10 Money-Saving Ways to Keep Your Home Warm in the Winter

Here come the frosty months again! As temperatures drop, our energy consumption rises drastically due to our heating needs -- and subsequently, our electricity bill spikes as well. If you would like to cut heating costs this year, we're with you! We've gathered some genius affordable tips from experts on how to keep your rooms toasty during cold months without cranking the heat up. Try these!

 

1. Switch to heavier curtains.

It sounds like a no-brainer, but heavier drapery really makes a difference in the coziness of a room. If feasible, invest in insulated or thermal-lined curtains -- they may cost a little more than your usual drapes, but they could reduce your heat loss by as much as 25 percent.

The US Department of Energy recommends that curtains or drapes be sealed at both sides of the window and overlapped in the middle. Another trick is to double up or layer two different curtains on each window. Make sure the fabrics are complementary!

 

2. Open the drapes while the sun's out.

Does opening the curtains sound counter-intuitive? Not always! When the sun's shining, opening your window treatments allows heat to come into the room. Then, as sunlight fades (starting at around 3 p.m.), close the drapes to keep the warmth in and the cool air out.

Wall art pictured above: "So Very Thankful, Grateful, Blessed" Premium Canvas

 

3. Layer on stylish rugs.

One rug is warm, two rugs is toasty! You can add warmth to any particular floor space in your house just by layering two or more rugs. Start with a larger area rug, then accentuate with a smaller one on top of it, in a complementing color or print. Textures matter, too: fluffy or shaggy materials are best piled on top of flat, close-cropped ones.

 

4. And layer your throws, too!

Employ that same layering trick to your cushions and coverlets. Microfiber fleece blankets are particularly great to layer because they're inexpensive and warm, and they come in endless designs. Top them off with piles of pillows that complete your interior style!

Above and below, check out our examples of throw pillows and blankets you can easily mix and match for extra coziness.

Blanket pictured above: Personalized "We Should Probably Cuddle" Premium Fleece Blanket

 

Pillow pictured above: "Family - Crazy, Loud, Whole Lot Of Love" Pillow

 

Pillow pictured above: Personalized Photo Pillow "Family... Love"

 

5. Seal off draft leaks.

Gaps under the door and on window frames allow warm air to escape and drafty air to come in. Take advantage of the many fixes to these gaps, such as window inserts and self-adhesive seal strips. Our favorite solution is a DIY draft excluder, which is basically a stuffed piece of fabric that you place along the gap (like a stopper). The nice example above was sewn by crafter Jamie of So Much Better With Age.

 

6. Tune up your furnace or boiler.

Has your boiler or furnace seen better days? Getting it serviced may seem like an additional expense, but in reality, ageing boilers can cost you more because they're less efficient -- they work harder to provide heat. Ideally, a boiler or furnace should get maintained every 12 months. At the very least, when you detect a malfunction or defect, have it repaired right away.

 

7. Rearrange your furniture.

It can be so tempting to place your favorite chair right next to the radiator, but this is not ideal for the rest of your space. Arrange your furniture so that nothing is blocking your radiator or air vent. You want to let the airflow free so that it can fill the room and the heat source doesn't have to work harder than it's supposed to.

If you feel like your radiator is an eyesore, read our creative blog post on how to conceal unsightly objects in the house.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "Couple's Names Joined By Love" Rustic Premium Canvas

 

8. Reverse your ceiling fan.

Here's a neat magic trick that can make your home cozier. Reversing the rotation of your ceiling fan pushes warm air down to you!

To understand the physics, all you need to remember is that warm air naturally rises to the ceiling, while cool air pools on the ground. Most overhead fans turn counter-clockwise by default, as this motion pulls cool air up from the ground during hot summer months. But in the winter, try setting your ceiling fan so that it turns clockwise. This rotation pulls warm air from ceiling level and pushes it down to human height.

How do you reverse your ceiling fan's direction? Simple: look for the direction switch on your fan's motor housing, and just flip it once.

 

9. Insulate your loft.

Did you know that up to a quarter of heat in your home could dissipate through the roof? Don't neglect the insulation in your loft, attic, or flat roof. If you think this is costly (if you hire professionals) or hassling (if you do it yourself), just note that loft insulation can be cost-effective because it can last decades and can save you in heating bills in the long run.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized Couple's Initials Premium Canvas Set

 

10. Mind the fireplace damper.

Just because you have a lovely working fireplace doesn't mean it guarantees warmth and coziness. You'll need to understand your fireplace damper, the manual mechanism that controls airflow through the chimney flue.

The damper needs to be open when you have a fire on, so that toxic smoke and soot can escape up the chimney. But don't forget to close the damper after the fire is extinguished. When your fireplace is not in use, leaving the damper open can easily allow chilly air in through the chimney, essentially turning your fireplace into a cooling hatch!

Make sure you know how to open or close your damper, and that it is not defective. Also double-check this device each time you start or extinguish the fire.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized Family Name "Home" Premium Panoramic Canvas

 

We hope these tips help you maintain a warm, cozy home without the high costs! If you have a winter house tip of your own, we'd love to hear it. Leave a comment!

For more of the wall art and home decor items featured here, browse GearDen.com -- you'll love our collections!