You may be seriously considering a move to a different city, or just dreaming for now. Whatever your motivations, you might be surprised by some of the cities in the United States that are surging in popularity. New York and Los Angeles no longer symbolize the dream city move for US citizens. Here are the unexpected cities people are now making a beeline for.

It’s part of human nature to think of moving elsewhere. We picture ourselves living different lives with other surroundings, and wonder what life would be like. Some of us want to live in a different climate, or have the sea or mountains within easy reach. Others crave a more cosmopolitan lifestyle, or an easier commute with an abundance of job opportunities.

Even for those who are firmly rooted in a community or are surrounded by important friends and family, moving somewhere else for a while can be re-energizing and bring important new life experiences.

The reality of moving takes a little planning, of course. The logistics of finding somewhere to live and selling or renting out your current home can take time. Hiring a long-distance moving company can help make this process easier. You also need consider logistics around getting a job and settling into new schools if you have children. Often, the practical arrangements that come with moving away put people off actually taking the leap to do it. But those who do embrace the adventure are almost always glad they did it.

So if it’s your time to seriously consider a move, here are ten unexpectedly desirable cities in the United States to think about.

1. Phoenix, Arizona

One of the fastest growing cities in the south-west United States, Phoenix is an increasingly popular place to live. This is thanks to the job opportunities that are growing exponentially, as well as the warmer climate, as Phoenix experiences more days of sunshine than any other US city.

2. Cleveland, Ohio

This former Rust Belt city has been reinventing itself for a few years now, and is becoming a buzzing place to be. Micro-breweries and trendy eateries bring a great social life, while affordable housing and the twinkling Lake Erie waters offer an attractive quality of life. Everything from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to impressive sport stadiums complete the picture of a life well lived.

3. Jacksonville, Florida

Although Florida is always a sought-after spot to move to, it loses its appeal for many people as it is one of the more expensive states to buy property in. Jacksonville is an exception, as it is a lot cheaper here than most other urban areas across the state. Yet it still has everything that makes Florida attractive – great weather, coastal living and an emerging entertainment and arts scene.

4. Salt Lake City, Utah

Known for its snowy weather and Mormon culture, many people misjudge Salt Lake City to be a slow-paced urban area. In fact, the snow brings an abundance of nearby ski resorts, which are ideal for sport enthusiasts. The city is also home to hundreds of acres of public parks and a thriving cultural scene.

5. Fayetteville, Arkansas

It’s a city many people haven’t even heard of, but Fayetteville is actually a buzzing hub of culture and commercial enterprise. With new entrepreneurial endeavors being launched here all the time, there is a distinct forward-looking feeling here. Cheap housing, great job opportunities and a thriving college football calendar mean many people want to live here for its unexpected vibrancy.

6. Portland, Maine

It is usually Portland in Oregon that makes the most sought-after city lists, but the ‘other Portland’ is becoming hugely desirable. Its postcard-perfect credentials on Casco Bay make it visually appealing, but the quality of life here is impeccable too. Fresh air, locally-caught seafood and outdoor pursuits rule the day here, while the job market and buzzy entertainment bring the best of all worlds.

7. Reno, Nevada

Formerly known as a touristy gambling city, Reno is currently making waves with the big tech and education businesses located here. Great for job opportunities and a stunning natural environment that surrounds the city, this is a place that people move to when they realize how misinformed they were.

8. Salisbury, Maryland

Ideal for those who love the splendor of the Eastern Shore and a vague proximity to New York and Washington D.C., Salisbury is being discovered by many people for the first time. A great outdoor lifestyle but a slower pace of living are what Salisbury is all about.

9. Spartanburg, South Carolina

This unassuming city enjoys the typically mild weather of South Carolina and an unexpectedly vibrant cultural scene, with free concerts and farmers markets the norm here. There is immense variety in the jobs market, and the cost of housing is among the best value of any South Carolina urban center.

10. Madison, Wisconsin

While many people dream of moving to a warmer weather state, those who are keen to embrace the cooler climes are flocking to Madison. Professionals with their young families are increasingly making the leap, for the interesting tech jobs, attractive housing and burgeoning foodie scene.

