Deborah Garth Interior Design: Make Your Home Warm & Cosy This Winter

Days are certainly chilly and it may take some effort to warm up our interiors this winter. We chat to Deborah Garth about the many ways we can create warm and cosy winter homes this season.

Not many of us are fans of winter time. Especially when it comes to our homes. Buildings can be so cold and it may require some real effort and money to warm it up to a comfortable temperature.

When it comes to heating things up in winter, the main intentions are:

To generate affordable sustainable heat.
To insulate the home in order to keep the heat in and the cold out.
To create an aesthetically pleasing look that is warm and inviting.

Now, there are two different aspects in creating a home that looks and feels warm:

The first is superficial and goes only skin deep with the addition of warm and cosy décor, texture and textiles that is visually appealing. This can leave you with enough rope to chop and change as seasons come and go.
The other will require excellent vision and project management as this may end up in a full scale renovation project involving break down and building. The investment here is long term if not permanent.

Here are a few tips on how to make your home a winter haven that oozes warmth and cosiness. Let’s look at the superficial changes first.

Add cushions, pillows, blankets and throws made of cozy materials to layer your furniture with.
Decorate with warm, deep and moody winter colours. If you dare you can paint an accent wall or otherwise just add seasonal accessories in these colours.
Use soft warm lighting to create a cozy look. Replace all the cool blue light bulbs with a warm yellow glare to achieve a warmer look.
Bring in nice warm rugs on bare floors to create a warm feeling.
Invest in good quality heavy curtains to stop the cold coming through windows.

The other option requires a bit more planning and an initial larger budget but is considered an investment that may add value to your home in general. This includes:

Have a fireplace installed. Whether it be a gas fireplace or wooden, there is nothing as pleasing as curling up next to a roaring fire. The position of the fire place should be well thought through. If your fireplace is located in a central area the heat generated can warm up much of your home from the inside.
Have double pane windows installed to keep the cold out and warmth in. Double-glazing and insulation can easily reduce the energy spent on regulating the temperature in your home by as much as 50%.
Have your roof / ceilings insulated with an eco-friendly product to keep the cold out. You would be surprised what a difference this makes to the temperature, winter and summer, in a home fitted with a layer of good roof insulation.
Have windows installed in strategic places to allow maximum sun shine for natural heating in winter.

This is where the services of Deborah Garth come in really handy. She is able to design a warm winter wonderland in your home that is not only aesthetically attractive but also extends to the actual design and layout of the home and the amenities. The first prize is to create a home that is good looking and able to adapt to either winter or summer conditions.

Call Deborah today to book a consultation and start enjoying your home come winter or summer! Cell: 082 455 7866