It’s been a pretty great summer, but alas, all good things must come to an end.
In just a few short weeks, we’ll be moving out of those long sunny days and into fall, and all the cold weather comforts that the season brings.
There’ll be pumpkins, scarfs, and days out with the family with everyone wrapped up, as well as many a cozy night spent inside our homes.
Before we get to enjoy all those comforts, however, we need to make sure that our homes are up to scratch.
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to start preparing your home for the upcoming season.
Take care of it now, and you’ll be ready to experience fall to the maximum when it arrives.
Checking the Appliances
If an appliance breaks during summer, it’s usually no big deal.
We can all live with a home that can’t be heated when the sun is shining down outside.
In fall, these issues can become significant problems – not to mention costly, if they have to replaced straight away by a professional.
To avoid a cold weather catastrophe, check that all your major appliances are in full working condition.
This is especially important when it comes to your heating and hot water, as you’ll feel the full weight of their failure if it coincides with a cold snap.
Cozy Feelings
Often, it’s not our appliances that compromise the coziness of our homes: it’s the homes themselves.
There’s no point wasting all that money – and energy – heating your home if all the air is going to escape, to check that your home is well insulated and able to keep all the heat inside.
While the weather is warm, check that you don’t have any drafts in the house where heat can escape; see Energy Saver: Detecting Air Leaks for advice on how.
Also, it’s worthwhile having an energy audit conducted on your property, as this will flag up any major issues, such as insufficient insulation.
Keeping Your Home Safe From the Elements
After a long, dry summer, the elements often return with full force once we work our way into fall.
Strong thunderstorms often occur during fall, bringing with them heavy winds and significant rainfall.
You can ensure that these storms don’t negatively affect your home by checking that your roof and other areas of the property can handle the extreme wet weather.
If you don’t know where to start, take a look at roof draining system explained to decide if yours is the right one for your home.
As well as making sure the property is safe from stormy weather, also invest in a backup generator so that life can go on as normal in the event of a power outage.
In the Garden
You won’t be spending much time in your garden over the forthcoming months, but that doesn’t mean you should be leaving it to its own devices.
To start, walk around your property and make sure that there are no overhanging branches that might cause damage to your property during high winds.
Store away the garden chairs, tables, children’s play areas and so on, to protect from the upcoming winter weather.
Switching out Decor
And now to the fun stuff: making sure your home looks the part.
In summer, our homes are all about light colors and airy spaces; during fall, it’s the opposite.
We want to make the decor in our homes – especially our living rooms – conducive to coziness, so switch out the colors of reds, browns, and other dark hues.
Changing your curtains for light, see-through materials to dark colors will also have a big impact.
Deep Clean
Most people take spring as an opportunity to give their home a deep clean, but it’s better left for fall.
Why? Because we’re hardly inside during summer: we’re always inside during fall!
As you’re switching out your decor, give your home a deep clean and get rid of all the summer dust that will have built up.
It’ll make those evenings you spend reading inside all the more enjoyable.
For Fun
Don’t be afraid to add some fun touches to your home to really get it into the fall mood.
Candles, atmosphere lighting, and scents will all make your house more pleasant to be in.
Plus, it’ll give you an opportunity to pick up a few homey items at all those fall markets that will be taking place in the coming weeks.
And with that done, it’s time to enjoy all the fun things Fall has to offer, hayrides, bonfires, pumpkin picking and corn mazes.
Cozy sweaters and warm boots are ahead. Enjoy your Fall.
I think fall is so fun to decorate. I know most people just use lights during the holidays, but we like to use them throughout the year. I think it adds a nice element to decorations.
I agree. I love using lights throughout the year as well. I have a screened porch that I use cafe lights all year. Thanks for stopping by.
Awesome article. We wait to do some of the stuff you have listed in spring. I will take the opportunity to give my home a deep clean . . .
Thanks for sharing.