Feel Good Home: 10 Reasons to Love Your Home in February
Don’t let February pass you by – it’s the perfect month for cosying up indoors and prepping for spring
What’s not to love about February? OK, it’s a bit cold and grey outside, but that’s all the more reason to relish cosy evenings indoors, having early nights, enjoying long, lazy dinners or simply flopping out on the sofa, eating comfort food and getting stuck into all those box sets on your to-watch list.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re not buzzing with ideas about freshening up your home, because February is also the perfect month to start prepping for spring, getting cleaning gear ready and our decorating and gardening heads into ‘go’ mode. Even if we might still feel a little too sluggish to get too active, it feels exciting to start the ideas rolling and recharge our creativity.
So this month, enjoy the last days of winter from a warm, comfortable home, and gently ease yourself into the first signs of a busy spring. (Oh, and did I mention it’s my birthday, too? Just saying…)
Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re not buzzing with ideas about freshening up your home, because February is also the perfect month to start prepping for spring, getting cleaning gear ready and our decorating and gardening heads into ‘go’ mode. Even if we might still feel a little too sluggish to get too active, it feels exciting to start the ideas rolling and recharge our creativity.
So this month, enjoy the last days of winter from a warm, comfortable home, and gently ease yourself into the first signs of a busy spring. (Oh, and did I mention it’s my birthday, too? Just saying…)
Bask in the heat of an open fire
If it’s hitting minus two on the thermometer every time you step outside the front door, why go out at all? Enjoy the winter evenings by slipping into your PJs the moment you get in from work and snuggling up in front of a roaring fire.
And who said white is best kept for the summer months? I love the cool, crisp contrast of the all-white walls and furniture against the orange glow of the firelight in this room – and those squashy sofas are just begging to be sat on.
If it’s hitting minus two on the thermometer every time you step outside the front door, why go out at all? Enjoy the winter evenings by slipping into your PJs the moment you get in from work and snuggling up in front of a roaring fire.
And who said white is best kept for the summer months? I love the cool, crisp contrast of the all-white walls and furniture against the orange glow of the firelight in this room – and those squashy sofas are just begging to be sat on.
Love your bed
With National Bed Month just around the corner in March, it’s definitely time to take a long, hard look at the place you sleep – and, more specifically, at your mattress. We spend a whopping one third of our lives in bed, so the experts recommend replacing yours once every seven years, at least.
Check out The Sleep Council’s website, which is packed full of information, tips and advice on how to buy the right bed. After all, what can be better than a good night’s sleep to set you up for a chilly day?
Read advice on choosing the perfect mattress
With National Bed Month just around the corner in March, it’s definitely time to take a long, hard look at the place you sleep – and, more specifically, at your mattress. We spend a whopping one third of our lives in bed, so the experts recommend replacing yours once every seven years, at least.
Check out The Sleep Council’s website, which is packed full of information, tips and advice on how to buy the right bed. After all, what can be better than a good night’s sleep to set you up for a chilly day?
Read advice on choosing the perfect mattress
Look outside
Little by little, the evenings are getting lighter, which can only mean one thing: spring is on our doorsteps. The first signs of life are appearing in the garden, and there are plenty of jobs to do outdoors in readiness for the season ahead. Prune shrubs, climbers, evergreen hedges and wisteria and prepare vegetable seed beds for spring planting.
If gardening isn’t really your thing, consider fitting a ‘lawn’ of artificial grass for a year-round, maintenance-free blaze of emerald green.
Discover more jobs to do in your garden in February
Little by little, the evenings are getting lighter, which can only mean one thing: spring is on our doorsteps. The first signs of life are appearing in the garden, and there are plenty of jobs to do outdoors in readiness for the season ahead. Prune shrubs, climbers, evergreen hedges and wisteria and prepare vegetable seed beds for spring planting.
If gardening isn’t really your thing, consider fitting a ‘lawn’ of artificial grass for a year-round, maintenance-free blaze of emerald green.
Discover more jobs to do in your garden in February
Do a kitchen inventory
The big annual spring clean is just around the corner for many of us, so to put you in the mood, why not get a head start by sorting out just one or two kitchen cupboards?
It feels cathartic to throw out bottles and jars of herbs, spices and condiments that are past their sell-by date. And before you stock up on any more dried goods – pasta, tins and packets et al – use up what you have and move into spring with a clear conscience (and a lighter shopping bill).
Browse more decluttering tips for the kitchen
The big annual spring clean is just around the corner for many of us, so to put you in the mood, why not get a head start by sorting out just one or two kitchen cupboards?
