We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Even if you live a busy, active life, you probably find yourself moving a bit more slowly in the winter months. It gets dark early, which inherently makes you feel a bit more sluggish, and the cold, wind, rain, and snow can be hard to bear. On top of all that, it’s also cold and flu season. So, it’s no wonder most people spend more time at home this time of year.
Sitting around inside all day can make you feel glum, but it doesn’t have to! It can also be a chance to discover new ways to love being in your own home. One way to do that is by making your everyday routine a bit more special — like making your usual tea in a cute new teapot from IKEA.
What Is the IKEA SKEDSTOR Teapot?
Priced at $24.99, the SKEDSTOR teapot from IKEA has a “modern Scandinavian design” that combines sunny colors, geometric shapes, metal accents, and curved lines. It’s cuter and more unique-looking than most teapots I’ve seen — it’ll look great in the middle of a table or sitting out in the kitchen — and it holds 34 ounces of liquid, so you’ll get four 8-ounce cups of tea out of it. And although it’s made from attractive glazed stoneware, you can actually put it in the dishwasher.
Inside the teapot, you’ll find a removable stainless steel infuser, which you fill with the tea of your choice. It’s meant for loose-leaf tea, but you could also put tea bags in there (or take the tea out of the bags) if that’s what you have or prefer. Just don’t heat it over the stove; you’re meant to boil water separately, then pour the water into the teapot.
Why This Cheery Teapot Is Perfect for Wintertime
If you’re already a big tea drinker, then a fun new teapot can be a nice way to treat yourself — especially if you want to start drinking more loose-leaf tea. If you don’t drink tea much, then the playful design of this teapot could inspire you to try it more often. Because it makes multiple cups of tea at once, you could even have a few friends over for tea time or turn your next roommate movie night into an extra-cozy experience.
The cheery teapot is “one of the best purchases I’ve made,” writes Alex, a reviewer on IKEA’s website. It “not only works great,” but “its fun pattern and colors make me happy every day when I use it.” When it gets dark at 4 p.m. and the air is always frigid, you need all the extra happiness you can get.
If your space feels a little too flat right now, you don’t need a renovation to fix it. You need dimension and shape, or something like “wait, did you hire a designer?” moment.
Architectural details instantly make a room look more expensive, thanks to the texture + depth they add. The best part is, you can always fake it in a renter-friendly way 😉
The theme for this Product of the Week is all about renter-friendly architectural hacks: easy upgrades that turn blank walls into a statement.
3D slat wall panels are the easiest way to get that high-end, modern fluted wall look at home, largely because of the classic vibe their vertical grooves create. Use them behind a bed, on a small entry wall, or even behind a TV console.
Style Tip- Paint them the same shade as your wall for a soft, seamless architectural finish. Or go a shade darker for a bolder statement.
Arches are the best solution to make your home feel more designed, and for good reason: they soften sharp corners, adding that dreamy, boutique-hotel vibe (no walls knocked down!). Install the Nuanchu Wall Molding Kit if the goal is to make a statement on a plain wall behind a sofa or in a reading nook, one of those no-fail renter-friendly architectural hacks 💯
Style Tip- Add a picture light above the arch for a designer touch.
If you want the look of panel molding without tools or stress, this peel-and-stick kit is the move; it gives your walls that classic trim detail, and works beautifully in dining areas, bedrooms, or hallways. It also pairs perfectly with fluted panels for a mixed-texture wall moment. Style Tip- Paint the molding and the wall the same color for a modern, monochrome look that feels expensive.
For decades, boilers have been an integral part of Otago homes in some guise or another. For decades, diesel, gas, and wood-fired systems have kept homes warm even in harsh winters. But as boilers break down, become prohibitively expensive to run, or are on their last legs, more homeowners like you are now beginning to weigh up options that could replace a boiler with an air-source heat pump-based central heating system.
A heat pump for a boiler is not just a like-for-like replacement. It’s a whole new way of doing things that changes how heat is generated, distributed, and controlled in your home. In Otago, where temperatures can plunge, those calls all count. The right decisions can make your home more comfortable, less expensive to operate, and deliver years of heating benefits. The bad ones can lead to sustained performance problems.
