6 Interior Design Tips To Help You Save Energy This Winter

With the winter months upon us lots of folks are looking for ways to save a little on the upcoming heating bills. Did you know that the way you decorate your home can affect how much energy you use? It’s true!

Here are some decorating and design tips to help you save energy during the cold season.

Choose Colors Wisely
Colors can either reflect or absorb heat, depending on their hue. Light colors tend to reflect heat, while darker colors like brown or red absorb it. To trap heat in your home find furniture or sheets with colors like cream or beige to reflect light coming into the room unto darker colored walls that are grey or royal blue that’ll absorb and retain the heat. For instance, a light green comforter can do wonders for helping to keep the heat in the bedroom.

Add Skylights
The more light you let in the more heat you’ll obtain naturally in your home, but too many large window on the side walls can have the opposite effect. Add a couple of skylights to your house so the sun has direct access from above to help keep costs down in the wintertime.

Treat Your Windows
Window treatments are not only an efficient way to add some style to a room, but they also help trap heat! Adding a splash of color over the windows in a room, especially if they’re wall-to-wall, will help keep some of the heat from escaping and lower your monthly bill. Of course, darker and thicker window treatments work best in this situation. For the summer, switch them out to something lighter to keep the area cool.

Area Rugs
Similarly to curtains, an area rug can add an extra layer of protection between you and the cold. Tossing one on the floor provides an added layer of insulation that’ll trap cold air under the floor instead of allowing it to rise into the room. The thicker the area rug, the better. Once winter is over you can simply remove the rug and give the room a whole new look with ease!

Move Furniture
Many homeowners work hard to hide air vents out of sight. Nobody wants an ugly vent taking away from the view, but the problem is that when you cover an air vent you also obstruct the airflow and force the furnace or heater to work harder, costing you more money. Instead, try arranging your furniture strategically to block the view of the vent without actually covering it.

It should also be noted that the interior walls of your house will stay warmer than the exterior, so move your couches and chairs inward.

Your wallet will thank you.

Add Buffers
In the same way that tapestries and treatments can add insulation to windows so, too, can mirrors, picture frames and other decorations add insulation to your walls. The goal is to trap in heat, so the larger the decoration or furniture the better. One great example for the bedroom is the headboard. A woven headboard that covers a large section of the wall is a great design piece for capturing a tropical feel, while also providing a nearly solid barrier against the cold trying to seep in.

Similarly, a thick dresser or cabinet with a mirror on top that sets against the wall can provide added insulation as well.