It feels cathartic to throw out bottles and jars of herbs, spices and condiments that are past their sell-by date. And before you stock up on any more dried goods – pasta, tins and packets et al – use up what you have and move into spring with a clear conscience (and a lighter shopping bill).
Browse more decluttering tips for the kitchen
Whip up comfort food
Stews, stockpots and soups – you name it, I love everything about winter comfort food. So dig out your casseroles and slow cookers and rustle up some hearty February fare for the coming weeks. (Even better, batch-cook some dishes and pop them in the freezer.)
This is also a great opportunity to sort through your cooking kit and ditch any pans, utensils and crockery that are past their best.
Stews, stockpots and soups – you name it, I love everything about winter comfort food. So dig out your casseroles and slow cookers and rustle up some hearty February fare for the coming weeks. (Even better, batch-cook some dishes and pop them in the freezer.)
This is also a great opportunity to sort through your cooking kit and ditch any pans, utensils and crockery that are past their best.
Fill your home with romance
February is, of course, traditionally a lovey-dovey month, but why not give your home a romantic vibe that will last all year round? Refresh bedroom walls with pale pink, display vases of beautiful silk faux flowers, which will stand up to the rigours of central heating, and scatter pretty cushions for a cosily romantic mood.
February is, of course, traditionally a lovey-dovey month, but why not give your home a romantic vibe that will last all year round? Refresh bedroom walls with pale pink, display vases of beautiful silk faux flowers, which will stand up to the rigours of central heating, and scatter pretty cushions for a cosily romantic mood.
Get organised for the year ahead
The post-Christmas gloom should have lifted now we’re out of January’s clutches, so this is the month to put any new diaries, wall planners and calendars to good use. Fill in events, birthdays and reminders for the year ahead, including important school dates and dinner parties. Oh, and book yourself that summer holiday – you deserve it!
The post-Christmas gloom should have lifted now we’re out of January’s clutches, so this is the month to put any new diaries, wall planners and calendars to good use. Fill in events, birthdays and reminders for the year ahead, including important school dates and dinner parties. Oh, and book yourself that summer holiday – you deserve it!
Prep for a spring refresh
You might not be quite in the right frame of mind for getting stuck in with the paintbrushes and pasting board, but February is the perfect month to get organised for a makeover – however big or small.
If it’s just one room you want to change, gather together wallpaper swatches and paint samples – and even fashion a mood board if you’re feeling particularly creative. If it’s a big job, such as installing a new kitchen or building an extension, call in a handful of architects and designers for a comparison of quotes, ideas and plans. Do all the research now so you’re ready to get cracking with a clear vision and full arsenal when spring arrives.
Read more ideas on how to create a decorating concept
You might not be quite in the right frame of mind for getting stuck in with the paintbrushes and pasting board, but February is the perfect month to get organised for a makeover – however big or small.
If it’s just one room you want to change, gather together wallpaper swatches and paint samples – and even fashion a mood board if you’re feeling particularly creative. If it’s a big job, such as installing a new kitchen or building an extension, call in a handful of architects and designers for a comparison of quotes, ideas and plans. Do all the research now so you’re ready to get cracking with a clear vision and full arsenal when spring arrives.
Read more ideas on how to create a decorating concept
Relax in a bath
For me, showers are all about a wash and brush-up to invigorate your morning, whatever time of the year it is. Baths, on the other hand, are most definitely a winter treat.
Turn your bathtime into a luxurious ritual by pouring in a liberal amount of your favourite oil, lighting scented candles and lying back with a good book or podcast. Lock the door and stay immersed in the bubbles for hours…
TELL US…
What (if anything) do you love about February? Or what are you looking forward to doing this spring? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
For me, showers are all about a wash and brush-up to invigorate your morning, whatever time of the year it is. Baths, on the other hand, are most definitely a winter treat.
Turn your bathtime into a luxurious ritual by pouring in a liberal amount of your favourite oil, lighting scented candles and lying back with a good book or podcast. Lock the door and stay immersed in the bubbles for hours…
TELL US…
What (if anything) do you love about February? Or what are you looking forward to doing this spring? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
With more time spent indoors, the month of February can offer the ideal opportunity to catch up with friends and family. Never fear, this doesn’t have to mean a formal dinner party or even a lunch date: simply invite loved ones round for a long, lazy weekend brunch to help you get through a table piled high with sweet pastries, hot buttered toast, freshly brewed coffee and jugs of refreshing juice.