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Keeping your staircase, landing and hallways warm this winter

  • Keeping your staircase, landing and hallways warm this winter

Keeping your staircase, landing and hallways warm this winter

The nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping. But how do you keep your house warm this winter, particularly as the cost of living is increasing?

Your hallways, stairs and landing areas are typically twice as big as other rooms – so unless you have huge radiators to heat this space, you’ll need to be smart and make use of other way to keep it warm this season. We take you through some handy tips to keep these regularly used parts of your house nice and cosy throughout autumn and winter.

Make the most of any sunlight

Sunlight is the most cost-efficient way of heating your home. It’s free. We won’t get too much of it outside of spring and summer, so it’s important we make the most of it when we do. If you have windows nearby, open your curtains in the morning and then shut them around 4pm to keep heat in. Research shows that you could reduce heat loss by around 25%. Thick, heavy curtains are best for this trick.

Block any draughts

Heat naturally goes to where it’s colder. So, if it’s got a chance to escape, it will. Don’t give it the chance by blocking up any holes, cracks or gaps in or around doors and windows. Blocking up even the slightest gap with a draught excluder or self-adhesive rubber seals will make a big difference. You might even have cracks in paintwork on your hallway, landing or staircase – you can fill these using sealant or putty, smoothing them over and painting or staining.

Keeping your staircase, landing and hallways warm this winter

Keeping your staircase, landing and hallways warm this winter

Consider adding fabric

If you’ve got hardwood or tile floors, you’ll certainly feel the cold when it hits. If you think you’d like a change, carpeting the area is an obvious choice. But you could also add a rug to the hallway or landing areas, or even carpeted stair runners to have the best of both worlds. The fabric will add insulation and your home will feel warmer. Just make sure any rug isn’t a trip hazard near the stairs. Read our blog for more about should you carpet your stairs?.

Move objects to let the heat flow

A home full of furniture will be warmer than an empty one, but it’s important that furniture isn’t blocking any heat from warming up your rooms. Make sure sofas, chairs, desks, and other items are moved away from radiators so the air can move around freely. You may also be tempted to dry clothes on radiators while they’re on but doing so will mean you won’t feel the full benefit of them.

Use energy wisely

Most of us have our central heating systems programmed, often through an easy-to-use app. Use your heating wisely, putting it on about half an hour before you wake up and turning it off when you’re out of the house. The ideal house temperature in winter is between 18-21 degrees Celsius. And for every degree you turn your thermostat down, you could cut your heating bill by 10%. Make sure your radiators are also bled regularly so no air is trapped inside, which can stop them from working properly.