Keeping your home warm in the cool winter months can often be tricky, but this year, with the sourcing cost of energy it could be even tougher for a great many people, which is why we’ve put together a list of things that can help you to keep your home as warm and cozy as possible without spending too much money.
Invest in thicker curtains.
You might not think that hanging thicker curtains would have much of an impact on how warm your home is, but it really can. The thicker your curtains are, the better a job they will do at insulating your home and keeping thew warm air from your heating system, fire, or whatever inside where it belongs, So much heat is lost out of the windows, that having a thick barrier to minimize that happening really can help to keep your home warm. It will also help to prevent condensation from forming on your windows, which is always a bonus too.
Place space heaters in small spaces.
When you have a lot of small spaces such as tiny nooks and cupboards where there is no heating, it can often be a good idea to place space heaters—click here to find out more about space heaters—in those places for an hour or so each morning. This will help to warm those areas up so that you don’t have any cold spots in your home which could otherwise bring the temperature of the whole house down and cause unpleasant drafts, and it will be much cheaper than having heating installed in those spaces too.
Use a smart thermostat.
If you don’t currently have a smart thermostat installed in your home, it’s a really good idea to do so. Why? Because when you have full control over your home’s heating system, you can use it more efficiently, turning it on and off at the touch of a button so that your home is only ever heated when it really needs to be. You can even turn it on remotely so the house is warm ready for your when you get back to work or turn it off while you’re out shopping if you have forgotten to do so before leaving the house.
Throw down a rug.
Rugs are great for helping to keep your home warm because they will obviously soften cold hard floors and ensure that you are never stepping onto what is a chilly color first thing in the morning. Not only that, but they also act as a natural insulator too, and of course, at this time of year, they do help to create a cozier atmosphere in the home. If your house is carpeted, there is probably no need for rugs, but if you have tiled or wooden floors, at this time of year, they really are a must.
Rearrange your furniture.
So many people have homes that could naturally be a whole lot warmer if it wasn’t for the fact they have various pieces of furniture obstructing the flow of hot air around the room. This is a particular problem for people who have radiators. If these are blocked, then the air simply heats up the furniture immediately in front of it instead of the room around it, which means you end up paying a lot of money for very little heat. Think carefully about where your furniture is placed, and if necessary, move it around to maximize heat flow.
Improve your insulation.
If your home is not insulated, you could be using as much as a quarter of your home’s heat through the roof alone. These days, good roof insulation is very cheap, and it is an excellent investment because not only will it help to keep your family toasty warm in the harshest of weather, but it will also help to reduce your energy bills over the years too.
Banish drafts.
Drafts are a major cause of chilly homes and shivering spines up and down the country, and they are so unnecessary when you can pick up a draft excluder, or even make your own, for a few dollars. Place these across the threshold of each door and you will instantly see an improvement, Then, think about checking the weatherstripping on all of your doors and windows to see if that is still doing its job or if it needs to be replaced. Weatherstripping is cheap and it is easy to replace it yourself, so there is no excuse not to do so if you’re serious about keeping your house warm this winter and beyond.
Get rid of open fireplaces.
Open fireplaces might seem the perfect solution to a cold house problem, but real fires are often inefficient, and the fact of the matter is that lots of cold air can find its way into your home through the flue, so it is often a much better idea to close the flue when the weather is cool and use alternative sources of heating instead.
Light candles.
Lighting candles at this time of year is a great way to add some sparkle and warmth to the home and celebrate the holiday season. It is also a pretty good way to actually heat your home. Obviously, the amount of heat you get from candles is never going to replace your heating system, but when used in addition, they can be surprisingly good at raising the temperature to more comfortable levels, and obviously, you get the benefit of seeing them shimmer and sparkle, and maybe even giving off a nice scent, too.
As you can see, there are so many things you can do to make your house warm that won’t break the bank, that there is no reason why you ad your family should be sat shivering in the cold. You may not be able to implement all of these ideas, but even one or two will make a huge difference to how you feel at home, so what are you waiting for?
Mia Guerra
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