As the clocks roll back and the evenings begin to draw in, this time of year is the timely reminder that we need to look after ourselves, and our homes, during the autumn and winter months.
In this blog, we’ve put together our own winter home maintenance checklist to provide some tips on how to keep your home warm, safe, and looking smart. From outside spaces to cosy living rooms, we’ve got you covered this winter.
Don’t leave fallen leaves
It would be easy to close the curtains and ignore your garden space until the spring, but wintery outdoor scenes can look really appealing with the right approach. Perhaps the biggest tick in the box of a winter home maintenance checklist is to overcome the fallen leaves as the seasons change. Keeping on top of the raking and sweeping will give your garden room to breathe this winter.
Keep a clear pathway for access in and out of the garden for the winter months, to avoid unnecessary trips and bringing any excess dirt inside your home, and don’t forget to give your garden the attention it deserves by planting seasonal flowers such as cyclamen, snowdrops and winter jasmine. National Trust has some great suggestions on the best winter plants for your garden.
Check your pipes
As temperatures drop, make sure your outside taps have been tightly turned off, and consider wrapping them with insulation to avoid any frozen pipes seizing up during the cold weather months. Check your gutters for a build-up of leaves, and clean them out ahead of the period where they will come under the most amount of pressure from rain or even snow.
Inside, have a run around the house to ensure all your radiators are warm to the top, there’s no signs of leaks from valves, and that all your taps are running as efficiently as they should be.
Stay warm this winter
Universally recognised as the biggest change to your home during the cooler months, it’s always a ‘moment’ when the central heating is switched on for the first time each autumn/winter season. Managing your heating system effectively can prove the difference between having a happy home or a cold shock.
The best way to avoid stunning your boiler is to keep everything on an even keel. Our top winter maintenance tip is to gently heat your home throughout the day to help your boiler perform at its best, reducing the likelihood of leaky radiators, and providing an energy efficient solution that will keep home warm all winter.
Check your radiator thermostats and keep them all uniform throughout your home, ensuring each floor is being heated and regulated evenly and consistently. For more advice on energy saving, read this blog on behalf of Money Saving Expert.
Add some seasonal accessories
Winter is a unique season for home styling, with so many excuses to add some sparkle to your existing décor. If you want to combine style with substance, there are plenty of options for seasonal accessories that will add an element of warmth and comfort to rooms throughout your home.
Blankets and throws for sofas and accent chairs bring a real cosy feel into any living space, adding extra depth to your interiors. Bedrooms can also be accessorised with the same items, as well as cosier bedding and warm lighting for the darker evenings.
For any floors which aren’t carpeted, deep pile rugs and runners can provide an extra layer of comfort underfoot, making an elegant addition beneath a coffee table or running from under a sofa.
Warming winter plants and wreaths can also lift your home during the colder months, Miller Home owner @ourchadwickchapter has some fantastic tips on their Instagram page for bringing wintery botanical features inside.
Have we missed anything of our winter maintenance checklist? Let us know on our social media channels @millerhomesuk.