Help - “stylish” ways to keep out draughts

[Trixie90]

We’re recently moved into a lovely Edwardian semi which has neither an inside or outside porch.

When we moved in the previous owners had a curtain over the inside of the front door but we thought it was ruining the look of the hallway (it was a particularly unattractive curtain).

Now the weather is getting cooler the hallway is absolutely freezing and it’s making the whole downstairs cold!

We’ve never lived in a property without a porch before, which generally keeps the cold out.

I’m now considering a nice William Morris curtain but wondered if anyone has any other tips. What solutions do you use to stop all the cold coming into the hallway without compromising on style?

I’m confused. Don’t you just need a door with proper insulation? Never had this problem tbh.

Get a lovely curtain, change the front door and look at installing a porch.

Our house is mid century but had a wooden door and side panels all single glazed and draughty. We have changed for a sympathetic composite door and also have a massive thermal lined curtain in a thick chenille fabric. Maybe not the most historically accurate. I can see why previous owners had curtains.

It’s an original door.

We are reluctant to change the front door as it’s an original. I’ll research porches but I can’t visualise one that would be in keeping with the style of the house to be honest! Think I’ll go ahead with the curtain!

Get something really heavy and luxurious, and very well lined. Also a draught excluder for the bottom. It will make a surprising amount of difference.

Could you reasonably create an inner porch? I mean is there enough room inside your entrance hall to put a second entrance door that creates a porch effect?

A weighted draught excluder is also a good idea. Etsy is a good place for these and you can get one to the specific measurements you need.

You can buy squashy foam strips to fit down the sides and tops and bottoms of the door to prevent drafts. They are pretty good.

Yes I have lived in similar properties before and in winter a curtain makes an incredible difference.

Big, thick, lined.

Draught excluders at the bottom as well.

We've got an old outside porch but then the front door is original with lots of single glazed side /ceiling panels so still ridiculously draughty. Really want to redo the porch but cash always seems to go elsewhere!

The curtain makes a huge difference. You can also use those strips on the edges of the door to help block draughts. I also used that plastic stuff on the single glazing last year and it actually really helped. Wasn't hugely stylish but people only noticed when I pointed it out to ask how bad it looked.

I think you'll have to live with a curtain! Lined and heavy is the way to go - I always think tweed looks nice. Remember it might get dirty so nothing too light.

You can get curtain rails that fold as well to tuck it out the way which might be useful depending on your set up?

We just sealed all the gaps on the door with foam tape (you can’t see it), and got a postbox cover for inside (magnetic close so seals shut but easy to get post in). I’m not a fan of curtains either, and this has stopped the draughts.

Could you put secondary glazing over the glass? Try Magneglaze or Gecko Glaze.
Draft excluder strps on the door or frame.

I have a wool tweed curtain with woollen interlining & thermal lining. It is really heavy but makes an amazing difference. I bought it second hand on Ebay.

”without compromising on style” is the key bit here! I’ve seen those foam strips - very practical but they aren’t a great look!

Secondary glazing is a great idea - thanks!

I did think that but you can't see them when the door is closed. You could probably cover some of the gaps with some fancy wooden trim on the exterior if that is more subtle.

The strips go inside the door frame so you don’t see them. I have them on front and back door and it’s made a big difference. The curtain works well too but the strips make more of a difference I think.