Britain has been enjoying some sunny weather to welcome spring, but the temperature is expected to drop significantly next week, and some areas of the country expect snow. However, you do not need to worry about having the heating on blast and increasing your bills just yet, as you can try this simple method Victorian households use to keep warm.
When you think of the Victorians, you may have a romantic view of mansions run by servants who would light fires to keep the place warm, but most people had to find cheap but effective ways to heat their homes. Paul Wilham, a historic preservation expert and founder of Victorian Antiquities and Design, shared that many people during this time would use heavy drapes and blankets to trap warm air inside.
He said: “Most Victorians had to ‘get by’ by sewing their own drapes. Middle and upper-class homes did, however, have what we called summer and winter drapes. One of the ‘chores’ of spring cleaning was the removal of heavy drapes and replacing them with light lace curtains.
“Most ‘less than affluent’ Victorians do what most modern-day old house people do. They nailed or tacked blankets or fabric over the windows in cold periods.
“They also closed off rooms that were not used either by closing pocket doors and or the use of Portiere which has a drape that closed off a doorway.”
It may seem simple, but many people do not realise that a significant amount of heat is lost in homes through door gaps and poorly insulated windows.
Thick material around your window acts as a barrier, preventing drafts from entering your home and lowering the room temperature.
When you do decide to have the heating on, it traps the hot air from escaping, keeping a room warmer for much longer.
All you need to do is look for floor-length thermal curtains. Keep them closed at night to lock in warmth, but keep them open during the day to let the sun warm up your home.
If you already have curtains, you can add curtain thermal lining to them, which will also help keep your home toasty warm during colder weather.
Nowadays, many people also place draft excluders in front of doors as an easy way to keep their homes warmer without spending a lot of money. They can be bought in most supermarkets or online for as little as £10.
Close doors, as this keeps the heat contained to the area of the home you are in and prevents warm air from escaping into rooms you are not using.
Taking the time to try these historic methods will significantly reduce heat loss in your home and hopefully help keep your energy bills for the next few weeks until you can turn off your heating completely in late March.
