Mirrors are a great tool for experimenting and changing the feel of a room.  By inroducing a mirror to a rom you can instantly make it appear larger, lighter and more homely.  Depending on the style and type of mirror you can really do wonders to a room.

Take for example a hallway.  By adding a mirror near the main entrance to the hall where a light source is you can instantly add more light to what would normally be a dark room.  This is because the mirror can bounce the light against the walls better than the natural light can manage on its own.

Another example is to take a large oak mirror and add it to a wall in your lounge or living room.  Provided it is placed in the right way you can make the room appear bigger than it actually is and is ideal for smaller rooms in the house, a nice oak mirror can also have the advantage of making the room look nicer and more homely in addition to the mirrors standard purpose and use.

The final example like the first example focuses on light and what a mirror can achieve.  By adding a mirror to a room and positioning light sources whether that be natural or artificial close to the mirror you can create a mood in a room and change the way the light falls in the room especially in the evening when there is little natural light.  A tall lamp next to a mirror can light up a whole room reducing the need for extra lighting and ultimately saving cost of electricity.

Think about adding a mirror to the next room you decorate and see what effects you can make.

Insulation doesn’t cost that much and there are often discounts on rolls of loft insulation if you want to do it yourself. You can find insulation at all the major DIY sheds such as B&Q, Wickes and Homebase.

Insulating the loft can also be done by professional firms for a small charge. There are frequently grants available for this so if you are on a low income then you might need to ask about this when making enquiries. As with all work you’re having done on your home get a few quotes and take references. Some local council’s trading standards departments keep lists of recommended workmen. This list is known as a TradeSafe list. It’s well worth asking if your local council has such a list.

Cavity wall insulation needs to be done by a specialist company and can make a lot of difference to how warm your house gets and stays when you have the heating on.

Draft proofing is simple and can be done easily by almost anyone. There are lots of packs available for doors, windows and hot water tanks. These items can be easily fitted at home and cut down on the amount of money you spend on heating.

If you take all these simple measures you should find your home is easier to heat and will also save you lots of money on your energy bills. This means in turn that you’re helping to save the planet!

If you have single glazing then you should look at replacing this with good quality double glazing which cuts down on drafts and also keeps the heat in better.