If you would like a more realistic indication of performance based on your Otago home, please feel free to contact Highlander Heating and arrange for them to carry out a heat-loss assessment on what is proposed and not on some online average.
1. Assess Your Current Heating Needs
Before you replace a boiler with a heat pump, it’s critical to understand how your home really uses heat. Many Otago houses were built before insulation was commonplace, and they had single-glazed windows that made them easier to heat.
The most efficient way to operate a heat pump is to closely match its output to the home’s heat demand. This calls for a heat-loss evaluation, not an estimate. Without this step, systems are routinely over- or under-sized leading to unacceptable comfort or premature wear.
An underdimensioned heat pump can run 24/7 in cold spells and still struggle to maintain temperature. An oversized system can cycle on and off, resulting in lower efficiency and shorter equipment life. Adequate assessment and these appliances will provide a stable, efficient solution through Otago winters.
2. Understand How Heat Pumps Replace Boilers
When people replace a boiler, they often assume the new one will work the way the old one did. Heat pumps work differently. Unlike a boiler that produces hot water, air-to-water heat pumps provide colder water over longer run times.
This makes system design critical. If you have a heat pump, it is most suitable for:
Radiators sized for low-temperature operation
Underfloor heating systems
Well-balanced hydronic pipework
Air source heat pumps may be up to 60-70% more efficient than traditional boilers if they have the appropriate support system. It’s not so much about the unit itself as about how the entire heating system is set up.
3. Evaluate Your Existing Infrastructure
The removal of a boiler is rarely as simple as mounting one in the place of another. Many older Otago homes have pipework and radiators designed to accommodate high-temperature boiler systems. These are unlikely to work with heat pumps as delivered.
Key considerations include:
Radiator size and output
Pipe diameter and layout
Flow rates and balancing
Cylinder compatibility for hot water
Occasionally, old radiators stored in the basement can be reused. In others, improving the ability to deliver heat evenly and efficiently is necessary as a system upgrade. Tackling these problems during the replacement phase helps prevent performance issues in the future.
4. Factor in Efficiency and Running Costs
Concerns about the cost of fuel and maintenance, as well as limited boiler efficiency, can lead consumers to replace their boiler with a heat pump. Heat pumps consume electricity but generate more heat energy than the electricity they consume, making them extremely efficient when designed correctly.
In Otago, when you run a heating system every day for months on end, efficiency under load is more important than laboratory efficiency ratings. A good heat pump system will keep indoor temperatures consistent without using more energy than necessary.
Efficiency gains depend on:
Correct sizing
Proper commissioning
Balanced distribution
Appropriate control settings
A higher-quality heat pump can still underperform if these are not in place.
5. Plan for Long-Term Maintenance
A boiler-to-heat-pump change-out is a long-term investment. Heat pumps are lower-maintenance systems overall than boilers, but that doesn’t mean they can run without being checked over once in a while.
Key maintenance considerations include:
Access for servicing
Filter and coil cleaning
Pump and control checks
Annual system inspection
The cold climate in Otago requires ongoing heating. Regular upkeep helps find small problems early, before they turn into a beating. When you design a system with service access in mind, it’s easier and less expensive to service for the life of the unit.
6. Integrating Heating and Hot Water
Otago’s boiler systems typically provide both space heating and a domestic hot water supply. A heat pump replacement ought to remedy both without a hitch.
Air-to-water heat pumps can supply:
Whole-home heating
Domestic hot water via a compatible cylinder
System integration is key. Performance: the cylinder size, control logic, and pipework layout dictate performance. An unbalanced system may cause slow hot-water recovery or diminished heating capacity.
Conclusion
When replacing a boiler with a heat pump in an Otago home, it’s a system upgrade, not just an appliance exchange. The key to a successful switch is getting a clear picture of heat demand, reviewing the current infrastructure, and designing the system right for local circumstances.
