How to Secure Your Home for the Holidays
Ensure your house is safe this Christmas with these home security tips and ideas
Victoria Harrison
26 November 2022
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
With the holiday season on the horizon, many of us are planning trips away to visit friends and family. But how do you set off with peace of mind, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to secure your home? From smart home alarm systems to properly securing windows and doors or even using strategic landscaping, see these nine ways to keep your home safe this winter.
1. Secure your doors and windows
The first thing to consider are doors and windows. If you have older-style windows with a single catch opening, they might need to be fitted with a more robust locking mechanism, so ideally check these well before you intend to go away and update any that need it.
Doors will also need assessing. “The front door should provide the highest level of security in your property, as it’s the most exposed point,” says Houzz pro Joe Halsall of Origin Doors and Windows. He adds that the most secure door is one that’s equipped with a multipoint locking system, high-security hinges and a high-quality cylinder.
Don’t forget to do a thorough check before leaving to ensure all doors and windows are safely locked.
More: How to Choose a New Front Door
The first thing to consider are doors and windows. If you have older-style windows with a single catch opening, they might need to be fitted with a more robust locking mechanism, so ideally check these well before you intend to go away and update any that need it.
Doors will also need assessing. “The front door should provide the highest level of security in your property, as it’s the most exposed point,” says Houzz pro Joe Halsall of Origin Doors and Windows. He adds that the most secure door is one that’s equipped with a multipoint locking system, high-security hinges and a high-quality cylinder.
Don’t forget to do a thorough check before leaving to ensure all doors and windows are safely locked.
More: How to Choose a New Front Door
2. Choose window treatments carefully
Many homeowners opt to close curtains or blinds while they’re away to prevent anyone from looking in, but this can actually be a giveaway that the home is empty.
Instead, designers on Houzz advise using sheer curtains in light linen, which help to block the view and also look great year-round.
Many homeowners opt to close curtains or blinds while they’re away to prevent anyone from looking in, but this can actually be a giveaway that the home is empty.
Instead, designers on Houzz advise using sheer curtains in light linen, which help to block the view and also look great year-round.
3. Check fences
Another area to consider is the garden and any boundary fences. Check for wobbly panels and loose sections that could afford easy entry. Landscape designers on Houzz suggest opting for wooden fences with close boarding in order to deter anyone from looking through or climbing over.
To further dissuade potential burglars, you could top your fences with lightweight trellis and grow prickly plants along it. Don’t forget to leave a gap at the bottom of any fencing for wildlife to access your garden, though.
It’s worth noting that without Planning Permission, any fencing that’s next to a road should be no more than 1m high, with all other fencing a maximum of 2m high.
More: Your Essential Guide to Choosing and Installing a Garden Fence
Another area to consider is the garden and any boundary fences. Check for wobbly panels and loose sections that could afford easy entry. Landscape designers on Houzz suggest opting for wooden fences with close boarding in order to deter anyone from looking through or climbing over.
To further dissuade potential burglars, you could top your fences with lightweight trellis and grow prickly plants along it. Don’t forget to leave a gap at the bottom of any fencing for wildlife to access your garden, though.
It’s worth noting that without Planning Permission, any fencing that’s next to a road should be no more than 1m high, with all other fencing a maximum of 2m high.
More: Your Essential Guide to Choosing and Installing a Garden Fence
4. Keep hedges low
Your landscaping can sometimes unintentionally provide cover for intruders, and any large hedges and shrubbery around entry points should be carefully maintained.
Trimming all hedges close to doors and windows to 1m or lower will remove potential hiding places and increase visibility for neighbours and pedestrians who can help to spot any suspicious activity.
Your landscaping can sometimes unintentionally provide cover for intruders, and any large hedges and shrubbery around entry points should be carefully maintained.
Trimming all hedges close to doors and windows to 1m or lower will remove potential hiding places and increase visibility for neighbours and pedestrians who can help to spot any suspicious activity.
5. Add crunchy gravel
Garden designers on Houzz also recommend using gravel around windows as a natural security measure, as the loud crunch could be enough of a deterrent to would-be burglars. Planting low, sharp and spiky bushes can also add another layer of security.
While some of these landscaping measures aren’t necessarily quick updates, they might be worth considering if you’re planning a garden redesign in the future.
