Fall has quickly passed, and we are headed straight into the Winter season! To help better prepare you for the cold weather, we have come with a list of ways you can get your apartment home fully equipped for the lower temperatures. Use these tips to create a safe and cozy atmosphere in your apartment space while adding a special winter design feel to your home.
1. INVEST IN A HUMIDIFIER
When it’s cold outside, it’s natural to turn the heat up indoors, but with that comes a severe drying effect. When the air gets dry, our skin, sinuses, and noses suffer, but there are some affordable humidifiers out there that can give your body the moisture it craves without being too much of an eyesore.
2. REORGANIZE YOUR CLOSET
We know we aren’t ready to pack up the flip-flops and swim trunks just yet, either, but the time has come. Don’t wait for a 30-degree day to start searching for your coziest sweaters; take the time now to swap out seasonal items and clear some room for bulky pieces like boots and sweaters. You will thank yourself in December.
3. HELP WARM YOUR NEIGHBORS
Once you’ve cleaned out your closet, take last season’s sweaters, gloves, and scarves and donate them. Making room for new cozy items and helping keep your neighbors warm this winter: it’s a win-win. If you’re in DC, you can donate through Thrive DC.
4. SANITIZE BEFORE COLD SEASON
We all get excited when we break out our favorite gloves again, but before you throw them on, take the time to give them a good wash. We usually reach for our gloves for the first time each season when an unexpected early cold front comes through, but try to get ahead of Mother Nature this year and sanitize your winter accessories so that last year’s germs and grime don’t ruin this year’s holiday fun. Here are some tips from Martha about when and how to clean your outerwear.
5. PROTECT YOUR WINDOWS
Whether your windows are brand new or full of historic charm, the cold air has a way of finding its way in (and the warm air out). Our favorite ways to prevent this are putting up some heavy fabric drapes and lining the windows with a temporary, clear film insulation kit. Both are easy to remove when Spring comes around but will make a big difference in your heating bill.
6. MIX UP A WINTER SCENT
This one may seem purely for joy but can help cover up any funk hanging around when the windows get locked up for winter. Round up a few items from your spice cabinet (cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg will do) and toss them in a pan with some orange peel and some water and simmer away. Before long, your entire apartment will smell like the holidays instead of the litter box!
7. PICK UP A DOORMAT
When we slip on our fuzzy socks at the end of the day, the last thing we want is to ruin them by stepping on some sand, dirt, or melted snow tracked in from the wild outdoors. So pick up a heavy-duty doormat to place by your entry where you can wipe and take off your boots before entering your apartment sanctuary.