Simple melody

Don’t be surprised if you have a couple of hit songs on your mind during the winter months in NSW concerning your kitchen and home. The first could well be Baby, It’s Cold Outside, closely followed by (Money’s Too Tight) To Mention.

Keep costs down

It’s a popular choice of hit songs as many of us working from home or installing a new SmartPack kitchen during the Covid19 pandemic want to know how to stay warm without getting a bill shock when it comes time to paying your energy bills.

The heart of the home

We don’t need to tell you that for many families nowadays, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we congregate for a meal, a chat or cuppa, or simply hang out. Going ahead and installing one of our DIY flatpack kitchens with that in mind will not only be a great move, it will be made even better if you find cost-saving ways to keep the space toasty over winter.

Stay snug

The good news is that there is plenty you can do to stay snug and cosy while prepping a meal in your new or renovated DIY flatpack kitchen or in the rest of your home. Some of these tips are so easy you will wonder why you didn’t think of them earlier.

Add a layer

The first tip would be to suggest wearing a warmer jumper than you might normally. It is amazing how something so simple can really make a big difference (and could save you lots of money) – as can wearing a thick pair of socks. If being an indoor fashionista is your thing, you could add a cute hat or beanie and scarf to the mix, as quite a bit of our body heat is lost through our head.

Set your thermostat

Experts suggest you check your heater’s thermostat and set it to 20 degrees Celsius, which on most days would be a suitable temperature for most people living in Sydney. Also consider putting your heaters on a timer, so that when it’s time to go to bed, you avoid leaving them on all night – adding unnecessary costs to your power bill.

Close doors and check draughts

Another tip is to keep doors shut to rooms you don’t use very much (as well as in your living room). Go around your home and see if there are any draughts at the bottom of doors that can be closed off with a door snake or buy door sweeps to seal those gaps on the bottom.

Zero in on cracks and gaps

Look for cracks and gaps around windows, walls and doors as they are often overlooked and can be a major source of heat loss in the home.   

Let the sun shine in

During the day allow as much sunlight as possible in the kitchen, workspace and living areas as this is a great way to naturally warm up those areas.

Curtain call

At night, draw curtains, blinds or close plantation shutters to stop the flow of cool air into your home through glass panels.

Decorate your floors

If some rooms, which feel the chill, are not carpeted, consider adding some beautiful rugs to bare floor surfaces such as wooden floors or polished concrete to add warmth to the area.

Watch furniture placement

Try to avoid placing large pieces of furniture such as a sofa directly in front of your heater as this positioning will result in inefficient heat absorption.

Open the oven door

When using your oven to bake, roast or thaw, keep the oven door open (once you have finished) as this will stop anyone shivering.

If this blog has inspired you to get started on your DIY kitchen flatpack project with SmartPack and you would like to find out more about how it’s done, read more at smartpackkit.com.au.