The hesitation to make a major investment in the decoration of a rental property is understandable. You’re eventually going to vacate the house or apartment, inevitably leaving behind things that cannot be carried over to your next place.

But this should not deprive you of having the beautiful and personal living environment that you deserve. What if you are going to be a rental resident for an extended period of time? Should you put off enriching your living space until you finally get to live in your forever home?

Fortunately, there are a lot of affordable and reversible ways that you can decorate your rental. With a little bit of diligence and a long-term mindset with your purchases, you can personalize your space as if you owned it.

Wall Treatment

Nothing quite impacts the look of your home like doing some wall treatments. Painting would be most people’s first choice but sometimes it may not be possible due to the stringent rules set by some landlords.

Before doing any major modifications, you should call your landlord or letting agency to ask how much can you change. Depending on where you live, there may be some rental property laws in place that oblige owners to regularly redecorate or do some maintenance and replacements to keep the rental property in good condition. In New York, for example, the landlord must repaint the property every three years if it’s located in a building with three or more apartments. In such situations, the landlord may even offer to pay a portion of it.

You don’t need to paint all the walls to change the scenery to your liking. Painting an accent wall or just a portion of a wall can achieve the desired effect without spending too much. If painting is off-limits, there are some excellent peel-and-stick wallpaper options that can be as effective.

They are usually very easy to install and you can apply them to any surface like an accent wall behind your headboard or a nook in your living room. When it’s time to move, you can easily remove them and any residue can be cleaned with a wet sponge.

Window Treatment

A lot of times, window treatments in rental properties are the cheapest the landlord could have gotten away with. If you move a lot, it would be expensive to dress the windows every time as it may not be possible to fit the curtains or drapes from your previous house to your new one.

Don’t worry, because there are workarounds for this! In many situations, getting affordable modern blinds for your kitchen, living room or bedrooms can drastically change the aesthetics and make it feel more homey and personalized especially since there are so many options to go with.

You can also use tension rods in the right spots with some lightweight sheers to crank up the cosiness and give the space a more residential look. The good thing about pressure rods is that their size is adjustable, they are super easy to install and leave no trace after removal.

Flooring

One of the simplest ways to transform your apartment is to use rugs to cover the flooring. Rugs can be used in a variety of ways to change how a particular space looks and feels. For example, you can use area rugs to define and separate spaces especially when your home has a more open design. You can use runners to give the illusion of elongating a particular space as well as cover narrow hallways. You can use a throw rug to make a tight living room appear more spacious.

If your rental is fully carpeted, you can still layer it with rugs although depending on the colors, texture, and thickness of the carpet, it may take some effort, money, and experimenting to get it right.

For bad flooring in the kitchen or bathroom, there are plenty of peel and stick floor tile options with different finishes and materials that go right over the existing flooring. They are often very realistic, durable, and easy to remove using the right tools.

If your rental has outdoor spaces (e.g., a balcony or a patio) with worn-out flooring, you can easily refresh their looks by treating the floor with temporary decking tiles. These tiles come in different finishes and their non-permanent interlocking connections allow for easy relocation which makes them perfect for renters.

Lighting

Walls, floors, and windows may be the key components of any interior, but proper lighting is the complementary element that seals the deal. The good thing about light fixtures is that they are effortlessly replaceable and you can store away the old ones to put them back when you move out.

You can choose chandeliers and pendants that go well with your other décor elements to get rid of those bland standard lighting fixtures that are usually used in rental properties. You can use LED light stripes to create a setup around something in particular that you may want to highlight.

There are also a variety of rent-friendly lighting options that provide accent luminescence to your space like torchiere floor lamps, tripod lamps, flank lamps, and tree lamps which in addition to lighting, add style to the room as they come in a huge range of designs.

What is it? It is a hormone that controls your emotions, moods, and energy levels. But what does it do for us men; specifically in terms of how we are different from women or even other animals on this planet. Well, I’m glad you asked below you will find out four different testosterone facts.

