off and the water heater on, it’s a good idea to get these checked out now too.
