No matter how you feel about the darker, drizzlier days of winter in Seattle, it’s inevitable that the season will arrive. Though it can feel tough to get through the gloomier weather, there are ways to may your everyday living just a little bit brighter.
You’ll likely be spending more time at home during these months. It’s important not only to prep your home for cold weather to prevent damage, but to create a create a space that fosters fond memories and helps you forget about the drab weather.
Read on to learn easy ways to prepare your home to face the winter gloom and make it more inviting and cheerful, so you can snuggle up worry-free until spring!
Protect your exterior
Although Seattle doesn’t usually get too much snow, it’s still important to protect your home from the elements. Keeping your gutters clear, especially in the winter, removes any icy buildup that could prevent water draining properly from your roof.
Next, make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed; heat loss often happens at these points. Foam tape, caulking, and weatherstripping are common solutions to this issue, and they are usually simple enough that homeowners can do it themselves. If your windows or doors are getting too old to be effect, you may consider replacing them as well.
Protect your pipes by adding insulation around them, turning your outdoor faucets off, and running your indoor faucets every so often. Keeping the heat consistently on will also ensure your pipes are safe.
Refresh and reface your fireplace
Fireplaces can often look awkward and out of place if they don’t fit in with the design style of the rest of the room. Refacing its surface can breathe new life into this element, turning your fireplace from a clunky eyesore into a charming centerpiece that ties the room together beautifully.
Fireplace surrounds and hearths can be made from a variety of materials, including natural stone, tile, brick, stone veneer, or concrete – options to fit every design style and mood. While this can sometimes be a DIY project, for best results work with professionals, such as your local design-build firm (that’s us).
If you actively use your fireplace, it’s important to clean your chimney and get it inspected for any potential damage – this can prevent a fire from starting. If you don’t use your fireplace, buy a chimney balloon to block cold air form entering your house through the chimney.
Upgrade your oven for better baking
A chilly winter day is the perfect time to test out new recipes for hearty meals and sweet treats. If your oven is ill-equipped to handle big batches of baked goods, upgrading to a larger oven with more features will surely unlock your pastry chef era.
If you opt for a wall oven, you can even get more than one – and you won’t have to bend over to retrieve your culinary creations every time, either. Though wall ovens can have a higher price tag, they’ll help you save floorspace in your kitchen.
See also: How long will my kitchen remodel take? Estimate an accurate timeline
Add a heated towel rack
Everyone dreads stepping out of their warm shower into a frigid bathroom but wrapping yourself in a warm towel eliminates the post-bath chills. A heated towel rack will deliver a hot wrap to you right when you need it.
This rack is also multifunctional – it's a great spot for a wet bathing suit or other delicate clothing to dry, warming gloves that have just braved the cold, and adding supplemental heat into the room.
The rack will run you a couple hundred dollars for the most basic ones on the market, and there are more premium options from there.
See also: Reimagine your bathroom without starting from the ground up
Incorporate adjustable lighting
Sometimes you’ll want to supplement less natural sunshine with bright light. However, during the season of early evenings, you may want to unwind at night in a softer glow.
Each room should have three sources of light: general lighting (overhead lights and pendants), specific lighting (task and table lighting), and ambient lighting (sconces, candles, and other decorative lighting sources). Layering these three elements will give you options; to brighten things up, or tone things down.
Carve out a reading nook
Dismal weather calls for travelling to far off lands through a good book. If you don’t have a good reading spot in your home, it’s time to make one. All you need is a quiet corner, preferably by window, a plush chair, chaise, or bench, a bookshelf, and pillows.
Linens and candles galore
The right fabrics and scents can transform a space all on their own. The winter is the best time to layer textures on top of one another – think “more is more.” Throws, quilts, sheepskin, velvet and knits add softness to your space.
It’s not just about blankets either, incorporate rugs, table linens, and drapes to add coziness to multiple areas of the room.
The pièce de résistance will be warm, natural scents from flickering candles.
See also: Where to buy home decor in Seattle
IHR will create a home that makes you feel warm & fuzzy
Looking for a transformation in your kitchen, bathroom, or entire home? Look no further than Innovative Home Renovations – we are a design build firm in Northeast Seattle that prides ourselves on keeping our clients educated, empowered, and in control of their projects, always. Contact a project manager to begin your journey to your dream home.
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by Haley Carroll