Cheap ways to keep your home warm this winter
You don’t need to break the bank to keep your home warm this winter. Here are four ways you can stay toasty while saving money on your next power bill.
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This article is produced in partnership with Spotlight.
When the days are shorter, darker and cooler, there’s nothing better than hunkering down inside your home, hot chocolate in hand, spending quality time with your family.
And for content creator Sarita Holland, this is exactly what you will find her doing during the winter months.
“Our family (goes) into a bit of hibernation during winter. We love cosying up on the couch together and watching movies, along with our rescue dogs Freddy and Cooper,” says the Melbourne mum.
Key to creating the perfect winter retreat, Holland says, is establishing a warm and homey interior.
Spotlight’s head of manchester Rebecca Fanelli agrees.
“Doing this can also really lift your mood and save you money,” Fanelli says.
“From a style perspective, a warm and cosy interior can help to create a sense of visual harmony and balance.”
“By creating a cosy-looking space that you enjoy spending time in, you can feel more content with your surroundings. It promotes relaxation, boosts your mood and reduces your energy bills.”
CREATE THE RIGHT MOOD
But warming up your home doesn’t have to mean reinventing the wheel or breaking the bank, says interior designer Malin Ulrika Johansson. Instead, making some minor changes with home furnishings can transform your space into a welcoming sanctuary from the winter elements.
A good place to start is with the lighting.
“Candles are a cost-effective way to make a space feel cosy and warm,” says Johannson. Holland is another confirmed candle fan.
“I always have multiple candles burning during the winter months; they add a sense of comfort and ambience too,” she says.
In addition, Johannson says, “replacing your cool-coloured light bulbs with warm-coloured light globes can also really impact the atmosphere inside your home.”
LUSCIOUS LAYERS
Another simple way you can dial the heat up a notch, she adds, is by layering textiles and soft furnishings such as warm blankets and sheepskins, or by draping throws over the couch.
This layering tip can also be applied in the bedroom.
“Layering your bed is key during winter as it helps to keep you warm and cosy by trapping your body heat and creating a barrier against the cold,” says Fanelli.
“It also adds visual texture to your bedroom decor, making your space feel more inviting and comfortable. Start with a warm base layer – an electric blanket that will provide almost instant warmth or a wool underlay.”
“Then, add flannelette sheets to create a cosy foundation for your bedding.”
“Finally, use a winter warmth quilt and finish your look with a velvet or teddy quilt cover set.”
Insulation is also integral to keeping the temperature warm inside the home, says hipages tradie member and insulation expert, William Yorkshire, from Cricket Insulation Australia.
“Insulation keeps the home warm in winter and cool in summer and reduces energy costs,” he says.
DRAUGHTY ISSUE
Historically, though, Australian homes haven’t been well insulated for the cold weather, says Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) managing director Michael Fotheringham.
“We have very inefficiently insulated homes where we have built for the heat and not the cold, which is a failure of our housing,” he says.
In fact, research from AHURI found that the average energy rating of the about six million Australian homes (out of around 10 million dwellings in 2015) that were built before 1995 is “only 1.5 out of a possible 10 stars”.
This failure to provide effective insulation is financially costly, says Choice product category manager Chris Barnes.
“Up to 30-40 per cent of our heat is lost through our ceilings and windows,” Barnes says. “This drastically impacts our energy bills and can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars per year.”
Health-wise, it can also adversely affect us, especially as we get older.
“Cold housing causes many health issues, from mould and damp in particular, which can cause respiratory issues.
But cardiovascular and mental health issues are also created by cold housing,” AHURI’s Fotheringham says.
COLD COMFORT
The good news is there are practical steps you can take to combat the cold, which can also save you money in the process.
“By using insulating materials like flannelette sheets, velvet quilt cover sets, teddy blankets, hooded blankets, thick curtains or blinds, or draft stoppers, you can keep your home warm without having to switch on the heater,” Fanelli says.
Carpets and rugs are a must, acting as insulators, and Holland attests to this too.
“I swap out my natural fibre rug for something plusher in the cooler months,” she says. Not to mention it makes the perfect place for Freddy and Cooper to snuggle up.
CHEAPS WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HOME WARM THIS WINTER
* While initially expensive, upgrading your insulation will save you money in the long-term, so it is worth considering.
* You can use a candle, incense stick or a thermal imaging camera (which can be borrowed from some local libraries) to locate draughts in your home, especially around windows.
* Stick window sealing strips around windows – this is a quick and easy fix to any small cracks where warm air may escape or cool air may come in.
* Use the door snake – a simple, cheap and effective way to protect your home from stray draughts (and bugs too).
* Wrap it up – placing bubble wrap on your windows acts as a very cost-effective layer of insulation.
* Use your ceiling fan by putting it in reverse mode if it has one (otherwise the normal cycle is fine). This will help spread warm air around the room and lower down to where you are.
* Don’t place any furniture directly in front of your heater as it will prevent the hot air from circulating effectively.
* Amp up the soft furnishings – pillows, cushions, throws and quilts are your best friend.
Use a combination of fabric textures like velvet and linen, or even wool, when dressing a bed or draping a couch with throws.
* Think colour – deep or earthy tones like terracotta, plum, berry and reds (combinations of two or three) can generate warmth.
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