Changing your soft furnishings is one of the easiest ways to update the aesthetic of your home. Fabrics are the perfect way to rejuvenate your interiors, ranging from new sofa covers to transform a tired couch, all the way up to beautifully patterned curtains for your bedroom. But did you know that your soft furnishings could also impact your energy bills?
For many people here in the UK, our homes can be difficult to keep warm, and many of our properties are faced with a common problem: heat leakage. In fact, over one third of your home’s heat can escape through your windows – and with the ongoing energy crisis, it’s a problem many of us can’t afford. You need a cost-effective solution and that’s where your choice of curtains can help.
Here’s what you need to know about how curtains can affect your energy bills!
Close your curtains
When you’ve spent hours decorating and perfecting your Christmas tree, it may be tempting to leave your curtains open and display your masterpiece. However, this could leave your home feeling frosty.
Instead, it’s worth capitalising on daylight hours by opening your curtains during the day and closing them at dusk. This helps your home to absorb warm sunlight during the day and prevents heat from escaping when the sun goes down.
Buy lined, thermal and blackout curtains
When it comes to your curtains, more is definitely more. Essentially, this is because the more layers you have, the more likely your curtains are to block draughts and retain heat.
Generally speaking, you have three options to choose from: lined, thermal and blackout curtains. Lined curtains can help to trap air and reduce heat loss, while thermal and blackout curtains feature fabric that’s designed to regulate temperature by preventing air from entering or leaving your home.
Top tip: Here at Plumbs, we’ve just launched a NEW energy reflective lining. Designed to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, their patented technology makes them the ultimate choice when it comes to choosing a lining for your made to measure curtains.
Choose floor-length curtains
Floor-length curtains are loved by designers the world over for their power to make any scheme look more polished and expensive. But, when it comes to your energy bills, floor-length curtains could also help you to cut your utility costs. Additionally, you can take this one step further by hanging your curtains above the window frame. This will create a seal around your window and help to keep your home warm.
Select wider curtains
Just like floor-length curtains, opting for a wider pair of curtains can make a difference to your energy bills. Why? Because this allows additional fabric for gathering; essentially providing extra insulation around your windows that makes it harder for warm air to escape. To enhance this effect, consider buying a curtain rod or pole that’s a little wider than your window.
Invest in thick, heavy curtains
We’ve all see those images in magazines of sun-soaked homes with beach-themed interiors and flowing transparent white curtains. Although this looks amazing in tropical destinations, it’s not ideal for our unpredictable British climate. Instead, choosing thick curtains can boost heat retention by enclosing your window and minimising the impact of draughty windows.
Here at Plumbs, we know that rising energy bills are a pressing concern for many of our customers. This is why we’re here to help. Our experts can create made-to-measure curtains for any room in your home, including floor-length designs and matching pelmets. We offer more than 800 fabrics in a huge range of colours and prints, so we’re sure to have something to suit your home. Call us on 0800 019 0505 to find out more and book a home consultation.
