Questions of Comfort

Following on from our blog about comfort and cosiness in our homes, I thought I would attempt to answer some specific questions relating to the topic. These are a mixture of questions I have been asked by clients and some which I have used to illustrate specific points. If you have any questions of your own then please get in touch with us.

How can I make my home warmer?

This is a bit of a “how long is a piece of string” question but it’s one which comes up regularly. The first step in answering this question is to figure out how your home was constructed so that you understand where heat loss occurs. If we take my friend’s Edwardian semi from the last blog, it was constructed with a solid outer wall of brick and topped with a slate roof. It originally had single-glazed windows which have been replaced with uPVC double-glazing. For this type of house, a lot of the heat will be lost through the ceilings and, in the first instance, I would make sure there was a 30cm deep layer of insulation in the loft.

Regardless of how your house was constructed, the two main areas where heat is lost is through the windows and through drafts. Only the highest performing triple glazing systems will insulate as well (or better) compared to a solid masonry wall so ensuring that you have thick, well-fitting curtains (or if you’re lucky, timber shutters) over your biggest windows to keep the heat in. Old buildings are notoriously drafty and many were purposely designed this way to ensure their open fires operated effectively. If not addressed, then drafts can negate a lot of the improvements additional insulation brings. Getting a professional air tightness test will quickly identify where the major leaks are, allowing you to better target upgrades and investment. Also make sure that all doors and windows have appropriate draft strips and seals as these small improvements could end up saving you money on your heating and making your home much more comfortable.

How do I stop my house looking less cluttered?

Comfort isn’t just about warmth. Clutter, or ‘visual noise’ as it is often termed is a perennial problem in most homes. Modern houses are not designed with large amounts of built-in storage and many old houses were simply designed to have less stuff in them. This last point is especially important as alongside creating visual noise, over-filled rooms can restrict air flow and lead to issues like damp and mould growth.

The pithy response to this question is obviously ‘own less stuff’ but de-cluttering can often be quite an emotionally challenging thing to do. There are numerous TV shows, blogs and YouTube tutorials out there which give hints and tips and there are now even specialist de-cluttering companies which will come in and help you sort through your things. One of my favourite approaches is to turn de-cluttering into a game. The Minimalists’ ‘30-day Minimalism Challenge’ (www.theminimalists.com/game/) is a great place to start as it works on the snowball principle of generating momentum through getting rid of an additional item each day (ie. 1 item on day 1, 2 items on day 2 etc.). Another frequently cited approach is to have 3 boxes somewhere in your house labelled ‘Bin’, ‘Sell’, and ‘Donate’. These boxes get filled up with unwanted things and then, when full, are taken to the relevant depository.

NB. I’ve deliberately not mentioned extra storage as innovative storage solutions and clever packing/folding hacks tend to be a bit of mask to where the real issues lie. For those who are interested in these things again, YouTube and lifestyle blogs/substacks are probably the best place to look.

How do I get more natural materials in my house?

This question can be answered in two parts: the fabric of the building and the furnishings inside. One of the biggest problems in modern homes is the use of products containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs for short) which are released into the atmosphere through a process known as ‘off-gassing’. VOCs have been linked to poor health so their removal from our homes is beneficial although this can often be difficult and expensive (replacing plasterboard with natural lime plaster for example). In older homes, the danger comes with repairs and interventions done with inappropriate materials. Most houses prior to WW2 for example, were constructed with lime-based mortars and plasters which help to regulate the amount of moisture in a building. Covering these with a cement render of gypsum plaster creates a barrier which does not allow moisture to escape from inside the building and this can cause damp patches to form. Recognising and addressing these modern interventions is a good place to start and there are specialist surveyors and Architects (such as ourselves) who can help to identify potential issues and develop a program of remediation works. For those in modern houses, air purifiers will help to ‘scrub’ VOCs out of internal spaces – just make sure to get one with a HEPA filter.

For those wanting to have more natural elements in the interior of their houses, then furniture and soft furnishings are the best place to start. Many modern items of furniture are coated in varnishes and paints containing plastics. Buying vintage or antique furniture can be a good way of minimising this and there are a wide variety of part-time chair and stool makers on platforms like Etsy. You might lose a bit of homogeneity buying from different places and styles but you will end up with a unique home full of objects you love. Curtains and cushions made from natural fabric can be expensive but developing hobbies such as crochet, sewing and knitting could allow you craft items for your own home for cheaper and this has the additional satisfaction of having done it yourself!

How can I make my home healthier?

Addressing the previous three questions can be a great place to start. I’ve written previously about trying to define spaces in your home and cultivate moments of pleasure and satisfaction there. Designing or having access to bright spaces, outdoor spaces (even if it is a balcony or large, openable window), and green spaces are all great ways to creating a healthy home alongside minimising clutter and keeping an eye on air quality.

If you want to know more about creating wellness in your home or improving the quality of your environment then please get in touch. Open House Architecture has a host of experience and resources to help you get started and begin living better.