Good Lifestyle

With a cold climate and snow considering the ground, the appearance of winter inevitably means that people spend more time at home than for any other period of the year. And while holiday movie marathons, gift packaging, andUsed sweaters Will you take up this season, there is still a lot of time to consolidate to transform your home for the better. Minor protective measures that will keep your home safer to the main cosmetic changes, these are the smartest winter upgrades.

Although cozying in front of a crackling fire can be nice, you may not be ready for the commitment that has just added a real fireplace to your home. Fortunately, you can always enjoy a similar aesthetic by creating a candle thumbnail to add heat to any room.

"I like mixing Moroccan and Mexican breakthrough metal containers [and] Buy gold or red battery candles to add the fire element to the container," saysKim depole, the creative director based in New York ofDepole Design LLC.

And if you already have a real fireplace, you have probably discovered that expensive wooden ropes are delivered to your home - or cut them yourself - removes some of the pleasure of experience. If you want to upgrade your home this season, take the homework to enjoy a fire and convert your fireplace to gas, suggestsLeslie SaulPresident and founder ofLeslie Saul & Associates, Inc., an architecture and an interior design company in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Not only will it keep at home just as cozier - it can also have fun. "A fire can attract you from the TV room and in the living room for conversation, games or fire reading," says Saul.

Even if you are not ready to completely exchange your existing fireplace, adding a chimney cover can make a major difference in the comfort of your home.

"Without fireplace or cover in place, you leave the air cold and paying a supplement for heating," explainsBrett Elron, Senior Designer to the Interior Board based in New YorkBARTERDESIGN.CO. If you really hope to call inside your home, Elron suggests opting for a glass fireplace door, which is usually a little more expensive than a similar metal surround, but has a more modern look.

Do you have older coats that are not well disputed enough to donate to your local coat reader? Try to turn them into pillows, suggests depole.

"They can also be turned into chips with the ultra-suede lining for extra heat," she adds.

You want to upgrade your home without inviting a construction team in the house? Simply connecting your favorite covers can create a world of difference in the visual appeal and functionality of your space.

Depole suggests browsing savings boutiques for wool blankets and "adding a garnish and velvet lining" on the coziness factor in any room.

Itching to exchange your window treatments? Winter is the perfect time to do it. "Velvet is comfortable in winter," says Saul, who also recommends installing new wooden blinds or solar winter shades for your home to be modern, while attenuating project problems.

If you think about upgrading to new seamless or copper gutters - or simply repair your existing gutter system, there is no time as the present to check this task of your task list.

"Connecting gutters and descents can cause ice support under the shingles", potentially contributing to leaks and mold growth inside your home, saysThomas B. Adams, a general contractor with Chicago-basedThomas Adams & Sons Construction Co.

Even if you do not have the budget to completely finish your attic, just add some difference in the comfort and functionality of your home.

"Adequate insulation holds you more thermal in winter and chiller in summer," says Adams. And although there are initial costs associated with a DIY approach also, Adams says it's worth it: "You will recover all losses in the coming years saving on energy," he has declared.

If your coating is trapping, broken or distorted, it means one thing: the humidity of the snow can easily be in it, cause structural damage in no time. If you want to keep your home away from this potentially expensive problem this year, damaged coating panels are replaced and make sure there is appropriate insulation inside the journal keeping your stove from your Home all winter.

According toCDCMore than 800,000 Americans are hospitalized due to fall-related injuries each year - and autumn risk only increases ice and snow accumulation in winter. If you want to make your home not only more functional, but safer, add hand rails to stairs or outdoor steps that do not already have them already, and you could free yourself a trip to the hospital during road.

Similarly, add stair steps to your outdoor steps - especially those who do not get a lot of sun and are more likely to develop iced patches - can help you stay safer. Textured treads can also help you reduce the amount of salt and snow on your shoes, which means you do not have to worry about ruining your floors once you come inside.

Looking to improve your home this winter? You do not need a huge budget - everything you need is a small caulking.

"In winter, cold air tends to affirm through cracks," saysDaniel Quindemil, CEO of the construction company based in MiamiI am builders. He suggested re-caulking around all the edges of your windows for these bristles to be published.

