Winter is a time for comfort, hot food and cosy corners. A time for family gatherings beside the fireplace. Warm up your home for the season Architect-Interior Designer Priti Shirude-Naik (coordinated by Benoy Sebastian)
With the arrival of Winter, and the nights getting longer and colder, you can expect family and friends to come calling to spend some warm moments together. Naturally, we want our homes to be warm and filled with ample light, making it the perfect season to pull out your decorating tool box and add some warmth to your home...and to your life.
LIGHTING ACCESSORIES
Candles can be an important accessory in your decor. A candle lit room warms the atmosphere giving it a peaceful glow emanating throughout the area, casting elegant shadows. Placed in old barn wood candle holders, these candles will give the rustic look that a room deserves. If there is a certain scent you like, try using candles in that scent during winter, so it will be a reminder of the happiness the winter season brings. Candles add cheerfulness to the rooms they touch. Scented candles as small as
they are, allow some heat to radiate through the home. Keep many on hand to beautify your home and also to use in case of a winter power outage.
Use plenty of candles to create a nice cosy atmosphere. Opt for cinnamon-scented ones for some delicious aroma.
FIREPLACE
Whether gas or wood, a fi replace fi lls the room with warmth that is both physical and psychological. It often becomes the focal point of the room. The calming ability of a cozy fire adds warmth and tranquility to the environment. Another advantage of a fi replace is that it heats up the room you are
using rather than the whole house. Although there are a lot of choices whenever it comes to fi replace designs, two of the main choices that you’re going to have to decide from are whether you are going to have a wood burning fi replace or one that is fueled by another source, such as natural gas. A wood burning fi replace is going to make your house smell a little bit, whereas a gas burning fi replace is not going to throw off any kind of scent at all.
Flanels, fleece and wool throws are great to snuggle in. Always have extra shawls and blankets placed around the house in case you are expecting guest.
FLOORING
Wood and bamboo flooring are a good choice. For example: Ash is a light coloured, elegant type of timber, which gradually assumes a warm and beautiful golden glow. Merbau is a darker timber in red and brown that endows a room with natural warmth.
CHEER UP
Being cold in your house is never pleasant but there are tips you can follow to make sure your house stays warm even on the coolest of days.
BEDDINGS
Select heavy and warm bed covers, pillow cases, table cloths, etc. Choose colours that will make best use of the scanty sunlight and keep your rooms warm. For dark corners, use sheer fabrics, which will infuse light all over the place. Heavy fabrics give more warmth.Bed sheets and cushions in energetic colours provide warmth to your bedroom. Heavy blankets, quilts in bright colours and other embroidered cloths give a cozy feel during winter months. You can utilise furs and velvets to keep yourself warm during the winter season. Use heavy blankets, which are soft in touch but warm in feel. Drape yourself with layer of blankets to stay warm at night. Wool is the most common choice.
You will find that it's easier to change the fabrics to reflect your moods and styles as the season changes.
Winter colours should be bright and lively as opposed to the colour scheme outdoors. With longer nights upon us, it’s neccessary to bring as much light in as possible.
COLOURS
Colour is actually a powerful emotional tool that can be used to change the energy in a space. During winter warm tones that are reminiscent of summer and spring are a great way to beat back the seasonal blues. These can include rich greens, soft earth tones (the colours in an earth tone scheme are muted and flat in an emulation of the natural colours found in dirt, moss, trees and rocks). Many earth tones originate from clay earth pigments, such as umber, ochre and sienna, vibrant oranges, and sunset reds. Winter season on one hand makes lazy, vibrant colours help in giving an impression of vigour and activity.
Plastic sheeting can be attached over the whole window to provide a layer of insulation without blocking daylight. Line all of the windows with plastic to help prevent heat-sapping air leaks.
Create cosy corners with lamp light and warm colours.
CURTAINS
Your curtains will play a key role in keeping your house warm. You should keep them open when it is sunny outside. Dress up your windows in heavy curtains during Winter. Thick fabric will help insulate your house and prevent heat from escaping through the windows. Keep curtains open on the south side of the house during the day to take advantage of the sun’s rays.
PORTABLE HEATERS
Set your heating on a timer to turn on your heater an hour before you wake up and an hour before you return home from work.
❋ Make sure that your heater has a timer, or unplug it when it’s not in use
❋ Plug the portable heater directly into an outlet and avoid using extension cords
❋ Purchase the latest model with safety features
❋ Clear the area around the heater of any combustibles
❋ Take care to set the cord up to avoid creating a tripping hazard
Heavy rugs should have their presence felt in your rooms. They visually connote warmth and texture to contrast with the barren landscape beyond your frosted window panes.
