Home Projects to Make Your Winter Cozy and Relaxed

It’s nice to be able to make adjustments to your living space when the cold winter season kicks off. Homeowners and renters alike try to ensure that their homes are comfortable and optimized for a spell of chilly weather.

Here are a few home projects worth considering to make your home cozy and relaxed over the next few months.

Start with Storage

The idea of making a “cozy” space causes most people to leap to thoughts of fluffy blankets and roaring fireplaces. But if you want to make those images a reality, the first place to start is by removing the vestiges of warm weather living.

For example, take the time to properly store your summer clothes. Clean them up, get quality containers, and find a nice out-of-the-way spot where they can wait for the spring thaw.

The same can be said for sandals, air conditioners, and summer decorations. By going through a summer/winter swap and removing warm weather accessories throughout your home, you avoid clutter and set the stage for a calm, clean, and inviting winter space.

Consider Your Home Environment

Once you have the summer stuff put away, take some time to consider any structural changes you need to make to your home. These don’t have to be major construction projects. There are many small ways you can quietly button up your living space for colder weather.

For instance, take some time to go through your rooms and air seal your home. This involves finding drafts and blocking them up.

Drafts can come through a door, window, attic, basement, and so on. Use insulation for larger spaces. A piece of weatherstripping can be all that’s required for a door. You can even use a piece of shrinkwrapped plastic to seal over a leaky window.

Transform Your Backyard Space

Once you have your interior spaces buttoned up, look to the outside for a little outdoor winter renovation. Most people have a small deck or patio that they don’t use much during the winter. Instead of letting it sit empty, spruce it up and make an outdoor space that everyone in your home can enjoy.

You don’t have to hire a landscaper or backyard designer for your winter makeover. You just need the right materials, like this durable composite deck board. It’s easy to use but strong enough to withstand the cold and snow.

Utilize Tech

The idea of a futuristic smart home gadget may not automatically make you think of a cozy winter setting. But there are a few ways that smart tech can actually be a great help in creating a comfy space.

For example, installing a programmable thermostat can be a great way to keep your home at an optimal yet affordable temperature. It can ensure that the temperature is lowered when you’re sleeping or gone while also keeping things toasty and warm when it’s time to hang out in your space.

Smart lighting is another fun way to up the coziness factor. By installing smart lightbulbs, you can control the mood and aesthetics of your space — even when it’s too cold to get out from under that blanket.

Study Up on Hygge Culture

Hygge is a Danish concept that embodies coziness and comfort. It’s much bigger than your decor, and it can revolutionize the feel of your space.

Once you’ve packed away your summer gear, sealed up those drafts, and set the stage with some tech tools, take some time to read up on hygge decor. This can include a variety of things, such as:

• Including more candles in your space;

• Optimizing earthy tones and textures;

• Creating areas where friends and family can congregate;

• Staying clean, pure, and simple in your decorating.

Hygge is a lifestyle more than anything else. By embracing a hygge mindset, you can find an endless variety of ways to incorporate warmth and comfort into your spaces.

Staying Cozy and Relaxed This Winter

Winter is known as a harsh, cold, and uncomfortable season. What better time to buck the trend and steer into a cozy and relaxed atmosphere in your home?

From clean, organized spaces to an optimized environment to hygge accents and decor, there are many ways to warm up your living space during the colder weather. So, assess the current condition of your space and figure out where you can make adjustments in order to create a snug, intimate living space this winter.

Interview - Financial Sense

Many of our clients have paper management challenges. Additionally, a lot of our clients have multiple properties, trusts and are dealing with various family members estates. We spoke with Rebecca Feeley from the Darien-based Financial Sense about some possible solutions.

What is Financial Sense?

Financial Sense is a family owned and operated Daily Money Management firm in Darien, CT. We work with individuals and families, both locally and nationally, to organize and manage their financial lives. We offer services such as bill pay, income and expense tracking for planning and tax purposes, budgeting, and financial reporting. Whether you need help staying on top of due dates, reclaiming a few hours of your time, or are looking to better understand and manage your spending habits, Financial Sense can help.

How can your service help busy people?

Typically, our clients have busy lives – children, careers, multiple homes, or some combination of all those things. The busier a person is, the less time he or she has to focus on their financial well-being. Financial Sense steps in and becomes the central hub for all the bills to be mailed. We make sure everyone from the credit card companies to the landscapers are paid in a timely manner. We track all the inflows and outflows, and we provide customized reporting so our clients can comfortably “get out of the weeds” and begin making executive-level financial decisions based on data we’ve provided.

How is your service different from other similar companies and services?

We have a small, close-knit team that brings a very personal, yet professional approach to what we do. We develop friendships with our clients while also delivering expert service and advice. We have a family feel, but with all the bells and whistles of safe, secure, technology-embracing firm.

What is your background? How did you get involved with Financial Sense?

I studied Economics in college and have been in Finance my entire career. First on the investment management side, and for the past 7 years at Financial Sense, on the client side helping individuals and families to better understand and manage their cash flow.

My mom, Keeley, left corporate banking and founded FS when I was in grade school in an effort to be more present for her family. Now that I have a husband and 3 kids of my own, I’m finding the same benefits and flexibility of self-employment that she was seeking 26 years ago. We work very hard for our clients while also making time for our families. It’s the best of both worlds.

