The Thoughtful Home with Tracy Bell: Geraldton interior designer shares her winter warmer tips for the house

Winter is upon us. As the days and nights drop in temperature, here are some strategies to keeping your home and yourself warm. Check for unsealed gaps around doors, windows and floors. Chances are you are losing heat through these gaps. Up to 25 per cent of heat loss in homes is caused by gaps and cracks. Draught-proofing is an inexpensive exercise that can immediately produce positive results. Some products that can make a difference include weather seal tape, door snakes, silicon sealant, PVC door strips, and brush door seals. If you have ceiling fans, set the switch to reverse mode, which will turn the fan blades in an anti-clockwise direction. Warm air produced by your heating appliances will rise to the ceiling. When your fan is in reverse mode, it will push the warm air back down. Cover your windows, especially at night when the temperature drops. Heavy curtains or window treatments stop the heat from escaping. The most significant air leaks occur around windows, so ensure curtains reach the floor. For maximum efficiency it’s important curtains or blinds cover the width and height of the window. Close off rooms that are not in use. Don’t waste energy heating rooms that are not being used. Do you have hard flooring? Then rug up. Floor rugs can do wonders, especially if you have gappy floorboards. If your floors are bare, invest in runners and rugs to keep the heat in and your tootsies warm. Maintain your heater. Clean filters regularly and have your heater professionally serviced regularly. This will ensure your heater is working efficiently and safely. Install insulation, or if you already have it, consider topping up old and thinning insulation. Insulation in your ceiling acts as a barrier to the heat flow of your home, and will help keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer — a worthwhile investment. A well-insulated house can reduce energy for heating and cooling by up to 45 per cent, saving you hundreds of dollars on energy costs per year. Your internal walls are contributors to heat loss in winter. To lock in heat, cover walls with furniture and/or decor — for example, mirrors, artwork, and photos. By adding an extra layer of thermal mass to insulate, you can raise internal surface temperatures. Every degree helps. These small practices can help make your home warmer and more energy-efficient, and keep heating costs down. And don’t forget to invest in extra bedding for when you climb into bed at night! Do you have any interior design questions for Tracy? Email her at belledesigns@westnet.com.au. Tracy Bell is an interior designer and owner of Furnish My Home, a local retail business.