Heating your home

Don't freeze this winter: Heating solutions for both the stylish and the practical.

By TALI HERDEVALL
Heating Your Home (photo credit: Pitaro Hecht)
Heating Your Home
(photo credit: Pitaro Hecht)
When it comes to looking for ways to insulate ourselves from the cold, there are two types of people. The first type feels that the overall space can be cold but aspires to keep the immediate environment warm. Thus they wrap themselves in many layers, snuggle up and cling to a nearby source of heat. The second types believes that in winter one should be able to wear T-shirts and go barefoot in closed spaces, thus the heating should be comprehensive and be felt throughout the home.
For both kinds of people, this winter’s world of design offers heating solutions and means of creating a warm atmosphere in surprising forms. This season’s heating devices include a Snuggie; various kinds of fireplaces; portable heaters that provide immediate heating; and carpets and woolen items. A tall cup of hot cider with a cinnamon stick and apple slices will also provide aid on the cold front.
These methods will help you get through the chilly days, especially the evenings, in wonderfully warm comfort. Stylish heating helps create a feeling that is both authentic and aesthetic.
Heating devices When it comes to heating devices, the nostalgic fireplace with its burning logs is still a highly desirable item. But there are other types of hearths that are suitable for urban apartments as well. These fireplaces work on gas or electricity and provide a truly warm feeling that is also visually pleasing thanks to their old-fashioned look, which includes images of flames.
In contrast, the most common heating device in Israel is the climate control system, which is the safest and most economical. However, it lacks charm and does not exude that warm winter glow. The latest breakthrough is the Inverter, a climate control system that adjusts automatically to suit the individual’s needs.
Heating – Atmosphere Secondary items can contribute significantly to the warm atmosphere that is so desired between November and March. The most familiar item is wood which, due to its natural qualities, provides excellent insulation. In interior design, wood is used for many purposes, such as parquets or thin floors, furniture, coverings, doors and windows.
Another material that is well suited to winter is fabric. Blankets, pillows, carpets and drapes are excellent modular additions that can be arranged in the space for winter and then stored away in the spring. Pillows provide a feeling of warmth even when you look at them, especially if they are covered in wool and have bold colors and vivid designs.
A shaggy carpet, characterized by long hair, is ideal for covering a cold floor. A palette of gray, red, burgundy and black in different combinations is suitable for reinforcing the feeling of warmth. As for the material of the carpet, wool is still the star; but other natural materials such as jute, cotton, sisal, fibers from coconut shell, water plants and rolled-up paper also fill the aesthetic and ecological bill.
Efficiency – Economical heating Decide which areas you want to heat and choose the heating element accordingly, as :every area has different needs.
- The bedroom: A climate control system - can heat the room by activating the remote control, but it will dry the air, as well as your skin. Instead, use a radiator with a timer. For a room of up to 20 square meters, use a W2,000 radiator. For a room up to 30 sq. m., use a W3,000 radiator.
- The living room: A climate control system - is efficient and inexpensive in a large room. Another option is a fireplace of some kind, which will provide high-quality distribution of heat.
- The children’s room: Safety is the most - important factor, so it is recommended to use a gas-free radiator with a built-in LCD screen and a remote control, as well as a sensor that determines the temperature in the room and has the safety feature of turning itself off automatically if it is knocked over.
- The bathroom: For a room that is up to 4 - sq. m., use a suspended radiating heater. If the room is larger, hang a blower heater, about 1 m. below the height of the ceiling, to distribute the heat. Every bathroom must be protected against dampness.
- To save electricity, maintain a regular - temperature of 22 degrees in the room in which the heater is activated, and close windows and doors in rooms that are not being used.
- To prevent the air and your skin from becoming dry, place a bowl of water with lemon or orange slices in a corner of the room. This will moisten the air and emit a pleasant citrus scent.