Here in Oregon, the arrival of cool, wet weather has us thinking about ways to make the coming winter months less dreary. Obvious strategies include taking steps to increase our home’s energy efficiency. But weather stripping, insulation, and programmable thermostats aren’t the only ways to increase our comfort during winter months. Consider seven home upgrades that can make a world of difference here in the damp and chilly Northwest:

1. Add a heated towel bar or a warming drawer in the bath area and enjoy a nice warm towel after bathing.  Try installing a heated toilet seat.  You may laugh, but only if you haven’t tried one. These units can plug into a regular wall outlet making installation a snap.
2. Some may consider radiant heated floors to be a luxury, and if you take your shoes off to stand on one it will certainly feel luxurious. But think about the science: heat rises, so when the floor is heated, the rest of the room is also warmed. The most popular usage is for bathroom tile floors and those who have one say they would no longer live without it.
3. As the weather changes, we transition to our winter wardrobe and shove our summer clothes to the back of the closet. We also toss the camping gear and picnic supplies in a corner of the garage and begin dragging out our snow skis and tire chains.  Maybe it’s time for a better storage system. Creating a storage plan can increase the usable space AND help you find things easily in the future.
4. A mud room makes perfect sense year around but especially when the weather is sloppy. Creating a transition area connected to the outdoors, garage or both will give you a place to shed the rain and mud before you enter your home. How nice would it be to have a place to sit and take off your muddy shoes, let umbrellas drip dry, and hang your soggy coat? With walk-off mats, this area can keep the dirt and debris from tracking into the rest of the house.
5. An inviting kitchen is the center of warmth and comfort when it’s cold outside. Opening up the space to adjoining rooms allows the comfort to spread. Creating an eating bar invites guests to gather casually to enjoy food and fellowship. Touches of beauty add a sense of gratitude for the moment.
6. Add warmth to your home with color. Paint your walls with a warm hue and feel the immediate difference. Add chestnut, tangerine, golden, and rosy accents to your rooms.
7. Banish the dark corners in your home and create a sense of comfort with layered lighting. Augment the main source of light in rooms with recessed lighting, sconces, spotlights, and lamps.  A well-lit room appears larger, warmer, and is always far more inviting.

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   The designers, consultants, and craftsmen of C&R Remodeling create beautiful and highly functional kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks, patio covers, and whole house remodels. Call 503-363-1343 today for your personal, in-home consultation!