Winter renos: The 5 best projects to start now
Starting major interior renovations in the winter can be a smart strategy. Contractors are often more available, and you get all the messy, disruptive work done long before summer arrives.
Here are five of the best renovation projects to begin during the colder months, so your home is summer-ready by 2026.
Complete Kitchen Overhaul
Winter is a great time to start a full kitchen renovation. Because contractors tend to be less busy in the early months, you’re more likely to secure reasonable lead times and attention to detail. Additionally, since the work is fully indoors, weather delays are minimal.
With careful planning and execution, you could end up with a fully functional, stylish kitchen ready in time for summer entertaining, indoor-outdoor dining, and hosting family gatherings.
Basement or Loft Conversion
Large-scale renovations like a basement or loft conversion can dramatically increase your home’s usable space, whether as a new bedroom, home office, gym, or media room. Starting during the winter offers a perfect window for structural work, insulation, wiring and drywall while the weather is poor, keeping disruption contained. Come summer, you’ll have a brand-new space ready for guests or relaxed family time indoors.
SPONSORED CONTENT:
Full Window and Insulation Replacement
Upgrading your home’s windows and insulation in winter offers immediate benefits in energy efficiency. As you heat your home, contractors can easily spot cold spots or drafts while the heating is on, ensuring a thorough job.
Better insulation and double or triple-glazed windows also mean lower heating costs this winter. For many homeowners, using secured loans for home improvement makes this kind of upgrade more affordable and manageable.
Full Lighting and Wiring Upgrade
A complete overhaul of lighting and wiring can transform how your whole home feels and functions. Since electricians are often already involved in larger renovation projects, it’s efficient to bundle a full-house lighting redesign now.
The shorter winter days also mean you’ll immediately notice and appreciate improved ambient and task lighting. And by summer, your updated electrical system will be ready for garden gatherings or evening events.
Bathroom Remodel
Like a kitchen overhaul, a bathroom remodel is mostly internal work, which makes winter an ideal time to tackle it. Completing this project before summer means you avoid being without a functioning bathroom during the holidays or when you’re hosting visitors.
By the warmer months, you could enjoy a refreshed, luxurious bathroom (perhaps one with a spa-like shower or tub) serving as a peaceful, clean sanctuary after long summer days spent outside.
Starting these renovations during the winter ensures that by the time summer 2026 rolls around, your home will be transformed. Get ready for a stylish, efficient, and comfortable home ready for whatever the season brings.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:
Related Articles
Back to School 2026: The Ultimate Kids’ Essentials & Parent Hacks
Back to School Special Back to School 2026: The Ultimate Kids’ Essentials & Parent Hacks From seamless uniform upgrades to smart tech that keeps kids focused and safe, here is our editorial edit for the new school term. Between sorting uniforms, replacing outgrown...
Why Learning a Language as a Busy Parent Is One of the Best Things You Can Do (And How to Actually Make It Happen)
Travel Why Learning a Language as a Busy Parent Is One of the Best Things You Can Do (And How to Actually Make It Happen) No classroom. No fixed timetable. Just you, a real tutor, and a skill that'll stick around for life. When was the last time you did something...
Ibiza Comes to London: Why the Alto x Cotton Beach Club Collab Belongs on Every Parent’s Night-Off List
Ibiza isn’t on the cards for most of us this summer — but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a taste of it. Alto by San Carlo has partnered with the iconic Cotton Beach Club Ibiza for two exclusive evenings on the rooftop of Selfridges, London. Think sun-soaked Mediterranean food, live DJ sets, Champagne and London’s skyline as your backdrop. Two dates only — and honestly? You deserve this one.
Lisa Johnson: From £30K Debt to Multi-Millionaire – How a Mum of Two Built a Freedom-Focused Business
Discover how Lisa Johnson, award-winning entrepreneur and mum of twins, went from £30,000 in debt to building a multi-million-pound business in just seven years. In this exclusive interview, Lisa shares her journey through adversity, her strategies for scaling with passive income, and her honest advice for parents and entrepreneurs seeking financial freedom, work-life balance, and lasting impact. Keywords: Lisa Johnson, entrepreneur, passive income, business strategy, work-life balance, financial freedom, mumpreneur, online business, success story.