It affects sexual development and reproduction

It is the primary sex hormone in men. In women, estrogen performs a similar role. Testosterone can also affect other parts of your body, including bone and muscle mass, as well as fat distribution throughout the body.

A doctor will prescribe you TRT if he or she thinks that you have abnormally low levels for your age group and/or gender. The doctor may start with checking some routine blood work to determine whether this applies to you – however, just because they don’t check these things doesn’t mean that there aren’t signs pointing towards a need for treatment already.

Low energy, lack of libido or motivation, mood swings are all possible symptoms that could indicate an underlying problem. One common symptom is the inability to “gain muscle” despite working out and eating well – this is because testosterone helps you to build muscles.

A physician will typically prescribe a treatment plan for TRT, which includes applying the gel or taking the injection at regular intervals. Injections are usually given every two weeks, while gels can be applied daily if necessary.

This should help to restore your normal hormone levels within approximately one month from starting treatment, but it may take longer depending on how low they were initially. During this time, doctor’s orders regarding exercise and diet need to be followed closely in order to see maximum results.

If the physician is not satisfied with your progress after a few months of therapy, then he or she may decide that other measures including surgery need to be taken in order to help you get the testosterone that your body needs to function properly.

Testosterone affects muscle growth

It affects muscle growth by binding to androgen receptors in the muscles. Androgens are male sex hormones that promote cell growth, including muscle cells.

Testosterone plays an important role in muscle strength and endurance because it increases protein synthesis which helps build strong bones, cartilage, tissues, and blood vessels. Deficiency can lead to a weakened immune system, fatigue, and decreased muscle mass. Thus when you work out and your muscles are not developing then you will need to check your hormone levels.

Why testosterone levels fall

There are many reasons why you might have low levels, including old age and weight gain caused by conditions such as diabetes.

If your doctor determines that the cause of these is from liver disease or pituitary gland disorder, they may recommend therapy with prescribed injections to help increase production in those areas where it lacks naturally- but this will only work if diagnosed correctly.

A test can determine whether a deficiency exists for people suffering (or suspecting) themselves), so make sure you do not just get any blood tests done without being informed beforehand how important accurate diagnosis really is.

How to deal with low levels

The doctor will start by checking your testosterone level through a blood test. If the doctor determines that you have abnormally low levels of the hormone, he may prescribe treatment right away or wait and see if any symptoms develop first. Some common symptoms include:

– Low energy

– Lack of libido or motivation

– Mood swings

– Infertility problems

Doctor’s orders regarding exercise and diet need to be followed closely in order to see maximum results during therapy, but after several months doctor can determine whether therapy is effective enough for continuing this critical component of health maintenance. If the doctor isn’t satisfied with your progress after a few months, then he may even recommend surgery as necessary.

Doctors are your best resource when it comes to prescribing hormone replacement therapies that target changes brought on by aging, such as decreased libido; they’ll also check whether these treatments will have any side effects during prescription processing with each patient individually based upon their individual health profile before medication begins being delivered straight into the bloodstream.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need legal advice, you may be wondering where to turn. While you may find many people offering suggestions, you want to make sure you are only taking legal advice from a well-respected attorney. Here are some places you can find reliable advice.

Free Consultations

You will find a lot of attorneys who are willing to offer free consultations. They will invite you into their office and discuss your legal situation. They will offer advice and the best way to deal with the issue. They may not be willing to offer too much information, but they will have some suggestions that will help you feel more prepared, and you can also decide if you want to work with the attorney long term. When you choose to have a free consultation, there is no obligation to move forward with that attorney, so you can easily turn to several attorneys for free consultations and then follow the best advice you receive.

Legal Courses

Find yourself just wanting to know more about a specific topic or law, but you don’t necessarily need to retain an attorney. You can find legal courses online that offer plenty of information about the law or legal situation you are interested in. You can find free courses or find some that require a fee. Suppose you find yourself curious about a variety of legal topics. In that case, this can be the best option because it will allow you to become knowledgeable about various laws and legal practices.

