During the autumn and winter months many homeowners find themselves looking for ways to warm up a home that won't increase the electricity bill and is easy to achieve.
The weather across the country starts to cool down as we head towards autumn and this is the ideal time to take a look at ways to make a home feel warm before the colder weather hits.
Home-Dzine shares how easily colour can affect atmosphere and mood. Choosing the right paint colours for a room - or an entire house - can make a big difference.
Earthy colours
Colour is a wonderful mood enhancer - it can make you feel cool, warm you up, increase your appetite, or soothe and calm your senses. There is no denying that colour plays an important role in how a home feels to those that live in it.
You will find a online virtual colour painter handy if you struggle to decide on colour choices. However, it is always recommended that, after selecting your colours online, go along to your nearest paint store and take a look at the colour swatches in natural and artificial light before buying or having paint colours mixed.
While colour on its own has a big impact on how a room feels - as can be seen in the living room above - the styling of the room with seasonal accessories changes the atmosphere from dark and overpowering to comfortable and lived in. The brown walls add warmth and harmonise with the taupe upholstered sofa, while pale grey accents add a lightness that allows this colour scheme to work in summer or winter. Introduce a vase of fresh, vibrantly coloured flowers and you immediately have a room that is perfect for both winter or summer temperatures.
Paint walls that do not require a regular cleaning use a matt paint to add a luxury finish that also hides imperfection, and add contrast with a sheen or gloss in white or off-white for wainscoting or wall panelling.
READ: 4 tips to save money when painting your home
Keep in mind how you choose to creatively enhance your home, as it can also influence how buyers view your property if you are planning to sell. According to Adrian Goslett of RE/MAX Southern Africa, buyers want to see a property at its natural best first and foremost.
Try these tips for transforming your home with paint :
1. Use the colour wheel - it helps in matching and complementing your chosen finishes, curtains, couches and furniture.
2. Consider the psychology of colour - it can be used to affect moods in such a way that you can alter the general feeling in a room simply by painting walls in a specific colour.
3. Focus on room orientation - Light affects the appearance of paint colour - so always check your paint under both natural and artificial light sources.
4. Try before you buy - If you want to test colours in action it is recommended to sampling before buying your paint. Buy a sample pot of paint, and test it on a piece of wood or drywall. Hold them up to your flooring, your tile, and other permanent fixtures to see how they’ll compare.
Organic Touches
But making a room feel warm is not just about colour. By introducing organic materials such as wood, rustic stone and luxurious fabrics, and combining this with colour you can achieve a room that incorporates cool colours but still feels warm and inviting, as seen in the living room below. The stone fireplace and wood accents in the coffee table and ceiling beams work with the cool blue hues in the drapes, cushions and rug.
Read: 7 interesting facts most homeowners probably don't know about their homes
In an article published on January 13, 2020, Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie’s International Real Estate, discussed important seasonal checks and suggested the following steps to take:
Seasonal checks
1. Summer
Summer in the Western Cape, with its dry, sunny days is the perfect time to check your roof and repair any cracks to ensure your home is leak-free when the winter rains come. This is also the ideal time to damp-proof your walls and repair any damage already caused. Damp marks on ceilings are indications of roof leaks and bubbling and blistering paint is a sign of damp.
External walls, doors and windows must be regularly checked - cracks should be mended and wood treated and varnished to avoid rot, which leads to contraction and inevitably to leaks.
March is a good time to cut back overgrown trees to minimise the chance of falling branches and resultant damage to your buildings and property during winter storms.
2. Autumn
Clear your gutters regularly during late summer and autumn months when dry leaves accumulate, and ensure that down pipes are unblocked and draining properly. Sagging gutters must be repaired.
Have your chimney cleaned and your fireplace serviced, particularly if it is a wood-burning stove. The same is true for a gas fire.
3. Winter
This is the perfect time to prepare your garden. If you’re going to invest in your garden, consult with a landscaper who will assess your soil and the positions available in your garden.
A well-researched and thoughtfully landscaped garden will mean a significant saving in money and time in the long run. Planting the wrong plant in the wrong location either results in a failure to thrive, huge plants which cover the windows of a house and block out light, or trees with roots that buckle brickwork and paving.
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