School Holiday Jigsaw: Surviving the Summer Holidays as a Working Parent
School Holiday Jigsaw: Surviving the Summer Holidays as a Working Parent
For school children, the six-week break is a magical expanse of unstructured freedom. For working parents, it marks the beginning of a military-grade logistical operation. Between the skyrocketing costs of summer camps, tag-teaming annual leave with partners, and attempting the ultimate high-wire act of working from home with a laptop on your knee, the math of July and August simply doesn’t add up. We dive deep into the reality of trying to fit a 19th-century agricultural school calendar into a 21st-century digital economy—and explore the progressive workplace shifts needed to save our sanity.
The Cognitive Crutch: Are We Outsourcing Our kid’s Brains to AI?
The Cognitive Crutch: Are We Outsourcing Our Children’s Brains to AI?
Generative AI has transitioned from a novel tech trend to a permanent classroom fixture. But as tools like ChatGPT effortlessly handle the heavy cognitive lifting of writing essays and solving equations, educators and neuroscientists are raising an urgent alarm. True learning is rooted in the cognitive friction of arriving at an answer. By outsourcing that struggle to machines, are we causing intellectual stamina to atrophy, leaving behind a generation of brilliant curators who have lost the ability to think independently? From primary schools to university campuses, the data reveals a stark shift from active learning to passive “cognitive offloading.”
The Big 2026 British Playcation: The Ultimate Free, Low-Cost & Premium Summer Days Out
The six-week school summer holidays are here, but keeping kids entertained shouldn’t break the bank. With new data showing a massive “play gap” across the UK, we’ve rounded up 11 of the absolute best national initiatives, free community festivals, heavily discounted active-play passes, and premium family adventures to help you balance the budget while creating unforgettable summer memories.
Why the UK is Suddenly Going All Out for Graduation Season
Discover why British graduations are becoming massive lifestyle events and explore San Carlo’s new summer menu—the perfect way to celebrate in style.
New ‘xV’ Campaign Launches “The Unspoken Stat” to Expose Hidden Domestic Abuse Spike Around England Matches
A powerful new World Cup campaign introduces “xV” (Expected Violence) to expose a chilling reality: research shows domestic abuse incidents spike by 38% when England loses and 26% even when they win. Backed by survivors, sports figures, and celebrities like Mel B, the campaign demands that this hidden statistic receives the same urgent attention as modern football data.
Banning Social Media Under 16: What the New UK Law Means for Parents
The UK government has announced a landmark social media ban for children under 16. From affected apps to enforcement timelines, here is what the “Australia Plus” model means for busy working parents and family life.
“ I’d pivoted from a successful career as a screenwriter, director and producer working in tv and film to ‘storttelling’ online fulltime, as my former job had proved completely incompatible with motherhood”
Can you tell us a bit about the stories and how you think they’ll resonate with young readers?
The Greek Myths each have a moral behind them, and I include a section at the end of each one titled Moral of the Myth to help children understand and further explore the stories, often making parallels with well-known fairy tales which came after the myths. The ancient Greeks believed 12 powerful gods lived on Mount Olympus, but that they were as flawed and complex as the human mortals they governed over. The myths tell the stories of deities and mortals who made bad decisions, for example, the money-obsessed King Midas who turned his own child to gold before repenting, or the impulsive Icarus who failed to listen to his father and flew too close to the sun.
How did your own experiences as a parent influence the writing process, and did you draw from any specific moments or challenges?
Being a parent means having experienced emotion in its most heightened form: unconditional love, searing pain, rebellious optimism, endless ennui and more. To have access to such a vast range of experiences and emotions enables me to empathise with each character and make them more human. I also think having children and being busy means not having the luxury of procrastination because as soon as the youngest is asleep, I HAVE to write!
How do you prioritise your time and responsibilities as a working mum, and what self-care practices help you stay energised and focused?
I tend to write on the days my 3 year old has childcare (2 days a week) and when she sleeps. My older sons are at school, but they have lots of sports commitments, so after school and weekends are busy. I feel like a taxi driver most of the time. I think the pandemic gave me greater balance in my work/ parenting life as I didn’t have to commute as much as before. I also became stricter when it came to the projects I took on during my pregnancy and beyond. A former therapist once said to me, ‘You are your values,’ so I always remember what matters most to me: family and friends and making work decisions from a place of knowing what I want and need in order to be a happy and present mum first. My identity at one time relied heavily on my career. It doesn’t anymore, it’s an important part of me, but not as vital as my mental and physical health and of course my kids, husband, parents and close pals. I love running and try to do yoga from home as much as possible. I also follow a low-carb diet, which helps me feel my strongest.
And lastly, do you have any tales of ‘BROOD Moments’ where work and parenthood have collided?
