But there is one bright spot on the horizon – literally bright.  It’s got to do with tinsel, sparkly festive lights and the sort of warm glow that you only get at Christmas.

The best part of winter, for me, is stepping through my front door after a day spent battling the elements and entering into my warm, welcoming home. That’s why I’m a fan of cozy home décor –warm paint colours, lots of comfortable accessories such as cushions, blankets and throws as well as comforting mood lighting that gives off a warm glow. Something has to make the winter more bearable, and for me, it’s choosing the right home furnishings.

The sort of lighting that you choose can make all the difference to your room. Instead of keeping on the main overhead light (which can give off quite a harsh, cold, sterile sort of lighting), once you draw the curtains of an evening try experimenting with different lighting effects.

Play around with selection of table lights in different locations in your room – corners are especially effective, so try to put a lamp on a corner bookcase or shelf. This is a great idea for the family room, which is often used as a DVD-watching room for teens or as a chill-out space for enjoying quality family time together. It’s a place where you go to relax so it should be informal and cosy.

It’s important to make sure your table lamps have the right sort of shade though – lights with orange and red shades give off a lovely warm glow in particular.

When it comes to ways to heat your home in winter, it often comes down to a choice between your budget and your desired room temperature.

If, like me, you can’t afford to heat every room all of the time, you have to get creative! The living room is always the warmest in my house over winter, because we spend most time there, while the heat only goes on in the bedroom just before bedtime (you sleep better if your bedroom isn’t too stuffy too).

So come winter I’m a big fan of the hot water bottle – in fact, even during mild winters you can see me clutching my hot water bottle as I get cosy in front of the TV after a busy day at work. There’s something really comforting and nostalgic about it that probably reminds me of my childhood. Which, when you think about it, is the perfect way to feel at Christmas time – comfy, warm, cost and nostalgic.