It's in your hands: This is how to prepare the house for winter

True, the temperatures outside are still high, but whether you are a fan of the cooler seasons or not, know that they are already here. This is exactly the time to prepare our homes for the gloomy days, the strong gusts of wind and the abundant precipitation that will make us spend most of the time indoors. Since the seasons change frequently, there is no reason to drastically change the design, certainly not to succumb to trends that are perceived as winter and in a few months will disappear from the world anyway.

However, it is definitely recommended to make adjustments that will make the living environment pleasant and, just as importantly, more effective. An example of this is the lighting, after all the darkness strikes early and for a large part of the time the days themselves are also gloomy and dark, therefore artificial lighting in its various forms is a solution to the matter.

According to the experts of the Light In company, properly planned lighting allows us to flood the house with controlled and pleasant light and no less important - with its help we can also enhance elements that we want to emphasize and obscure others. "Autumn and winter are a good opportunity to increase the lighting system and adjust the types of lighting according to the objects and spaces," they say. "The lighting plan is recommended to be produced already during the renovation or construction stages because that way the options are greater and the planning is coherent to the needs, but it is certainly possible to improve and increase the lighting in existing apartments and houses as well."

"Today there are many excellent solutions for this, such as dynamic and advanced systems of bodies connected to controllers and sensors that know how to identify based on the time of day, temperature and level of cloud cover the intensity and shade of light that are required for a specific area at any given time. Currently, most of them are used mainly in work areas, but slowly we are seeing They also fit into living spaces."

According to the 'Light In' experts, each area of the house requires slightly different lighting, depending on the nature of use and needs. For example, in the kitchen, it is recommended to install a large ceiling-mounted fixture in the center of the space that will illuminate the work surfaces well. "Alternatively, it is possible to work with a lighting profile or with a magnetic stripe in made-to-measure production and with reference to the dimensions of the space," they explain. "If there is a lowered ceiling, recessed lighting fixtures can be integrated, and if we are dealing with a concrete ceiling, it is possible and recommended to work with cylinders. Meanwhile, it is recommended to plan separate ignitions for the various elements, to create different lighting scenarios and control what will be lit when, according to the need."

"If in the past the tendency was to use white lighting in the kitchen, in the reality of 2024 the choice has become individual. If you prefer to create soft, yet effective lighting for an active and bustling area like the kitchen, you can do so by using 3000k bulbs that emit light in a warm yellow shade. Above the island and the dining area It is recommended to install a decorative lighting fixture that will focus the light and create a pleasant atmosphere." and from the kitchen, to the living room. There, alongside the functional items, there are also quite a few decorative elements such as pictures and sculptures that we would like to highlight.

According to the experts of Light In, in these cases it is recommended to place adjustable spots near the object that emit a narrow and focused light beam, or alternatively to work with accumulation strips or magnetic systems along or across the space so that the bodies themselves can be placed in strategic stations as needed."

Similar to the kitchen, Light In experts recommend installing a lighting fixture in the center of the ceiling, above the mirror or behind the mirror as hidden lighting in the bathrooms. "On the sides of the mirror, it is important to work with a beam of light that will turn towards the user and illuminate his face so that operations such as makeup and shaving will become much more comfortable.

At the same time, it is recommended to create orientation lighting that eliminates the need to turn on the central light at night - a narrow beam of light above the toilet or recessed lighting fixtures in the wall , which throw a focused beam of light towards the floor and will do the job because they are excellent for orientation. Last but not least are the bedrooms, where the options are very diverse and the choices are often a product of the behavior and habits of the users. "It is recommended to install a light fixture in the center of the space or, alternatively, a fan with lighting, which will serve as a subtle functional illumination point, and at the same time, on both sides of the bed, work with hanging lighting fixtures - so that the light does not wash the space above the head or directly on the face. In the children's rooms, it is recommended to add a reading lamp on top the wall".

And lighting, textiles were and remain the most effective way to warm any space. According to Ella Shlomov, owner of the ELLA DECOR boutique, it is very important not to be tempted by seasonal design, but for the cold seasons it is certainly possible to make adjustments that will make our living environment more luxurious, warm and intimate. This wealth can be created with the help of textiles, cushions and rugs that at the end of the period can be stored in the closets and taken out again next winter." The exact fabric and the correct form of weaving affect many criteria."

"If it is a space with an industrial design, it is recommended to choose dramatic motifs and avoid bright or shiny elements; for spaces with a rustic design, choose linen fabrics and rattan products, and in modern homes we will keep clean lines that still manage to introduce the dimension of warmth we are looking for. In all cases, it is correct to work with trends that have proven themselves over time the years".

According to Shlomov, pillows were and remain an easy and safe way to riot with, the question is what is the purpose?

calm the space or set it on fire. "A clean background can be turned stormy with the help of colors and textures. It is recommended to work with iconic patterns that are always fashionable such as checks, pepitas, fishbones and stripes. This winter we will also see a lot of use of velvets, corduroy fabrics and linen fabrics combined with wool and leather."