Month: February 2017

Looking for easy and clever ways to update your home or resolve your storage problems? We bring you our top 15 home improvement hacks for inspiration and motivation.

1. Shoe organiser for storage

Too many pairs taking up the bottom of your wardrobe? Use coat hooks in your hallway, but for your shoes. Mount them lower down and keep your most used pairs handy. Hang shoe organisers on the back of your bedroom door to keep the rest neat and tidy.

2. Use a large mirror to fool the eye

Having a small space doesn’t mean you should miss out. Utilise mirrors to create the illusion of a larger room.

3. Dress your windows to make a quick and easy feature

Windows can often be ignored when looking to create style in your home. Enhance with luxury fabrics, shutters or blinds, remembering to let light in but create privacy.

Think of the outside too; would your home benefit from a window box of evergreens or seasonal blooms?

4. Change knobs on drawers and cupboards

Updating small items can really lift a room. Using vintage knobs, such as ceramic, glass, or wood, can instantly transform an older piece of furniture.

5. Utilise your stairs effectively for storage

Staircases can take up a lot of space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from them. Install an under stair cubby for coats and shows, or even a hideaway for reading.

6. Turn your garden shed into a practical space

Is your house getting a tad small for your family? Utilise garden space to create another room. Whether you choose to have an outdoor office or kids’ playroom, it’s a quick and easy way to produce more space.

7. Use walnuts to remove scratches on wooden furniture

An ingenious hack for those looking to freshen up their furniture. Use the innards of a walnut to gently remove marks and scratches. The natural oils penetrate the wood and restore the blemishes.

8. Install shelves towards the top of your walls

Cupboards and bookcases can often take up unnecessary space, so why not fix sturdy shelving towards the top of your walls? This allows you to store books, without taking up floor space.

9. Use drawer organisers

Instead of bundling everything into a drawer, use dividers and organisers to separate your possessions. You will find you’ll save on space and save time because your items are easy to locate.

10. Convert your attic into a guest room

Not so much of a hack, but a project, this is the perfect way to create more space in your home without having to move. Adding an extra bedroom or chill-out area could even increase the price of your home.

11. Use felt pads on your furniture legs to stop scrapes

Simple, but effective. To preserve the life span of both your flooring and your furniture, use felt pads on the feet of your chairs or tables to stop any unnecessary damage.

12. Paint the sides of your doors for an instant uplift

On a tight budget with decorating? Add a pop of colour to any room by painting just the edge of your door. You could even buy a tester paint pot, rather than a full tin.

13. Half paint walls to create height

Again, save on costs by only painting half your walls. This also creates the illusion of height; perfect for those smaller rooms. Keep darker colours to the bottom and use a magnolia or white to blend in with the ceiling.

14. Add towel rails to your bathroom door

If you’re struggling for space in your bathroom or want to keep damp towels out of the way, install towel rails to the back of the door. This is a much more cost effective and space-saving way to hang and dry towels, instead of fitting a heated towel rail.

15. Get your double glazing fixed for a better view

The best home improvement hack for both indoor and outdoor is to have a clear view. If you have failed double glazing that’s ruining your home improvement goals, whether in a standalone window, double glazed door or conservatory, then contact your local Cloudy2Clear branch today for a free quote.

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We’re all looking for innovative and easy ways to save money, especially in our homes. It’s often the little things that get overlooked, so we’ve outlined our top tips for keeping energy costs down without the hassle.

Large loads at low temp

Doing one full load of washing per week, at a lower temperature, can save you money over the year. Small changes like this add up and even if you don’t notice an instant saving, you will in the long-run. Washing at a lower temperature is still an effective and an efficient way of cleaning your clothes.

Limit shower time

We know it can be hard to pull yourself out of that warm flow of water on a cold winter’s morning, but simply reducing the time spent in the shower can save energy. Try to limit showers to a ten minute slot; you could even set a timer so you don’t get carried away! To help make small changes, you can check whether you qualify for these free water saving products, including a four minute shower timer.

Always turn lights off when you leave a room

This is particularly important for larger families, especially with young children. Without realising it, you can find yourself with increasing energy bills because lights are being left on in rooms that aren’t being used. If you are someone who likes lights to be on when you return to an empty home, don’t leave them on all day. Instead, pick up an electric timer so you can schedule when you want the lights to turn on. This is ideal for security.

Don’t be a drip

A running tap wastes more than six litres of water a minute; consider turning it off while you brush your teeth. Save on your water bills further by simply turning your taps off properly. Dripping water can add up throughout the year, accumulating on your bill.

Defrost your fridge and freezer

Removing excess ice from inside your fridge and freezer allows the appliances work more efficiently. Ice takes up room in your fridge/freezer, making it less productive, thus increasing your energy bills.

Quality fabrics

Investing in a good pair of thermal curtains can assist in saving you money on your energy costs. The material further insulates your windows, keeping heat in and blocking out any cold air.

Insulation

If you are a home owner, evaluate your insulation situation and upgrade your standard double glazing in your home to the latest energy saving glass. You don’t need to replace the frames; just the glass. There are many other ways you can effectively insulate your house including:

• Loft / attic insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Insulating tanks, pipes and radiators
• Filling in gaps in floorboards

Repair double glazing

Broken double glazing panels can lose precious heat from your home. Ensure they are in full working order and fixed properly by the professionals. If you notice they have clouded up or look like they have moisture between the panels, contact your local Cloudy2Clear branch for a free quote.

Don’t overfill the kettle

We can all be guilty of filling the kettle to the brim, only to make one cup of tea for ourselves. Save energy by only using what you need. You can even purchase kettles that are specifically designed to boil for one brew, such as this Russell-Hobbs one, which boils a cup of water in 45 seconds!

Switch off and save

We often don’t realise that appliances such as televisions, stereos, and microwaves still use energy when left on standby. Simply unplug them when not in use to help keep energy costs down. Unplugging your phone / tablet chargers can also save energy too.

Switch your energy provider

Many people could save on average around £200 per year by switching their energy provider. Use websites such as:

• uSwitch
• Money Supermarket
• UK Power
• Compare the Market

However, check with your current company on cancellation fees, as you don’t want to be hit with any unforeseen charges.

Ditch the draughty doors

A simple, but effective way of keeping heat in your home is to invest in draught excluders. These are relatively cheap, but are a great way to lessen those pesky draughts from gaps under doors.

Turn your heating down by just a couple of degrees

UK winters can often be harsh and temperatures can drop dramatically over night. This causes many of us to crank the thermostat up, pumping high levels of heat throughout our homes. However, a simple way of reducing your energy output is to turn the temperature down by just a couple of degrees. You won’t feel a difference, but your pocket might. On average, turning it down by just one degree can cut heating bills by 10 percent.

If you’re looking for more hints and tips on how to save energy, check out the Energy Saving Trust today and for more information on saving energy in your home by fixing your double glazing, contact Cloudy2Clear today or call 0800 302 9355 to find your nearest branch.