Once you get used to the warmth of the sun during summer, a sudden drop in temperature seems bleak. Staying warm during the winter does not always have to exceed your monthly bill; there are multiple ways of staying warm and cozy without disturbing your budget. While controlling the chilly breeze and snowfall is not in your hands, you can definitely control the temperature of your indoors to enjoy a warm and cozy winter season. Here are 10 solid ways to keep your home warm and cozy during winter.
Bring in More Sunlight During the Day
This is the easiest and most inexpensive way to keep your home warm on cold days. After all, feeling bright sun rays on a cold day seems therapeutic. If you live in a region that experiences extreme winters, you may not get enough sunlight during the day. However, you must use the 3 to 5 hours of bright sunlight and let it in your house to warm it up.
Keep your curtains open until 2 to 3 pm, which is also when the sun is the hottest. This will allow warm sun rays in your house and increase the temperature of your indoor space. It is believed that windows and other openings can cause a 40% heat loss. To prevent this, a simple solution is to draw your curtains or pull your drapes, which act as a shield against a cool breeze. As soon as it gets dusky, draw your curtains to retain the heat inside. If you live in an extremely chilly region, you should install windows that absorb heat from the sun rays. However, if your place gets equally hot during summer, you may want to rethink this decision. The best materials for window frames for cold weather are fiberglass, vinyl, and wood. At the same time, you must install double-pane or triple-pane windows to block cold breeze and retain heat.
Seal Visible Draughts
Draughts and cracks on openings and around other parts of your house can let the cool wind in your house, which can make your place extremely chilly. To avoid this, look for such draughts and seal them up using tapes or other professional sealants such as draught strips or a layer of foam with adhesive. Other similar options and products that work include storm-proof seals, door snakes, brush door seals, silicon sealant, caulk, PVC door strips, auto-lift door seals, or roller door seals. If you are a tenant and do not wish to spend money on such products, you can stick a thick piece of rubber or foam that can be easily found lying around. Make sure that you are using a strong adhesive that firmly sticks to hard and painted surfaces.
It is wiser to spend a few bucks and invest in weather strips to enjoy a warm and cozy winter. These can be bought from hardware stores at an inexpensive price and are extremely easy to use. Peel the backing and attach the weatherstrip on its adhesive side. To save money, you can measure the size of the draughts or cracks and purchase the weather tape accordingly.
Light Candles
Lighting candles will not only keep your house warm but also provide the cozy and snug feeling of winter. Even though these do not provide enough heat, candles give you a cozy and warm feeling that is enough to ward off your seasonal depression. For better results, light a bunch of candles at the same time. However, make sure that these are placed at a safe spot and away from each other to avoid fire hazards. Use a fireproof mat to hold the candles and place them at an even distance. On a chilly day, all you need is a cup of hot coffee and your blanket. To enhance the coziness factor, pick scented candles that will help you practice aromatherapy and relax your mind.
You can choose among a myriad of options of aromatic candles that transport you to various settings of your choice. For instance, sandalwood and musk-scented candles give you a feeling of being in the woods. Similarly, cinnamon and vanilla scented candles give you a feeling of winter and Christmas.
Light Your Fireplace
If you have a fireplace at home, crank up the fire by adding fire logs. When it comes to providing warmth and heat, nothing can beat the fire. Fireplaces are often left unused and untreated. Whether it’s a pellet stove, wooden hearth, or a proper fireplace that you own, use it to create warmth in your house. Wood experts at Buyfirewooddirect.co.uk suggest buying a large crate of kiln-dried wooden logs and store them in your garage. Sit by your fireplace and read a book while sipping on a cup of hot joe, which is also a perfect and cozy winter setting. Spend time with your family or take a comfortable nap beside your fireplace.
If your fireplace looks boring, treat it by laying white bricks or repainting it. By doing this, your fireplace will get a revamp and enhance the décor of your room. Most fireplaces are focal points of living rooms, which is why they should be treated well. Even if your region experiences frequent power cuts, a fireplace will always work, thus keeping you warm on cold days. Moreover, firewood often costs less than electricity, which helps you save money.
Add Layers of Fabric
Just like you wear layers of clothes to keep yourself warm when stepping out on a cold day, adding more layers of fabric within your house will warm it up too. The more layers you have, the warmer your space will be. There are several ways to add layers of fabric to your space. Start by adding more cushions or throw pillows on your couch. Place a thick rug on the floor for it to act as insulation. By doing so, your monotonous space will also get a revamp that it needs. This is a quick-fix solution that will instantly seal your floorboards while enhancing its aesthetic appeal. You may have to invest in a large floor rug that covers up your entire floor. If you have the luxury, buy a rug for each room of your house.