How has money management changed over the years? What are some recent developments?

I think people these days are more willing to delegate responsibilities in their lives that they either 1) don’t have time for or 2) are simply not good at. It’s no longer about not being able to pay your bills on time or manage your money, it’s that people have busy lives and many things vying for their attention. Managing household finances is something that can be hired out now, just like a professional organization can be!

Simple Ways To Make Your Rental Property Feel Like Home

When you move into a rental property, you might be restricted when it comes to what you can do to decorate. You might not be allowed to paint the walls, hang art or change up the furniture. Don’t worry, as we are here to show you simple ways to make your rental property feel more like home without making any permanent changes. Even if you are only going to be in a rental property temporarily, you deserve to feel fully relaxed every time you walk through the door. 

Go Wild With The Soft Furnishings

The first and one of the best things that you can do to make your rental property feel more like home. Soft furnishings make spaces so much cosier and you will notice a significant difference when you add rugs, blankets and cushions. Plus, if you aren’t keen on the furniture that came with the property, you can throw blankets and cushions over your sofas and chairs. Soft furnishings are available from so many different places, so you can find the right choice for your budget. 

Add Plants To The Space 

The next thing you can do to feel more at home in your rental property is to add plants to the space. Plants are known to boost your mood, make you more productive, it can reduce stress, fatigue, absorb toxins and produce oxygen. Plus, they look lovely and will really brighten up the space. If you’re new to the world of houseplants, the following are very easy to care for: lady palm, string of pearls, peperomia, pothos, chinese evergreen and jade plant. Try to keep all of these plants in in-direct sunlight and water them once every 1-2 weeks in the summer and once every 2-3 weeks in the winter. 

Buy Standing Mirrors

Another thing that you can do is to buy standing mirrors around your rental home. Mirrors reflect light around the home wonderfully, and although you might not be able to hang new mirrors around the place, you could have standing mirrors around. Perhaps a large standing mirror in the hallway, a tall and thin mirror in the bedroom and small standing mirrors in the bathroom. You should notice that your home is so much brighter! 

Add Personal Touches

To really make your rental property feel like a home, it is important that you add personal touches. You want to look around and see personal memories or decorations that put a smile on your face. You could choose 3D portraits of you and your family, put out memoirs from your family holidays or create a photo wall. These things can be hung using removable hooks that won’t remove any paint (make sure that you buy good quality ones to make sure they work effectively). 

Have A Clear Out 

Last but not least, having a clear out can make such a big difference. If you are only somewhere temporarily, you might not have taken the time to unpack properly. However, this is likely to have a big impact on your ability to fully relax in your home and you will feel super organized. So, taking a few hours to clear out things and unpack properly can really make a huge difference! 

Final Thoughts

Everyone deserves to feel happy and comfortable in their home, even if you are only there for a few months. You will find that your whole mood will completely transform, so taking some time to make it feel like home is definitely the best thing to do! 

5 Tips for Making the Most Out of Your Hot Tub This Winter

Did you pull the trigger on getting a hot tub a few years ago? Have you hardly used it since after that first year? Don’t worry—you’re not alone!

A lot of folks jump on the hot tub bandwagon and are very excited about it for the first year. But then, life starts swinging again, and that hot tub seems more and more like a big cube taking up space on your deck.

Want to make sure you’re actually using it this season? Follow along with some of our tips for making the most out of your hot tub this winter!

Entertain Guests

This is one of the easiest ways to use your hot tub more. Any time you have people over, any time there’s a date night happening, even a family movie night—weave some hot tub time in there!

Give yourself reasons to get on your bathing suit and enjoy the warmth! But make sure everyone knows that hot tub time has to go in phases; you don’t want to push it with more than 20 minutes at a time.

Stock Up on Cleaning Supplies

Hate the process of cleaning the spa? Follow some key sanitation hacks, like keeping extra supplies on hand. You’ll be even less likely to clean up the hot tub if you have to run to the store to get the supplies to clean it.

Not to mention, keeping your hot tub clean and sanitized lowers the chances of bigger problems, especially since small issues become more complicated in cold temperatures.

Use It as a Post-Workout Relaxer

Whether you make it to the gym, dance in your living room, kickbox in the basement, or go on long winter hikes, wind down afterward with a soak! Or maybe you need to use your hot tub as a reward for a workout accomplished! A 20-minute soak in your hot tub will stretch and ease your muscles.

Just make sure to have plenty of water on hand while you relax!

Keep an Eye on Water Levels

Similar to cleaning and sanitizing, this tip for making the most out of your hot tub this winter has to deal with maintenance. You won’t want to use your hot tub if you’re not taking care of it regularly. And you definitely won’t want to sit in there if the water isn’t where it should be.

Not only that, but not keeping a consistent eye on water levels can keep your hot tub from working smoothly. If water levels get low, pumps and heaters can stop running as well.

Drink Plenty of Water

This is a quick tip, but an absolutely essential tip—water. Drink plenty of it. Why will this help you make the most out of your hot tub? Subconsciously, you might have memories of just being drained or not feeling quite right after using the hot tub in the past. That may very well be from being dehydrated.

Your body loses a lot of water while you’re having a good soak. Keep plenty of liquid on hand while you’re heating up in the pool.

There you have it! The more you make hot tub healing a habit, the more that little cube will become an important part of your deck’s aesthetic.