Top 10 home improvements trending this winter

With winter closing in, home improvement ideas now focus on keeping cosy and making the house a comfortable home for darker nights and colder days.

Heating check

Your heating should be your priority when it comes to winter home improvements. At the beginning of the season, turn your heating up all the way and make sure any individual thermostatic valves on radiators are fully open. Check your radiators are hot all over. Bleed any radiators that have cold areas.

Make sure your boiler has had its yearly service. If you have any tired, dated radiators or are updating your heating system, now is the time to install modern radiators. Check out the designer collection at Stelrad. Winter is the best time to make sure your radiators are working well and looking good.

Lighting update

Naturally, we have our lights on more often in winter. It is worth updating all your lightbulbs to LED bulbs. LED bulbs use far less electricity than other light bulbs. This means they are better for both the environment and your bank balance. LED bulbs are recyclable too.

Plus, LED bulbs last longer. While halogen and traditional bulbs will blow quite often, LED lightbulbs are likely to last until you move house. This means less spending on new bulbs and less time clambering up a ladder.

Loft insulation

With a quarter of your home’s heat being lost through the roof of an uninsulated house, insulating your loft will keep you warmer and reduce your heating bills. Once installed, loft insulation lasts for an average of 40 years so is a great investment.

A straightforward loft, with existing access but no existing damp problems, can be insulated easily with wool mineral insulation. There are plenty of videos showing the capable DIYer how to add insulation between the joists.

Fit carpets

Carpet is seeing a resurgence in popularity. With home décor trends leaning towards cosier, darker themes, the minimalist laminate and hard flooring that has been popular over the last few decades is being replaced with sumptuous carpets.

Carpet helps trap heat in your home, contributing to a reduction in heating costs. It also provides effective soundproofing. With many more people working from home, carpet’s resurgence is sure to continue.

Pipes and gutters

Your gutters and pipes are most vulnerable to leaks over winter. Gutters and downpipes full of autumn leaves and debris will become blocked. This causes them to overflow and create damp patches along any brickwork or other areas where the water runs and gathers. Clean out your gutters and consider fitting a gutter brush or other preventive gadget. It might also be worth considering steel guttering.

As temperatures drop, outdoor pipes are prone to freezing. If a pipe freezes, it is likely to burst causing significant damage. Fit pipe insulation on any outdoor taps, make sure they are shut off if not in use for winter, and disconnect any hoses.

Home security

Darker nights see an increase in opportunist theft from gardens and homes. Winter is the time to improve your home security. Check your doors and windows for any worn-out locks, loose latches, or other wear and tear that may make entry easier. Update your front door to one with a multi-point locking system for increased security.

If you have a home alarm system, make sure it has had its regular service. If not, adding security lighting is a great deterrent. From simple solar sensor lights to full CCTV linked security lighting systems, there are plenty of options to protect your home.

Minor maintenance

After spending warmer months focused on the garden, there will be plenty of minor maintenance jobs indoors that will have been neglected. Create a home improvement audit simply by going from room to room listing any jobs that need completing.

From squeaky door hinges to wall cracks and from woodwork that needs a fresh coat of paint to regrouting tiles, there are sure to be plenty of home improvements to keep you busy this winter.