When carried out correctly, a heat pump replacement will provide constant heating, reduced running costs, and long-term, dependable performance through the cold winters of Otago. When executed poorly, it can be discomforting and frustrating.
If you’re considering whether a heat pump could replace your boiler and would like clear local advice, Highlander Heating offers site visits across Otago. What would be really beneficial is a professional review of which system will work best for your home and how to get it right the first day.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
After a long day, there’s nothing better than taking a hot shower to melt the stress away. But to really enjoy it, you need to set up your bathroom for ultimate relaxation. The best way to do that? It’s all in the lighting.
“Dark showering” has been trending on TikTok recently, but it’s actually something I’ve personally been doing for years. Basically the trend encourages those who shower at night to do so with the lights off, and instead light a candle or turn on a waterproof lamp for an ambient glow. Whatever you do, just don’t use “the big light!”
I’m a night-shower person; the combination of cozy lighting and warm water helps calm my nervous system in preparation for a good night’s sleep. Other “dark shower” enthusiasts say it feels luxurious and spa-like, too. That got me thinking: What else could I add to my bathroom to help make my nights even more relaxing?
How to Make Your Bathroom Feel Like Your Own Personal Spa
But that’s only the very beginning. Check out a few more of my favorite finds below to help elevate your night showers, too.
I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
When snow begins to fall, we naturally look for a warm and comfortable place to call our own. When it comes to cold climates, Scandinavians are widely regarded as true experts in creating cosy interiors. What makes the nordic style so popular? We’ll dive right into what this interior design philosophy is based on. Let’s learn how to style your house in a truly timeless way.
Scandinavian style emerged at the turn of the 19th and 20th century in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. This design school stems out of long and heavy winters with only a limited amount of daylight. The core principles are based around functionality of the interior so that it remains practical for everyday use.
This style features clean lines, natural materials, muted colours and emphasis on comfort and human-centered living. The approach started to gain popularity in the 1950s and became one of the most popular interior design approaches.
Colour palettes that create calm and light filled interiors
Scandi style usually uses soft whites, warm greys, muted beiges as the color base for all of the interior. Try using some subtle accents of other colours to really make them pop, but not overwhelm the palette. Various écru shades brighten the room, especially if it doesn’t get a lot of daylight.
Additionally, these colour choices lift up the mood and affect the spatial perception in living areas making them look pleasant. Try to use multiple different shades to really build up the colour palette and ensure that the place will not feel cold or flat.
Furniture choices that balance comfort and simplicity
Furniture is here to serve you and your guests, not the other way around. Scandinavian style is all about practicality and everyday use. Keep the proportions of the pieces of furniture in check making sure that no one piece dominates the place. It’s great to have some statement items yet this style is really about simplicity and balance.
Make sure that every sofa and armchair is useful and comfortable. Same with tables and storage – they are all great, but only if they don’t overwhelm the space. A room should feel airy and comfy to really convey the nordic approach.
Textures and materials that add warmth to minimalist spaces
Textures should add another layer to the interior. Be it plain or corduroy, mix and match the upholstery to add some sensory diversity. Additionally, natural materials like wood and stone will work well, but only if they are processed and not used too often. Rugs and wall decorations could really help the room to not feel sterile.
It’s all about layering different textures and blending colours to add some expression. A Scandinavian room can be both minimalist and welcoming, but only if it’s neither overdone nor too clean. It should feel like a “living” room, not a hospital ward.
The farther north we head, the less light we’ll be getting. Harsh winters can substantially decrease the amount of sunlight we get and improper styling can really depress the interior. Keeping the colours bright helps in getting as much of the sun as possible. Additionally, don’t forget to layer various light sources. Have multiple sources of light coming from different places and different heights.
If you plan to use overhead light then make sure to keep it subtle by choosing a frame which disperses it at least slightly. Make sure that light hue works for the effect that you want to achieve. We usually prefer warmer hues in order to add some depth and colour to the interior. Always check the parameters when buying a lightbulb – both hue and lumens can differ greatly between models. Furthermore, you can opt for a smart light solution which will enable you to change the lighting colour and find a perfect shade.