Online Legal Services

There are plenty of legal services that are available online. If you need some advice on a specific situation or if you have a question about the law, you may be able to get help from an online service. These services are legitimate and usually affordable. In most cases, the attorneys and legal information available through online services is limited and only covers certain topics. If you need to discuss a legal topic in detail, it may be best to schedule a consultation. If you just need some quick information or advice, online legal services should be suitable.

Pro Bono Clinic

Many attorneys offer pro bono clinics that make it possible for anyone to attend and get some legal advice. You will need to contact an attorney to determine when they will be offering such clinics or check the community announcements where you live to see if such clinics will be available near you. At these clinics, attorneys meet with potential clients and offer advice. Many will also take full cases without charging the client.

Retain An Attorney

If you need advanced legal advice or know that you will need frequent advice, it can be a good option to attend an experienced attorney. You want to choose someone with rates you can afford and whom you feel comfortable with. When you retain an attorney, you will need to pay a fee, but they will be available to offer advice and answer any questions you may have about certain laws or legal situations.

Tips For Choosing The Right Attorney

When you are looking for the right attorney, you don’t want to choose just anyone. You want to make sure you are choosing the one that is right for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your decision.

Cost

Not all attorneys charge the same fee, so be sure to compare different prices to find someone who can offer you the right advice without causing you to spend more than you plan.

Experience

Experience is important when you need advice. You want someone who is familiar with the topic you are interested in or the case you need help with. You can ask an attorney what types of cases they work on the most or what experience they have with your type of case or legal situation. Experience is the main reason you should always look for a well respected attorney.

Availability

Some attorneys may say they will be available whenever you need them but then be hard to reach. You want to make sure you choose an attorney who is there to work for you. Don’t be scared to ask the attorney about their availability before you retain them or pay any fees.

Reputation

You can learn a lot about the type of services an attorney offers just by seeing what other previous clients have to say about them. You can check an attorney’s website to find out if there are any testimonials and reviews available. Read a few or ask around to see what people have to say about the attorney. This will help you decide if this attorney is right for you and will be able to provide you with the proper legal advice.

If you are in need of legal advice and you want to make sure you choose the right source, be sure to keep the above suggestions in mind.

However energy efficient your home is, there are always days when you feel like it could be warmer inside. Aside from turning the heating on higher and for longer, there are other ways you can make a room in your home warmer. Here are some ways of keeping heat in a room that you may not have considered.

Window Weaknesses

One of the main ways heat escapes a room is through the window. A typical weak point in any room, it is important to pay close attention to how you can improve the efficiency of your windows. The first thing is to make sure your windows are at least double – if not triple – glazed, and that the seals around the windows are intact. Also take a look at the frame around the window, as this area can be prone to cracks. Fixing any obvious areas of weakness should be a priority. It may cost you some money to get a tradesman in to deal with this for you, but you will reap the rewards once it is done.

Layer Blinds and Curtains

Even when you are certain your windows are in good condition, adding blinds and curtains provides an extra level of protection against the cold. Energy efficient layered curtains will not only keep the heat in, they will make your windows look more visually appealing too. A good combination is to choose some blinds for the base layer, and then curtains on top. However, you could also incorporate sheer and solid drapes, roman blinds and even wooden shutters. Whatever you choose, adding a layer or two will definitely help to keep the heat in.

Move Obstructions to Heat

Look at the position of the furniture in your room, and see whether it could be absorbing the heat from your radiators or heaters. Since people tend to put furniture along the walls on the outside of the room, there is a high chance you have a piece of furniture blocking the heat.

Whether it’s a sofa, bed or side table – move anything out of the way of your radiators. This will ensure the heat is able to enter the room and circulate as much as possible.

Maximize Radiators

Once your radiators are unobstructed, it is time to check the efficiency of the radiators themselves. Water based heating systems pump hot water into the radiators, and sometimes these can become filled with air bubbles. You’ll know whether or not this is the case by feeling the radiator. If it feels colder at the top compared to the bottom, you are likely to have some air in the system. It is easy to bleed the air out of radiators with a simple radiator key and an old towel. You could also consider installing some reflective radiator panels behind your radiators to increase the amount of heat that gets circulated into the room.

