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Give your home a winter warm-up

    The cold temperatures are here to stay – so as you take cover indoors, it’s the perfect time to put home improvement projects on your to-do list. Here are a few ideas to make your home feel and look fabulous very quickly:

    From Boring to Bold

    The bathroom is a great place to start improvements, so if yours is boring, basic, or just outdated, it’s time to make a change – even on a budget.

    Faucets are a simple and affordable way to instantly renew the look and functionality of this busy room. For example, the Darcy bathroom collection from Moen includes transitionally styled faucets that provide a soft-modern look and water-saving benefits to offer the best of form, function, and beauty in no time. The collection is also available in Spot Resist Brushed Nickel finish, so you’ll save time cleaning, as it helps resist water spots and fingerprints.

    Weather the Winter Wisely

    No one wants to spend money on high energy bills, so be sure your home isn’t losing heat through windows and doors that aren’t insulated properly. Updates such as weather stripping can keep the cool air out while keeping the warm air inside – all of which will prevent throwing money out the window.

    And don’t stop there. Simple tasks, such as replacing worn-out caulk, insulating your outlets, and prepping your windows with plastic cling for the winter months can significantly reduce heating bills.

    Quick Kitchen Upgrade

    Cold weather keeps us inside with far more cooking and entertaining in the kitchen. Decor advisers at Moen Canada say that the quickest way to update the kitchen, much like the bathroom, is by installing a new faucet. From food preparation to clean-up, the faucet is a major workhorse – as well as a beauty focal point. Pulldown and pullout faucets are a popular choice, such as the company’s new Brookshire kitchen faucet, which features decorative touches and classic styling with a pullout design for at-your-fingertips water delivery. It’s equipped with the Reflex system, which offers self-retraction of the spray wand, as well as a wide range of motion, generous reach, and secure docking retraction.

    Get Fired Up

    Nothing feels better on a cold night than getting cozy by a fire, but is your fireplace prepped for the season? For a wood-burning fireplace, inspect the chimney for nests or cracks. Next, clean it thoroughly to remove creosote (unburned fuel) to prevent unwanted fires. For gas-burning fireplaces, be sure the airways of the pilot and main burners are working properly and the blower is clean. Finally, be sure you have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, as well as an operational fire extinguisher nearby. Now it’s easy to relax and enjoy the warm glow safely.

    Focus on Fixtures and Fans

    With shorter winter days, there’s less natural light and so you may notice your fixtures a lot more. For added illumination and energy savings, update incandescent bulbs with brighter, Energy Star-rated bulbs which use about 75 percent less energy and last 10 to 25 times longer. Next, take a look at the ceiling fans in your home. Start by cleaning the blades with a gentle detergent and then switch the blades to rotate clockwise. Changing this setting pushes warm air down into the room, making it feel warmer.

    Your home will operate more efficiently with these wintertime changes – and as importantly, it will look and feel fabulous.

    www.newscanada.com

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