Getting ready for winter
By Fleur
@Fleura (36167)
United Kingdom
October 21, 2026 4:15am CST
We seem to have come to the end of our unnaturally warm spell; now it’s miserable, grey and wet, much more normal for a British late October.
When it was cold last winter I definitely thought we would benefit from a curtain over the front door to add some extra insulation, especially since it’s half glass. And it ought to help keep the house cooler on hot sunny days too of course.
And to my rescue came Freegle, my favourite app. First I got a curtain rail with the fittings to go against a wall at one end – exactly the set-up we need for the position of our door.
Then from another Freegler I got a pair of long lined curtains. One curtain is just the right size to cover the door and then I have the matching one in reserve.
After some pestering I got my partner to attach the curtain rail to the wall; I have no problem using power tools but I’m a bit paranoid about making holes in the house walls, so I let him do that, then if it goes wrong it’s not my fault!
So now we’re all set. We could trim the end off the rail but decided to leave it for now and we can hang some Christmas decorations from it when the time comes.
Next on my list is to make a draught excluder for the bottom of the door out of some left-over fabric and old socks!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2026.
6 people like this
10 responses
@Wrexxo (10289)
•
21 Oct
Freegle finds are the best, getting the rail and the matching curtains for free is such a win. Smart move letting your partner drill the holes, that way it's not your fault if it goes wrong. The sock draught excluder sounds fun, hope it keeps the cold out this winter.
3 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8979)
• United Kingdom
21 Oct
It was never that warm where I live this summer, but we have definitely turned a corner. We’ve had a few cold nights and it seems to have gotten dark early all of a sudden. A draughty door can certainly let a lot of cold in. Or is it heat out? So the curtain should help a bit. Better to get a seal around the frame if possible. I’ve got a modern door which lets no draught in, so I’m pleased about that. With El Niño still about, I’m not sure if we are expecting a cold winter or a warm one? Hopefully the latter.
Good luck on making your snake!
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (141909)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Oct
That's a good idea. I just hung a curtain a few days ago on the outside of our door.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (92633)
• United States
21 Oct
You did really well getting your stuff for free and what a good idea to use the curtain to keep the cold out, I love your idea for the draught excluder for the bottom of the door,
2 people like this
@JudyEv (390407)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Oct
That's a good idea and what a bonus to get all the things you needed for free! I always notice the mail boxes in the front door. They've always intrigued me as we don't have them here. Townspeople used to have mail-boxes at the gate/boundary of their block and that's mostly the case now.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (14886)
• United Kingdom
23 Oct
Mom has a curtain across her door too. It makes such a difference.
We don’t have a curtain but we do have draught excluders ….and we have already started using them….
1 person likes this