Banish Draughts

Another classic route of heat loss from a room is through the doors. Even if the room itself is well insulated, warm and cozy – this effect can quickly be reduced if heat is escaping through a draughty door. The first thing to invest in is a draught excluder – a tube-shaped cushion filled with dense material such as sand. This can be placed at the bottom of the door of the room you are in to stop heat escaping here. If this still doesn’t have the desired effect, add rubber seals to the doorframes too. These two methods should largely eliminate heat escaping in this way.

Let Natural Heat In

Curtains and blinds are brilliant for keeping the heat in a room after dark, but during the day, ensure you keep them open. If these is any sunlight, having open curtains will allow this into the room, keeping a more constant level of heat throughout the day. As soon as it does get dark, it is important to close blinds and curtains once more, as this will maximize the amount of heat that will be retained by the room.

Rugs and Carpets

Hard flooring is another key way that heat can escape a room, so this is something else to consider changing if you want to keep more heat in a particular room. If you don’t want to opt for a fully carpeted look, you could add a plush rug or two in a living space to help retain some of the heat. However, the best way to stop heat from escaping through the floor is to have carpeting fitted. Not only will you benefit from the layer of carpet itself, but a layer of padding is always installed underneath carpet. This gives carpet a little bounce, as well as creating a more energy efficient flooring system. A direct benefit of carpeting or rugs is that it will help to keep your feet warm, which can affect how warm the rest of your body feels too.

However energy efficient your home is, there are always days when you feel like it could be warmer inside. Aside from turning the heating on higher and for longer, there are other ways you can make a room in your home warmer. Here are some ways of keeping heat in a room that you may not have considered.

<h1>Window Weaknesses</h1>

One of the main ways heat escapes a room is through the window. A typical weak point in any room, it is important to pay close attention to how you can improve the efficiency of your windows. The first thing is to make sure your windows are at least double – if not triple – glazed, and that the seals around the windows are intact. Also take a look at the frame around the window, as this area can be prone to cracks. Fixing any obvious areas of weakness should be a priority. It may cost you some money to get a tradesman in to deal with this for you, but you will reap the rewards once it is done.

<h1>Layer Blinds and Curtains</h1>

Even when you are certain your windows are in good condition, adding blinds and curtains provides an extra level of protection against the cold. Energy efficient layered curtains will not

only keep the heat in, they will make your windows look more visually appealing too. A good combination is to choose some blinds for the base layer, and then curtains on top. However, you could also incorporate sheer and solid drapes, roman blinds and even wooden shutters. Whatever you choose, adding a layer or two will definitely help to keep the heat in.

<h1>Move Obstructions to Heat</h1>

Look at the position of the furniture in your room, and see whether it could be absorbing the heat from your radiators or heaters. Since people tend to put furniture along the walls on the outside of the room, there is a high chance you have a piece of furniture blocking the heat.

Whether it’s a sofa, bed or side table – move anything out of the way of your radiators. This will ensure the heat is able to enter the room and circulate as much as possible.

<h1>Maximize Radiators</h1>

Once your radiators are unobstructed, it is time to check the efficiency of the radiators themselves. Water based heating systems pump hot water into the radiators, and sometimes these can become filled with air bubbles. You’ll know whether or not this is the case by feeling the radiator. If it feels colder at the top compared to the bottom, you are likely to have some air in the system. It is easy to bleed the air out of radiators with a simple radiator key and an old towel. You could also consider installing some reflective radiator panels behind your radiators to increase the amount of heat that gets circulated into the room.

<h1>Banish Draughts</h1>

Another classic route of heat loss from a room is through the doors. Even if the room itself is well insulated, warm and cozy – this effect can quickly be reduced if heat is escaping through a draughty door. The first thing to invest in is a draught excluder – a tube-shaped cushion filled with dense material such as sand. This can be placed at the bottom of the door of the room you are in to stop heat escaping here. If this still doesn’t have the desired effect, add rubber seals to the doorframes too. These two methods should largely eliminate heat escaping in this way.