If you have a larger upgrade budget, consider exchanging these windows fully. "They do a triple showcase, energy-efficient tinted windows that make a huge difference in the overall rating of your home," saysGordon Jones, Owner ofG i Jones Inspection at home in San Antonio, Texas.

The old doors in houses that have settled are notorious to let the drafts. Even worse, if they are misleaded in their setting, they can actually let the snow enter or the rain, which can cause damage to your floor and your walls if it stayed. To help reduce your risk of water damage, "make sure the outer doors have a weather band and a drawing cap," suggests that.

If weather stripping does not simply cut it for your problem project, it's probably time to completely replace your doors.

"As technology improves, R values ​​and door material insulation also improve," says Domiss. Fortunately, it is a project that is worth investing: according toRemodelingmagazine2019 Report "Cost Ves Value", a new 74.9% return steel entrance door (King), while you can recover up to 97.5% by replacing your garage door .

Before using your furnish daily to keep the bay cold, make sure these filters have been changed for your system to work effectively and reduce your risk of fouling vents, create a fire hazard.

However, even the most diligent cleaning will not cut it occasionally: "Sometimes you have to change the filter since it has not been used for almost a year," says Dismil.

You want an easy upgrade that will save you serious money in the long run? Replace your traditional thermostat with a nest like a nest, which learns your temperature preferences and can keep your home comfortable all year round.

"They will end up paying themselves," says Elron. In fact, an independent study commissioned byNest Suggests that learning thermostats can save people up to 12% on heating costs.

If you want to keep these drafts at a minimum - and you have a fireplace that will not be used this season - it pays to install a fireplace, an inflatable and heat-resistant balloon that blocks the opening of your chimney.

"You will be amazed at what point you save on your next heating invoice," says the real estate investorBenjamin Ross of San Antonio, based in TexasReal Estate Mission Group.

Although you probably do not be eating Al Fresco for a few months, winter is a good time to start some of these external upgrades that you put, as the installation of a bridge.

Not only more subcontractors will be available to assume work during the low season, but it also means "it will already be again over time, and you can even get it for a lower rate," saysRhianna miller, design and improvement of the house and gardens toRubber mulch.

Although the outdoor painting may have to wait until the temperature warms lightly, the winter is the perfect time to tackle these small inner paint projects, such as repainting your wardrobe.

"Do this in winter, since you are likely to be at home more often because of the cold," says Miller, who suggests completing these freshly painted cabinets with a new backsplass if you have the budget for it, or New buttons and drawers shoot if you do not do it.

According toNational Fire Protection Association, more fires occur during the winter than in another season. If you want to keep your home and your family safe this winter, it's now time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, says ZeMil, notes that portable heating sources are frequent sources of home fire. . If they do not work or have not tested the batteries for a while, you should exchange them.

And if you have more money to spend, upgrade to a home security system that alerts first speakers in case of smoke can add another layer of protection.

"Large branches can wear a lot of snow and weight," says Quindemil, who suggests that the owners get their trees before heavy snow causes branches. This will help you prevent you from hurting yourself, and can reduce the costly repairs of your home or car than falling branches could otherwise cause.

If you want to keep outside your home - and all the hard work you have spent in the beautiful gift come in the spring, it's worth your moment to invest in a set of factory blankets in winter.

"Young trees can be isolated with the use of a tree cover or a tree envelope", explains Jones, which notes that flowers and bushes can be protected with old bed sheets. If you have a bigger budget in mind, you can also buy cold winter frames to protect elevated beds and narrower plots.

The protection of your outdoor furniture will make you much happier in the long run. Properly covering your outdoor furniture sets with fitted accessories, allow you to maintain moisture to contact your furniture and cause any rust and possible degradation.

Of course, no winter upgrade would be complete without adding some holiday theme accessories to your list. This year, instead of simply buying ornaments and other kitschy extras, "Go with a few bigger or more substantial parts and avoid a lot of small decor, which will eventually make your space obscure," suggests new creators Indoor based in New YorkGale Sitomer ofG Design Sitomer.