Winter is well and truly here, and it’s not just the cold snaps that everybody is reeling from. We’re all feeling the squeeze from the energy crisis, so finding ways to make those heating bills stretch further is more important than ever. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit in a freezing room all day and night. In fact, there are lots of ways to keep your home warmer in the winter. And it just so happens that we’ve listed a few of them below. Convenient, right? So, if you want to know how to make your house warmer in winter, keep reading.

Time Your Heating

By using the thermostats in your home tactfully, you’ll be able to set and maintain a comfortable temperature. Instead of having the heating on continuously and spending needless pennies and pounds, a thermostat lets you programme exactly when your heating turns on. And with thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), you can control the temperature of each radiator. By being just a little bit more tactful in this department, you’d be surprised at how much you could save. For example, did you know that programming your boiler to turn on a little earlier but at a lower temperature is actually cheaper than turning it on immediately at a higher temperature?

Draught-Proof the Home

Draught-proofing is one of the warmer home improvements you can make almost right away. Not only is it effective, it’s also very cheap. You can do this yourself or hire a professional – though this will cost a bit more. You can draught-proof many areas of the home including:

  • Windows
  • Doors
  • Chimneys
  • Floor and skirting boards
  • Pipes
  • Wall cracks

Remember, it’s important that you only cover up unwanted gaps and don’t block or seal any intentional ventilation.

Replace Your Old Boiler

Now, we know what you’re thinking: ‘That sounds really expensive’. But please hear us out. Yes, it will be a somewhat hefty initial expenditure, but in the long run you could save 100s of pounds every year. That’s sounds good, right? However, if you have a new boiler, there is no need. This step is only recommended for those with boilers that are more than a decade old. Older boilers are much less efficient that their newer counterparts.

Loft Insulation

Did you know that up to a quarter of all heat is lost through the roof? You can cut this deficit dramatically by having adequate loft insulation. The recommended amount is about 25cm, so if you’re lacking in this department, topping up your insulation will make a big difference.

White tier on tier living room shutters

Insulating Shutters

When you’re looking to make warmer home improvements, it’s important to cover all your bases. While a significant amount of heating is lost through the windows, it turns out that shutters can be excellent insulators for your home. Who knew? Well, we did, but now you do too. Hurray!

Shutters are excellent at keeping the heat in because – unlike other window dressings – they’re fitted flush to your window recesses. This ensures that very little heat can escape through unwanted gaps. Plus, they’re thicker than other window solutions. And if you’d like some solid figures on this, we can confirm that a set of well-fitting shutters can reduce heat loss by around 60%. Plus, not only do they keep your home warmer and save you money on your energy bills, they’ll help lower your carbon footprint too.

If you’d like to learn more about how shutters can help to save money on heating costs, please get in touch today. You can call us on 0800 970 0800 or send an email to hello@shutterlyfabulous.com today.

Ah, the age-old question: Should I opt for shutters or curtains? Ok, maybe not age old, but it’s one that we’ve heard many times. Yes, we often get asked about the benefits of shutters compared to curtains, and it’s a fair question. After all, window dressings are an investment. As with any investment, it’s important to know your money is being well spent. So, we decided to help you make an informed choice by writing this blog. And, lo and behold, it seems shutters come out on top! Still not convinced? Well, keep reading…

Don’t Wait, Insulate

Unlike curtains, which hang loose in front of your window, plantation shutters are fitted flush to your window. Besides looking fantastic, this also makes them great for home insulation. So, when things start to get a bit chillier, you’ll be thanking your shutters for keeping out those irritating drafts. But what about the summer months? A set of shutters will reflect the sun’s rays, helping cool down your room when the mercury starts to rise. This keeps you comfortable and helps you save on energy bills, too. Oh, and shutters can even help with seasonal allergies and soundproofing.

Light and Privacy Management

With curtains, you can have them opened, or you can have them closed. Sure, you can open them a little, or a lot. But that’s it. Conversely, shutters are incredibly versatile and come in a variety of styles. Full Height allows you to cover your entire window, whereas Café Style shutters can cover as much of the window as you like. With Tier-On-Tier, you can have the best of both worlds, with the bottom and top sections hinging separately from one another. And with their moveable slats, you have the ultimate control of how much light you let into your home. This makes them ideal for privacy, too.

Add Value to Your Home

Did you know that the kerb appeal of shutters can drive up the asking price of your home? No? Well, it’s true. Because they are a semi-permanent fixture, they are attractive to prospective buyers. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, they also save buyers the headache of having to redress their new windows. Win, win!

Easy Maintenance

With a set of curtains, cleaning can be quite the chore. One option is to soak the curtains in cool water and detergent. This requires taking the curtains down, soaking them, drying them, and potentially ironing them. You can also steam your shutters but, again, this takes time and effort. Exhausted yet? Us too. Yes, some can be thrown in the washing machine, but this depends on their fabric – and that is still a big-time consumer.

This is yet another area where shutters come out on top. Cleaning requires a quick wipe with some lukewarm, mildly soapy water and then a once over with a dry cloth. And that’s it! Furthermore, because shutters are much less prone to damp than curtains, they don’t require cleaning all that often. This saves you the hassle of cleaning and means you can enjoy them for years to come.

What About Price?

Sure, you can get some very cheap curtains. But that is exactly what they are, cheap – and they won’t last very long. As already mentioned, wooden window shutters are an investment with several benefits far exceeding those of curtains. They will save you money on energy bills, they last for years, and they can even increase house value. And by going with Shutterly Fabulous, you can be sure that you’re getting affordable shutters, not cheap. In fact, we promise that we will never be beaten on price.

If you still have questions about the merits of shutters vs curtains, our friendly team is on hand to help! Please call us for free on 0800 9700 800 or send an email to hello@shutterlyfabulous.com.

We price beat all UK Shutter Companies including: Hillary's & Thomas Sanderson.