<h1>Let Natural Heat In</h1>

Curtains and blinds are brilliant for keeping the heat in a room after dark, but during the day, ensure you keep them open. If these is any sunlight, having open curtains will allow this into the room, keeping a more constant level of heat throughout the day. As soon as it does get dark, it is important to close blinds and curtains once more, as this will maximize the amount of heat that will be retained by the room.

<h1>Rugs and Carpets</h1>

Hard flooring is another key way that heat can escape a room, so this is something else to consider changing if you want to keep more heat in a particular room. If you don’t want to opt for a fully carpeted look, you could add a plush rug or two in a living space to help retain some of the heat. However, the best way to stop heat from escaping through the floor is to have carpeting fitted. Not only will you benefit from the layer of carpet itself, but a layer of padding is always installed underneath carpet. This gives carpet a little bounce, as well as creating a more energy efficient flooring system. A direct benefit of carpeting or rugs is that it will help to keep your feet warm, which can affect how warm the rest of your body feels too.

If you have slipped and fallen outside your home, been hurt at work, or become injured due to the actions of another person, it is likely that you can file a personal injury claim. Personal injury laws aim to protect the public from the negligence and harmful actions of others and compensate victims for their pain and suffering.

Can I Get Compensation?

All personal injury cases revolve around the central theme of duty of care. Duty of care refers to the appropriate way a reasonable person would act under a given circumstance. A duty of care automatically arises when the plaintiff and the defendant make some kind of connection, without either party having to voluntarily assume the duty.

Examples of duty of care include motorists having a duty of care towards other road users to drive safely, property owners having a duty of care towards their visitors to maintain their premises, business owners having a duty of care towards their workers to provide safe working conditions, and doctors having a duty of care towards their patients to provide quality care.

Just as each case is unique, there are countless forms of duty of care. During the case, the court can impose a duty of care on a defendant simply due to them being in a certain place at a certain time. Plaintiffs have to demonstrate that defendants acted unreasonably in order to prove that they breached their duty of care.

What is considered reasonable will change according to circumstances. For instance, a motorist driving at 50 miles per hour without exceeding the speed limit may be acting responsibly. However, if it was snowing heavily with poor visibility and the motorist did not slow down or drive with caution, then they may be found negligent.

Similarly, a fast-food restaurant that put up the appropriate signage about a spill to warn customers may be acting responsibly. But, if the spill was not cleaned up within a reasonable amount of time, the restaurant can still be found to have breached its duty of care.

Because every case is different, you must speak to an experienced personal injury attorney once you can. Most law offices will work to achieve ideal case results to help their clients in a variety of situations, regardless of the circumstances.

Laws vary from state to state and a quality personal injury attorney will be able to advise you on how to best navigate the legal system in your state. Certain situations such as work-related injuries have strict legal requirements to follow before you can file a claim and you should enlist an attorney to guide you through the process.

Lawsuit Loans

The financial stress of pursuing a lawsuit can be a deterrent for many people even if they have rightful claims. Furthermore, settlements can take months or even years to be reached and plaintiffs cannot always wait for the funding to arrive.

Injured plaintiffs are often too busy thinking of ways to pay the bills and make up for lost income to entertain the idea of meeting with lawyers and showing up in court. To address this problem, loan companies and law firms have come up with a solution: the lawsuit loan.

Lawsuit loans are specifically designed to help plaintiffs meet their basic financial commitments while waiting for a settlement result. It can be viewed as a non-recourse cash advance on a future claim. Non-recourse means that borrowers have no personal liability to repay the loan; they only have to pay it back if their claim is successful.

Unlike conventional loans where borrowers must pay back the loan amount no matter the circumstances, loans for lawsuits provide borrowers with peace of mind as they navigate the legal system.

To qualify for a lawsuit loan, plaintiffs must first engage an attorney. The loan company will then review the case information provided by the attorney. The loan approval and the amount depend on the liability, damages, and insurance coverage of your case. The attorney then reviews the funding contract before it is signed to ensure your protection.