Find a garden designer on Houzz today
Garden designers on Houzz also recommend using gravel around windows as a natural security measure, as the loud crunch could be enough of a deterrent to would-be burglars. Planting low, sharp and spiky bushes can also add another layer of security.
While some of these landscaping measures aren’t necessarily quick updates, they might be worth considering if you’re planning a garden redesign in the future.
Find a garden designer on Houzz today
6. Tell a neighbour
Maintaining a good relationship with neighbours and the local community can also help to protect your home. Let a trusted neighbour know when you’re away and when you’re due back, so they can keep an eye out for anything unusual, or even pop in occasionally to check everything is ok.
You could also ask a neighbour to keep an eye out for any parcels and take them in before they start to build up. This is even more important if you have glass panels in your front door that would allow passers-by to see any unopened post building up on the mat.
Maintaining a good relationship with neighbours and the local community can also help to protect your home. Let a trusted neighbour know when you’re away and when you’re due back, so they can keep an eye out for anything unusual, or even pop in occasionally to check everything is ok.
You could also ask a neighbour to keep an eye out for any parcels and take them in before they start to build up. This is even more important if you have glass panels in your front door that would allow passers-by to see any unopened post building up on the mat.
7. Don’t leave valuables on display
If you do have glass panels in your front door, or have decided to leave some curtains and blinds open, ensure any valuables are out of sight when you lock up for the holidays.
Car keys in particular should be hidden away or, better still, taken with you, even if you’re leaving a car on the driveway to help reduce the chance of opportunistic break-ins.
If you do have glass panels in your front door, or have decided to leave some curtains and blinds open, ensure any valuables are out of sight when you lock up for the holidays.
Car keys in particular should be hidden away or, better still, taken with you, even if you’re leaving a car on the driveway to help reduce the chance of opportunistic break-ins.
8. Upgrade your tech
There are several solutions available these days to help you deter burglars and keep an eye on your home from afar. Doorbell cameras and security systems that can be controlled remotely via a smartphone can offer peace of mind when you’re away.
Motion-activated outdoor lights can be a good deterrent to any potential trespassers and also help to alert passers-by and neighbours to any suspicious activity. Make sure they’re downward-facing, though, to minimise the impact on garden wildlife and just place them near to entry points.
More: How to Design Garden Lighting That’s Good for You and Wildlife
There are several solutions available these days to help you deter burglars and keep an eye on your home from afar. Doorbell cameras and security systems that can be controlled remotely via a smartphone can offer peace of mind when you’re away.
Motion-activated outdoor lights can be a good deterrent to any potential trespassers and also help to alert passers-by and neighbours to any suspicious activity. Make sure they’re downward-facing, though, to minimise the impact on garden wildlife and just place them near to entry points.
More: How to Design Garden Lighting That’s Good for You and Wildlife
9. Secure any outbuildings
Finally, don’t forget to lock up your shed and/or garage before you go away. Gardening tools, mowers and bikes can all be tempting if left out on display, so make sure all garden equipment and tools are safely hidden out of sight. Be sure also to lock any side gates to prevent easy access to the garden.
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for keeping your home safe while away? Share them in the Comments.
Finally, don’t forget to lock up your shed and/or garage before you go away. Gardening tools, mowers and bikes can all be tempting if left out on display, so make sure all garden equipment and tools are safely hidden out of sight. Be sure also to lock any side gates to prevent easy access to the garden.
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for keeping your home safe while away? Share them in the Comments.
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venetian blinds at windows also make it harder for people to see in.
leaving the light on that one usually leaves on at night eg a hall or landing light. lights on timers. a radio on a timer
Great advice all of it. I would also add be sure to hide any bank statements or personal information that may be used to access your accounts. Make it hard for burglars. Hide all the keys you are leaving at home in different places. Think of where you wouldn't look if you were in a hurry if you do not have a secured safe. I am not sure relying on strangers or passers-by to report suspicious activity is a good idea. Why would they and what is suspicious if you don't know someone? Its a better idea to tell your neighbours what dates you are away and that you are not expecting any removals/ large deliveries or visitors. People are very busy and they might not notice anyway. Walk through your house and think like a burglar.
Great advice, very useful. Thanks