How to adapt Scandinavian interiors to real life living
We don’t aim to live in museums of design. Our home is where we live, drink, play, dance, laugh, sleep and much more. Don’t focus too much on supposedly “perfect” interiors cleaned right before taking pictures. Every family needs a lot of storage for children’s toys, sports, hobby gear and a ton of clothes we own. Make sure to integrate those in a discreet and smart way. It’s great to use a sofa with a built-in cache or a stylised full wall wardrobe.
If you have or plan to have kids, it’s very important to keep the centre of the room open. It works great if you host a lot of parties as well. Furniture layout can really open up or close the room. Think about the placement of the particular elements and be open to new arrangement ideas.
Common mistakes to avoid in Scandinavian inspired interiors
As someone who lives where the winters can get really harsh (-20°C at the moment of writing), I know first hand how hard this season can hit. The hardest part is the lack of light which can be quite depressing. I find my joy in occasional drops of brighter colours, like an orange desk lamp which really works well in creating a moody atmosphere.
When styling Scandinavian, try to not over-optimize the interior for minimalism. This can create an effect of a liminal space, not one arranged for humans to live in. Use multiple colours which will have some degree of contrast between them to keep things interesting. Don’t obsess over design in favour of comfort. Nothing beats a comfy Scandi sofa after a hard day’s work.
Scandinavian interiors as a timeless choice for modern homes
Nordic style is today as relevant as ever, mainly as it works in many different climates. The human-first approach to design really wins the hearts of people as it enables a cozy and stylish living. Due to its popularity, it’s easy to find matching furniture and decorate it well according to your taste. Scandinavian style proves itself as quite adaptable, comfortable and timeless. After all, we are all humans and we deserve to live in a hygge space designed for actual humans to live in.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
When HGTV’s Joanna Gaines began the renovation process of her latest major Fixer Upper project (aka the Colorado mountain house!), she knew she had to do something for a grand entrance. She became fixated on a big blank wall that greeted guests as they stepped into the home.
It was the wall beneath the stairs, which Gaines calls a “dead space” — a spot in the home with major untapped potential (especially in small spaces) — and she shared with her fans that she could turn it into something not only beautiful but useful, too.
“Under most stairwells, there’s a hollow wall,” Gaines said in a recent Facebook video. “And this is a really good example of [something that] doesn’t require a lot of money or thought, but you can really add value and story to your space by simply cutting out — correctly — what’s underneath the stairs, creating bookshelves, more storage, or even like we have …this little reading nook.”
Joanna Gaines’ Tips for Making the Most of Dead Space
Gaines knocked out the drywall under the stairs to install built-in drawers and a daybed for reading on (similar to this $400 DIY update!). This upgrade could also serve as a makeshift mudroom, with gloves, hats, and shoes stored in the drawers.
In the Instagram caption, Gaines adds, “All the things you could create under the dead space of your stairs: reading nook, bookshelves/library, coffee bar, desk/office nook, toy storage, Etc. etc!!” There are endless possibilities!
To really capitalize on the opportunity, Gaines also suggests updating the stair railing to be “more reflective of your style.” She did just that at Mountain House, switching out the decorative iron railing for a design inspired by vintage ski chalets.
If you’re dealing with stairs that curve around a corner, that dead space under the landing may be best used as an indoor doghouse or small playroom for kids. Or, on the contrary, the space may be large enough to install a full door and convert it into a pantry or closet.
Look at the dead space under your stairs and start mapping out its potential. This project may just be the one that changes the flow of your home for the better!
Megan McCarty is a full-time freelance writer, specializing in interior design. Her work can be seen in the Wall Street Journal, Rue, Architectural Digest, and Domino, among other outlets. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Minnesota and has spent more than a…read more
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
One of my absolute favorite things about moving from Florida to Tennessee is finally getting to enjoy all four seasons. Spring brings blooming trees, summer is full of pool days, fall glows with mountain color, and winter offers just enough snow to feel magical. Honestly, there isn’t a season I don’t love.