Because personal credit or employment history does not factor into the loan approval process, it is relatively quick to secure a lawsuit loan compared to a conventional loan. Loan companies typically offer 10-15 percent of the estimated value of your personal injury settlement value upfront and can send out a check within 24 hours of approval.

Hundreds of personal injury incidents happen every day. Without legal knowledge and advice from attorneys, many people miss the opportunity to pursue justice and seek compensation for their pain and suffering. Worse still, some of these victims have to deal with the loss of income or employment and lifelong effects on their quality of life.

If you feel like you may have reason to file a personal injury claim, contact a reliable and experienced attorney in your state as soon as possible. For those who are worried about legal expenses, lawsuit loans can help to cushion the impact of the accident and get you back on your feet quickly.

However energy efficient your home is, there are always days when you feel like it could be warmer inside. Aside from turning the heating on higher and for longer, there are other ways you can make a room in your home warmer. Here are some ways of keeping heat in a room that you may not have considered.

Window Weaknesses

One of the main ways heat escapes a room is through the window. A typical weak point in any room, it is important to pay close attention to how you can improve the efficiency of your windows. The first thing is to make sure your windows are at least double – if not triple – glazed, and that the seals around the windows are intact. Also take a look at the frame around the window, as this area can be prone to cracks. Fixing any obvious areas of weakness should be a priority. It may cost you some money to get a tradesman in to deal with this for you, but you will reap the rewards once it is done.

Layer Blinds and Curtains

Even when you are certain your windows are in good condition, adding blinds and curtains provides an extra level of protection against the cold. Energy efficient layered window treatments will not only keep the heat in, it will make your windows look more visually appealing too. A good combination is to choose some blinds for the base layer, and then curtains on top. However, you could also incorporate sheer and solid drapes, roman blinds and even wooden shutters. Whatever you choose, adding a layer or two will definitely help to keep the heat in.

Move Obstructions to Heat

Look at the position of the furniture in your room, and see whether it could be absorbing the heat from your radiators or heaters. Since people tend to put furniture along the walls on the outside of the room, there is a high chance you have a piece of furniture blocking the heat. Whether it’s a sofa, bed or side table – move anything out of the way of your radiators. This will ensure the heat is able to enter the room and circulate as much as possible.

Maximize Radiators

Once your radiators are unobstructed, it is time to check the efficiency of the radiators themselves. Water based heating systems pump hot water into the radiators, and sometimes these can become filled with air bubbles. You’ll know whether or not this is the case by feeling the radiator. If it feels colder at the top compared to the bottom, you are likely to have some air in the system. It is easy to bleed the air out of radiators with a simple radiator key and an old towel. You could also consider installing some reflective radiator panels behind your radiators to increase the amount of heat that gets circulated into the room.

Banish Draughts

Another classic route of heat loss from a room is through the doors. Even if the room itself is well insulated, warm and cozy – this effect can quickly be reduced if heat is escaping through a draughty door. The first thing to invest in is a draught excluder – a tube-shaped cushion filled with dense material such as sand. This can be placed at the bottom of the door of the room you are in to stop heat escaping here. If this still doesn’t have the desired effect, add rubber seals to the doorframes too. These two methods should largely eliminate heat escaping in this way.

Let Natural Heat In

Curtains and blinds are brilliant for keeping the heat in a room after dark, but during the day, ensure you keep them open. If these is any sunlight, having open curtains will allow this into the room, keeping a more constant level of heat throughout the day. As soon as it does get dark, it is important to close blinds and curtains once more, as this will maximize the amount of heat that will be retained by the room.

Rugs and Carpets

Hard flooring is another key way that heat can escape a room, so this is something else to consider changing if you want to keep more heat in a particular room. If you don’t want to opt for a fully carpeted look, you could add a plush rug or two in a living space to help retain some of the heat. However, the best way to stop heat from escaping through the floor is to have carpeting fitted. Not only will you benefit from the layer of carpet itself, but a layer of padding is always installed underneath carpet. This gives carpet a little bounce, as well as creating a more energy efficient flooring system. A direct benefit of carpeting or rugs is that it will help to keep your feet warm, which can affect how warm the rest of your body feels too.