While the weather becomes bitterly cold in the winter, it can feel impossible to stay warm—even when you’re inside! I’ve been wearing slippers around the house for weeks because my toes are usually ice-cold, but fluffy slippers can only do so much, so I’ve been exploring other methods to stay warm this winter. (Specifically, I’ve been looking for solutions that don’t involve cranking up my thermostat and blowing up my energy bill.)
I thought I’d share some of those methods with you today because I know I’m not the only one trying to stay warm! Hopefully, you’ll be able to employ one or more of these suggestions to keep warm until spring arrives to thaw us all out.
Layer With Thermals
Invest in a couple of high-quality thermal pieces to wear underneath your clothes. A good thermal shirt and a pair of thermal leggings will keep you nice and warm all winter long!
Double Your Drapes
Adding another layer of curtains to your windows can make a big difference in terms of keeping the cold out, especially if one of those layers is a blackout curtain—they’re much thicker than standard curtains and provide better insulation.
Bubble Wrap Your Windows
Poorly insulated windows are a major culprit for heat loss, but you don’t need to spend a fortune on new windows to stay warm! As strange as it sounds, adding a layer of bubble wrap to your window panes as an insulating layer can work wonders—learn how to do it at the link below.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
During the wintertime, set your ceiling fans to spin clockwise (on the lowest speed so it doesn’t feel breezy). This will generate a downdraft that will help move the warmer air at the highest part of the room down lower where you can feel it. Recirculating the warm air trapped near the ceiling can reduce how frequently your furnace kicks on and save you both money and energy.
Be A Draft Detective
Cold drafts may be coming from your doors and windows, and even your electrical outlets and light switches! An easy way to check for draughts is to light a stick of incense and carry it as you walk around the house. Take note of when the smoke appears to be blowing in a certain direction, which can be evidence of a draft.
Another option is to get an energy audit from your utility company. (Many companies offer these for free, so it’s worth looking into!) They can tell you where you’re losing the most heat and how to prevent it.
Warm Up Your Bed
Use an old-school hot water bottle to warm up your bed at night. Just fill the bottle with hot water, and toss it under your covers about 15 minutes before you’re ready to go to sleep. You’ll crawl into a toasty warm bed, and you might even forget it’s winter out there! 😉
Choose The Right Space For Space Heaters
A small space heater can be a great way to keep your bedroom or home office warm! However, a small space heater probably won’t make much of an impact in a larger room, especially one with tall ceilings. Don’t waste money on running a space heater that isn’t helping you stay warm!
Check Your Blankets
Check out the “fill power” of your duvets and comforters. Fill power refers to the insulating power of your blankets, so it’s a good indicator of how warm a blanket will keep you during the winter. A number between 550 and 800 is ideal for cold temperatures!
Cozy Up With Wool And Cashmere
Wool and cashmere blankets, sweaters, and other items are great for staying warm. The fibers in wool and cashmere are crimped, creating small air pockets that trap heat. Even a small amount of wool in a blanket can provide more warmth than something purely synthetic. The blanket pictured here is only 15% wool, but it’s one of my favorites to cuddle up with when I’m feeling chilly.
Use Your Oven Often
Use your oven to make your meals as often as possible, which will help raise the temperature of your home for a few hours. Also, leave the oven door ajar after you’re finished using it to allow the hot air out and into the room (unless you have small kids or pets who could get hurt, in which case it’s not worth the extra warmth!)
