Interior Strategies Expats Use to Combat the British Climate

Moving to the UK isn’t just a culture shock, as the weather can also be a huge change from what you’re used to. The country is known for gloomy skies and heavy rainfall, especially during the winter months. Even though UK homes are built for the winter and can be great for keeping you warm and dry, some homes just lack those extra features that can take it to the next level. This is why it’s important for expats to find the best interior strategies to battle against the British climate and keep their home cosy.

In this guide, we will help expats who have just acquired their British Citizenship or relevant working visa with some interior design choices that can help keep the cold and wet weather out. Continue reading to learn more.

Interior Designs to Combat UK Weather

Window Coverings

To battle the UK’s mixed weather, the most effective window coverings combine tight edge sealing with thermal or cellular insulation. Cellular blinds have a hexagonal pocket structure that traps air to form an insulating thermal barrier. This can significantly reduce window heat loss so you can keep your home warm even though it’s cold outside. Standard roller blinds leave gaps at the sides where drafts and warm air travel. Expats should instead use zipped or flush side channels to seal the edges tightly against the window frame. This is great for reducing heat loss by up to 33% according to BBSA Energy Research.

Tactile Warmth

Keeping your home warm isn’t just about having good insulation and thick walls. You can make a room feel warmer by using tactile furniture that gives you visual warmth. Sofas and armchairs can be intentionally styled with heavy knit throws and velvet cushions. This will create visual warmth that psychologically counters the grey skies outside. Whereas, having exposed hard surfaces will make your home feel cooler, taking away all the cosiness that it has.

Scandinavian 3-to-5 Lamp Rule

Having better lighting in your home can counteract the bleak skies that are often seen in the UK, making your living room feel warmer. The Scandinavian 3-to-5 Lamp Rule is very beneficial for this. It allows expats to combat grey days by scattering multiple low-level light sources across a room. It involves mixing floor lamps, table lamps and wall sconces, so you can have the best balance of warm lighting in your home. You should use LED lighting for this to reduce your carbon footprint.

Active Air Management

Expats can rely on dehumidifiers in the winter to pull moisture out of the air. This makes the ambient indoor temperature feel crisp rather than bone-chilling. Not only will this make the air more comfortable for you to be in but also prevent your home from getting mould build-up or dampness.

Biophilic Design

To counteract the lack of green spaces during very rainy periods, expats can use biophilic design. They can create indoor jungles using air-purifying and humidity-loving plants and flowers. This will make the space feel more appealing to live in. In the summer, these plants offer a slight evaporative cooling effect when it gets too hot. When winter approaches, they
provide a nice green feel indoors while the trees lose their green leaves outside.

Final Thoughts

Making these improvements to your home in the UK as an expat will help you to overcome the harsh changes in weather to what you’re familiar with. It’s all about keeping your home comfortable and warm while creating a space that cancels out the miserable weather that you’re going to see a lot of in the UK.