Most people approach winter in one of two ways: something to endure or something one can learn to enjoy. The second option is how you get through all the cold and nasty weather—with your sanity intact.
Create a more comfortable home to start getting more enjoyment out of life this winter. Here are ten tips to keep your house warm and your favorite place to be when the cold winds blow.
How To Keep Your House Warm in Winter
1. Batten down the hatches!
Get all your exterior storm windows installed (or pulled down tight if they’re the fixed type). Many people forget to do this come winter and the result is a drafty home and higher energy bills.
2. Mind the gap
The space between the bottom of your exterior doors should not show daylight. Install under-door seals to stop the drafts that sneak in through this gap. If that’s not possible, use a draft stopper (which is basically just a long bean bag). And don’t stop at exterior doors—if there’s a draft coming through any doorway that is creating an annoying draft, fix it.
3. Cover your windows
A bare window radiates heat out of a room. Stand near a bare window on a cold winter day and you can feel the cold. Any blinds, shades, shutters, or drapery will make a huge difference in creating a warm house and protecting against the cold, but cellular shades do the best job of insulating and are the best window covers for winter. Any window treatment can make a huge difference—so cover your windows for winter and cold months!
4. Cover the edges of your shades and blinds
All shades and blinds have thin gaps along the sides that allow a small amount of light to seep through. Cold can also seep through these gaps. Layer a set of drapes over your shades or blinds to stop this extra bit of cold from creeping into your room.
5. Be smart about heating
There are many homes that allow you to customize the amount of heat that is delivered to each room in the home. Set your controls to deliver more heat to the rooms you’ll be using most. Many systems allow you to set specific times and temperatures.
6. Cool bedrooms are coziest
Set the temperature of your bedroom lower than the rest of your home for a better night’s sleep. Nestling beneath a pile of warm blankets in a cool room can be a truly cozy experience, and many people find that this is the perfect formula for enjoying quality sleep.
7. Discover the joy of a hot bath
A soak in the tub might be the best way to warm up on a cold winter night. But hot baths produce a lot of steam, especially in winter. Moisture resistant composite blinds or shutters are an ideal window covering for bathrooms—and they help to insulate against the cold for cozier baths.
8. Arrange your furnishings to maximize warmth
A recliner that leans back toward a north-facing picture window is not going to be very cozy. And if your sofa faces a front door that opens and closes repeatedly, it’s not going to be a very nice place to watch a movie. Arrange your furniture to minimize drafts and maximize warmth.
9. Insulate your attic
Take a look in your attic. Is there insulation between the ceiling joists and the cold air of the attic? Some homes don’t have insulation here, but adding it is quite easy and straightforward. Check which types of insulation meet the building code in your area and then install it for a cozier living space and warmer house.
10. Don’t just sit there
The healthiest way to stay warm is by being active. If you’re fit enough to do it, hop on the exercise bike, do some yoga, or hit the weights. Not only will you be warmer, you’ll look good when spring finally arrives.
But don’t just stop with climate control—optimize your home by building a relaxing refuge and create a bedroom that’s more conducive to quality sleep.
Make the most of winter by creating a home where you feel perfectly warm and cozy—even when the weather outside is frightful.
