Winterproofing 101: Effective Home Elements to Keep Your Home Warm and Cozy
Summers are not the only time when you dread high electricity bills at the end of the month! Because the winter season can be equally dreadful in the same context, if you want your home to feel warm and cozy.
A majority of modern properties across the U.S are built keeping energy efficiency in mind. However, everyone can’t move into a new home to save on energy costs while staying comfortable!
In this blog, we’ve focused on some effective home elements to keep your home warm and comfy throughout the chilly winters, all on a budget! So, let’s stick till the end to learn it all!
Cost-Effective Ways to Keep Your House Warm in Winter Season
Honestly, you can only feel relaxed when you know that the month-end utility bills won’t give you a shock! And that’s only possible if you follow these simple, yet effective hacks-
- Rearrange and reposition the furniture
We understand that radiators don’t always look good with your interior decor. And that might be the reason your sofa set sits right in front of it throughout the year!
The catch with these decor hacks is that they block warm airflow, which increases the time it takes to heat the room. So, the best way is to reposition your furniture setting to make sure that it doesn’t come in the way of your radiator.
Not just furniture, but anything that might block the air flow, like curtains or rugs need to be removed. This saves a lot of money and also helps to keep your home snug when it’s freezing outside!
- Draught-proof the doors and windows
Did you know that even the tiniest gaps and openings in doors and windows can help warm air escape? And that’s also one of the reasons why you may feel that your room cannot trap heat effectively.
That’s where draught excluders come to the rescue. These home insulation materials for the winter season offer one of the most affordable ways to keep your interiors warm. Just fit these excluders around the doors and windows, and you’ll be surprised to see the difference it makes.
- Place area rugs strategically
Area rugs are great aesthetic additions to your interiors. However, what we all overlook is the fact that laying area rugs is also one of the best ways to keep your home warm in winter. How so?
Well, the floor area gets quite cold. Rugs just serve as a layer of insulation, which doesn’t let the cool air seep up, thereby keeping your room warm and comfortable. Most importantly, area rugs don’t cost a fortune! So, it won’t be an issue even if you are short on budget.
- Get yourself a smart energy meter
If you have smart thermostats and appliances at your home, get a smart energy meter installed as soon as you can. Because if you want to save on energy bills, guesswork becomes futile! You need to see the actual numbers to gauge the energy usage.
Installing a smart energy meter, therefore, can prove to be worth the investment. You can now easily see which appliances you use the most. And based on the results, you can limit your usage accordingly to make sure your home remains warm, and the bills remain manageable.
- Avoid heating rooms that you don’t use
Another one of the tips to keep your home warm in winter within a budget is to avoid heating rooms that are unused.
For instance, if you own a 4 BHK home, and two of the bedrooms stay vacant, don’t heat the rooms unnecessarily. Instead, heat the ones that you use actively. This saves you from unnecessary costs.
- Reflective radiator panels are a boon
Reflective radiator panels are one of the best and most budget-friendly home upgradation tips to keep warm during winter.
But how can you do that? Well, it’s easier than you think it is! The wall behind the radiator in your home is responsible for about 25% of heat loss. So, if you slip in reflective radiator panels behind the radiator, it will redirect this lost heat onto your room, thereby making the inner temperature comfortable.
However, reflective radiator panels can get expensive. But we have a hack for that, too! Just cut out a piece of thermocol or cardboard, and wrap it with a thin aluminium foil. Surely, it won’t be as good-looking, but it will definitely serve your purpose.
- Use electric blankets
If you were thinking of coming up with some smart ideas to keep your home warm in winter, electric blankets can be a wise and affordable option!
Wonder why?
Well, heating your bedroom all night would mean keeping the radiators or thermostats on, which eventually increases the energy consumption. Instead, electric blankets can keep you warm and cozy, that too, minus the substantial electric bills! So, you literally get to save a fortune and sleep comfortably!
Tips to Keep Your House Naturally Warm in Winter
Other than these, there are a few natural ways to keep your interiors warm during the winter season. Let’s take a closer look-
- Sunlight is the best source of heat. So, keep your curtains open during the day to let natural light enter your room.
- Use thick curtains, and close them before dusk. This helps to effectively trap the heat in the room, thereby keeping it warm.
- In case you have a boiler, spend on its annual maintenance. This keeps it in working condition, which helps prevent unnecessary spikes in power bills.
To Conclude
Managing utility bills, that too in the winter season, is a tough task. However, that doesn’t mean you have to act like a miser and freeze yourself, or that it is an impossible thing to do! With the aforementioned heating tips for your home, you can stay warm and comfortable during those freezing months, without having to worry about increased energy bills at all.
F.A.Qs:
1. Which material keeps the house warm?
Draught excludes, area rugs, reflective radiator panels, thick curtains, etc., are some of the materials that can keep your interiors warm in the winter season.
2. How can I make my home cozy in winter?
Installing smart thermostats is one of the best ways to make your home cozy. But, if you’re looking for cost-effective ways, here are some that can help you out-
- Rearrange your furniture positions.
- Install draught excluders on doors and windows.
- Use rugs on the floor.
- Install thick curtains or thermostat curtains to retain heat.
- Use electric blankets.
3. What can I put on my walls to make it warmer?
Insulation layers like thick curtains, bookcases, or thermal wallpapers can help your walls trap the heat and make your interiors warm and comfortable.
As a lifelong DIY enthusiast, Alex Barton is never afraid to go the extra mile to save a few bucks! From seamless interior decor hacks to effective DIY home renovation tips, he shares a myriad of his experiences for you to unleash your creativity.