What I haven’t mastered yet, though, is swapping out and organizing seasonal clothing. Now that we’re in the winter months, all our wintertime accessories have become a mess around the home. Gloves and hats, for instance, might be tucked into storage bins, stuffed into kids’ drawers, tossed into the coat closet, or forgotten entirely inside jacket pockets. That’s not ideal — especially on dark, frigid school mornings when everyone suddenly needs a hat right now.
Our old system (a basket shoved into the closet) quickly turned into a jumbled mess, making it harder to see what we had and who needed what. That is until I decided to use a lid organizer.
Why a Lid Organizer Is Perfect for Hat Storage
When I came across an Instagram Reel by Courtney Broadhead of @keepitsimplesparkles, one detail immediately caught my eye: her solution for storing beanies. She used a dedicated hat organizer that retails for about $47 on Amazon. It was clever — but also looked very familiar. In fact, it looked exactly like the lid organizer I already use to file baking sheets in my kitchen cabinet. Instantly, I knew I had to try it.
What Happened When I Tried This Storage Hack
I pulled the lid organizer out of the cabinet and tested it with our beanies — and sure enough, they fit perfectly. Each hat slid neatly into its own slot, staying visible and easy to grab without collapsing into a pile. What I love most about this setup is how clearly you can see everything at once. Instead of digging through a basket or bin, every beanie has a dedicated spot, making it easier for kids (and adults) to grab one and put it back.
The only challenge I’m still working through is where to store it. Our under-the-stairs closet is oddly shaped, so visibility is tricky. I think this hack would shine even more in a personal closet or a traditional coat closet with a shelf.
Still, turning a simple lid organizer into a beanie station is hands down the smartest winter accessory storage hack I’ve tried — and it’s officially earned a permanent spot in our seasonal organizing rotation.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Victorian conversion apartments like the one I live in come with many enviable perks, like large windows and high ceilings. But because they started out as larger Victorian houses that have since been chopped up into smaller apartments, these conversion apartments also come with plenty of quirks. Challenges include drafty windows, a lack of bathrooms, and the biggest one of all: at least one oddity in the layout.
In my home, that head-scratcher was the living room, which I can only describe as a large “hallway.” It has my bedroom at one end, the kitchen at the other, and the entryway in the middle, almost like a railroad-style apartment (just not in a completely straight line). It’s also windowless apart from a sliver of glass near the ceiling.
My living room started out in fixer-upper shape, with dated 1970s finishes, so gutting it down to its bare bones was the first step. I followed that with fresh wood floors and a new fireplace. This was the easy part! Choosing where new light switches and outlets should go was trickier, as was arranging the space so that flow of traffic to the surrounding rooms made sense. And then there was the lack of light! Here’s how I made it all work.
I went for an open layout with distinct zones.
I’m an interiors blogger who’s written about lots of homes, including my own, and I knew that fighting my home’s original layout was useless. Instead, I tried to create distinct zones within the living room’s long, open space.
I began by narrowing the opening between the kitchen and living room but opted for no physical separation between the spaces, not even glass doors. With the narrower opening, both the rooms work as two separate spaces but also allow my family to feel like we are together even when we’re in different areas.
I made the doorway “disappear.”
To reduce the number of angular doorways, I turned the opening of the entryway into an arch. I made it “disappear” by painting the entryway in a much darker color (Mylands’ Millbank). Now, when you’re in the living room, it’s almost as if there’s nothing there.
I fully embraced minimalism.
Although the style of this home was originally Victorian, my style naturally leans more minimalist. Luckily, the natural light and scale of Victorian-style homes lends itself well to my style, too. Painting the walls crisp white made the space look bright and helped maximize every bit of light.
I maximized natural light.
Adding windows to the living room wasn’t an option. So, lastly, I replaced almost the entire rear wall of the kitchen (which is an extension) with 18-foot-wide glass sliding doors. While costly, it is the single best splurge I made in this transformation. Now, I don’t even notice the lack of windows in the living room.
My favorite thing about the after is how light and bright my windowless living room looks and feels. And I absolutely love that as a family we can be in separate spaces but still feel like we’re together.