My middle son was asked on live TV around the age of 4 (on the BBC) if he was happy I worked from home so he could see me more, and he said, ‘No, she can be quite annoying! ’ Ha! From the mouth of babes!
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:
Related Articles
Back to School 2026: The Ultimate Kids’ Essentials & Parent Hacks
Back to School Special Back to School 2026: The Ultimate Kids’ Essentials & Parent Hacks From seamless uniform upgrades to smart tech that keeps kids focused and safe, here is our editorial edit for the new school term. Between sorting uniforms, replacing outgrown...
Why Learning a Language as a Busy Parent Is One of the Best Things You Can Do (And How to Actually Make It Happen)
Travel Why Learning a Language as a Busy Parent Is One of the Best Things You Can Do (And How to Actually Make It Happen) No classroom. No fixed timetable. Just you, a real tutor, and a skill that'll stick around for life. When was the last time you did something...
Ibiza Comes to London: Why the Alto x Cotton Beach Club Collab Belongs on Every Parent’s Night-Off List
Ibiza isn’t on the cards for most of us this summer — but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a taste of it. Alto by San Carlo has partnered with the iconic Cotton Beach Club Ibiza for two exclusive evenings on the rooftop of Selfridges, London. Think sun-soaked Mediterranean food, live DJ sets, Champagne and London’s skyline as your backdrop. Two dates only — and honestly? You deserve this one.
Lisa Johnson: From £30K Debt to Multi-Millionaire – How a Mum of Two Built a Freedom-Focused Business
Discover how Lisa Johnson, award-winning entrepreneur and mum of twins, went from £30,000 in debt to building a multi-million-pound business in just seven years. In this exclusive interview, Lisa shares her journey through adversity, her strategies for scaling with passive income, and her honest advice for parents and entrepreneurs seeking financial freedom, work-life balance, and lasting impact. Keywords: Lisa Johnson, entrepreneur, passive income, business strategy, work-life balance, financial freedom, mumpreneur, online business, success story.
School Holiday Jigsaw: Surviving the Summer Holidays as a Working Parent
School Holiday Jigsaw: Surviving the Summer Holidays as a Working Parent
For school children, the six-week break is a magical expanse of unstructured freedom. For working parents, it marks the beginning of a military-grade logistical operation. Between the skyrocketing costs of summer camps, tag-teaming annual leave with partners, and attempting the ultimate high-wire act of working from home with a laptop on your knee, the math of July and August simply doesn’t add up. We dive deep into the reality of trying to fit a 19th-century agricultural school calendar into a 21st-century digital economy—and explore the progressive workplace shifts needed to save our sanity.
The Cognitive Crutch: Are We Outsourcing Our kid’s Brains to AI?
The Cognitive Crutch: Are We Outsourcing Our Children’s Brains to AI?
Generative AI has transitioned from a novel tech trend to a permanent classroom fixture. But as tools like ChatGPT effortlessly handle the heavy cognitive lifting of writing essays and solving equations, educators and neuroscientists are raising an urgent alarm. True learning is rooted in the cognitive friction of arriving at an answer. By outsourcing that struggle to machines, are we causing intellectual stamina to atrophy, leaving behind a generation of brilliant curators who have lost the ability to think independently? From primary schools to university campuses, the data reveals a stark shift from active learning to passive “cognitive offloading.”
The Big 2026 British Playcation: The Ultimate Free, Low-Cost & Premium Summer Days Out
The six-week school summer holidays are here, but keeping kids entertained shouldn’t break the bank. With new data showing a massive “play gap” across the UK, we’ve rounded up 11 of the absolute best national initiatives, free community festivals, heavily discounted active-play passes, and premium family adventures to help you balance the budget while creating unforgettable summer memories.
Why the UK is Suddenly Going All Out for Graduation Season
Discover why British graduations are becoming massive lifestyle events and explore San Carlo’s new summer menu—the perfect way to celebrate in style.
New ‘xV’ Campaign Launches “The Unspoken Stat” to Expose Hidden Domestic Abuse Spike Around England Matches
A powerful new World Cup campaign introduces “xV” (Expected Violence) to expose a chilling reality: research shows domestic abuse incidents spike by 38% when England loses and 26% even when they win. Backed by survivors, sports figures, and celebrities like Mel B, the campaign demands that this hidden statistic receives the same urgent attention as modern football data.
Banning Social Media Under 16: What the New UK Law Means for Parents
The UK government has announced a landmark social media ban for children under 16. From affected apps to enforcement timelines, here is what the “Australia Plus” model means for busy working parents and family life.










