10 Top Tips on how the Science of your Interiors can keep you warm
… and save you money this Winter, great for both residential and businesses alike.

With estimates of fuel bills on the increase, we can always do with tips on ways to save energy, by reducing heat loss during the colder months. These are especially useful if you live or work in an older property, which may be restricted in other ways by the limitations imposed on “Grade I and II” listed buildings.

Karen Wilson of ColourMatters has put together her 10 Top Tips on keeping warm with skilful use of your interiors this season.

1. Curtains and blinds. Make sure you draw them closed as it starts to get dark. Add an extra layer by lining curtains and blinds with thermal or interlining. This will trap a warm insulating layer of air to your existing or new window treatments.
2. Doorways. Protect against door draughts, just like the Victorians did, by fitting a lined door curtain and thickly stuffed door bolster at floor level.
3. Floors. Wooden, laminate and tiled floors can feel cold under foot without under-floor heating, so why not invest in a thick soft rug to protect your tootsies, as well as wearing slippers!
4. Throws. Use throws on sofas and chairs, particularly leather ones, for snuggling up in and as an extra insulating layer for your bed at night.
5. Window Fittings. Curtains and blinds which don’t fit correctly, top, bottom and sides, will allow draughts through around the edges. Consider having your window dressings altered to overlap at all edges.
6. Double up. Why not introduce an extra layer to your windows, like a blind behind a curtain or vice versa, to build up the layers of warm trapped air on the inside of the window.
7. Pelmets. Reduce the entry of cold air into your room by capping the top of your windows with a neat padded fabric pelmet. It makes a neat finish to your window dressing too.
8. Padded headboards. Leaning against the wall, leather, satin or wooden headboards can leave you feeling a chill on your back and neck. So why not try a comfy fabric-covered fitted headboard. For some more examples see http://www.colourmatters.net/project4_new.htm
9. Cushions. It may sound obvious, but cushions fill the air gap created between our seating and our bodies, providing both comfort and warmth. Go on … splash out on a few texture ones this season!
10. Cosy paint. Thanks to the latest technology, Thermal Insulating Paint is now available. Easy to apply beneath regular paint, it’s estimated to reduce heat loss up to a whopping 25% and it’s environmentally friendly too!

For more information and advice on how to be clever with your interiors, visit ColourMatters Decorating and Interiors, based in Cheltenham, UK at www.colourmatters.net or for a personal consultation, email us via the website or call Karen Wilson on 01242 231866