Next, invest in heavy-duty thermal-lined curtains that provide insulation and retain heat. This is particularly necessary if your windows are single-glazed or do not provide enough insulation.
Ensure Even Heating
At times, your heater will fail to provide enough warmth in every corner of your house due to uneven heating or some technical issue, which can often be downright frustrating. Apart from pumping hot air into your room, the duct system in your house sucks cold air from within and releases it outside. Some vents that do not carry controls may not be as efficient in pulling cold air out due to some blockage. Get these cold air returns checked to ensure even heating. You can also use tin foil to prevent heat loss.
Next, check the heater and the room in which it is placed. If the room seems too hot as compared to the rest of your house, get the heat vent checked to ensure even heating throughout the house. Lastly, if your heating device or thermostat is too old, replace it at once. Old and inefficient heaters not only cause uneven heating but also lengthen your monthly bill. If your house has an attic, insulate it to trap heat within. It works for both hot and cold air.
Use a Traditional or Infrared Space Heater
In the end, you can always resort to old-fashioned ways to stay comfortable and keep your room warm. If your heater is inefficient or your house is too big, you can use a space heater to warm the specific area where you usually carry out your activities for most of the day. An infrared heater, which emits ‘beams’ of warm light to provide warmth, is known for even heat distribution in any space. Whether it’s your legs that need warmth in a cold office setting or your hands while working at your desk, this portable device emits heat to make you feel comfortable.
Since these small heaters do not make noise and cause zero disturbance, you can use them in almost every setting. This is mainly because they don’t need a fan for hot air circulation. With a space heater, you can experience ‘zone heating’, which eliminates cold spots in your house and ensures even heating, especially in the zone where you are seated. To top that, space heaters do not dry out the air, which is a major concern with heating devices. For better results, invest in a modern infrared space heater that provides even heating and cost less than older designs. Use this device with caution as these are prone to causing a fire hazard.
Rearrange Your Furniture
At times, the orientation and placement of your furniture affect heat distribution in any indoor setting. If your sofa is placed just beside the radiator, move it to some spot as it could be absorbing most of the emitted heat. By doing this, you are allowing hot air to circulate freely and offer even heating. Any other accessory or furniture piece such as curtains or drying clothes placed on or near the radiator should be moved away. Even if rearranging furniture causes your space to look a bit disoriented, it is necessary to ensure even heating. You can move the furniture back to its original position once winter is over.
If you are moving to a new house that is located in a cold region, make sure that you strategically plan the orientation of your furniture. Furniture pieces such as desks and short tables can still be placed beside the radiator given, they do not block it. At the same time, make sure that your radiator is not positioned beside any openings such as your door or window as the gaps, cracks, and draughts can ruin the heating effect.
Try Radiant Floor Heating
Winter can get extremely unbearable in certain regions, especially in Nordic countries, Northern USA, and Canada. If you live in one of these regions, you may need floor heating to stay warm in your house. Also known as radiant floor heating, this system can be installed in two forms – electric and water-based. As the name suggests, it is installed under the floorboards of your house to keep your entire house warm. Even though it is an expensive installation, you will thank yourself for getting it installed. The best part is radiant floor heating is energy efficient and easy to use. If you are too particular about your interior décor, a radiant floor heating system will give you enough design freedom to place your furniture as you please.
Moreover, this system is safe and extremely comfortable. After installation, this system barely needs any maintenance. Contact your local floor heating vendor and keep your toes warm throughout winter. Since this system often comes with a 20 to 30-year guarantee, you just have to go through the hassle once in three decades. If you are moving to a permanent house for a longer-term, getting this system installed is highly recommended.
Leave Your Shower Door Open
Even though it will provide just a brief period of heating and warmth, this trick works. Whenever you take a shower, leave your bathroom door open to let the steam from the hot shower release outside. This also helps eliminate the dry air caused by your radiator or heating system. Similarly, the heat from your oven and stove can warm your kitchen. If you spend maximum time in the kitchen, baking, cooking, or broiling can also help for a brief period. That being said, baking and eating warm cookies on a chilly day seems like a perfect idea.
Since staying warm during winter can be expensive and shoot up your bill, these inexpensive tips will keep you cozy while being pocket friendly. Even though some tips demand some initial investment, it will definitely pay off in the long run. Implement these tips to feel warm while snuggling up in your bed and binge-watching your favorite TV show. Have a warm and cozy winter!
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