23 Brilliant Winter Tricks for Warming Your Home

Your house should be a refuge from frigid weather, not an extension of it. Luckily, raising the temperature in your home a little can be as easy as getting a new rug and some drapes.

1. USE A SCREEN

A red, wooden folding screen with intricate cut outs. / iStock

When people used to gather around their fireplaces at night for warmth and entertainment, they used large, decorative screens to keep as much warmth in the room as possible. The old trick will still work today—and will add some interesting decor to the room as well.

2. GET A SMART THERMOSTAT

A circular thermostat that's silver on the outside with an electronic screen that shows the number 76 on an orange background. / George Frey, Getty Images

While we're talking thermostats, if you have an old model, consider replacing it with a smart thermostat that learns and adjusts itself accordingly. It knows when you've been sleeping (or when you're out of the house), so it automatically turns the temp down. Smart thermostats also know when you're awake, and give you those extra degrees to make sure you stay toasty with zero effort on your part. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lowering the temps when you're not home can save you as much as 10 percent a year on your heating bill.

3. LET THE SUN IN

A woman in a white sweater with her back turned to us is opening heavy curtains, letting the sunlight stream in. / iStock

Pay attention to the way the sun hits certain rooms in your house. Take advantage of its natural warmth by keeping curtains and blinds open during the day to let some rays in.

4. TRIM YOUR TREES

Green ivy almost completely grown over a white-paned window. / iStock

The sun is a great resource for warming your house, sure—but it won't do much good if your windows are blocked by branches and shrubs. Before the cold weather hits, make sure to trim up plants and trees that may be preventing light from getting in.

5. PUT A BALLOON IN YOUR CHIMNEY

Logs burning in a fireplace with large flames licking off of them. / iStock

Not just any old balloon—a chimney balloon designed to block drafts when your flue or damper is broken or missing. You can't light a fire with it in, of course, but if you're not using your fireplace anyway, it's a good way to keep the cold air out.

6. SHRINK WRAP YOUR WINDOWS

Fingers pulling on a sheet of clear plastic wrap. / iStock

According to EnergyStar, adding a layer of clear plastic over your windows really does help better insulate your home during the colder months. The plastic is inexpensive and easy to install, so it's a good DIY project for even the most amateur home improvement enthusiast.

7. MAKE SURE YOUR CEILING FAN IS SPINNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Looking up at an older wooden ceiling fan with frosted glass sconces. / iStock

Your ceiling fan isn't just for cooling. During the colder months, switch the blades to a forward or clockwise rotation to pull the air up, then push the warm air down the sides of the room.

8. UNBLOCK YOUR HEAT REGISTERS

A white HVAC register set into a tan wall with neutral-colored carpet in the foreground. / iStock

If your couch or your bed is sitting on top of your heat register, the underside of your furniture is probably feeling the heat—but you aren't. Make sure you're not blocking any of that precious heat, rearranging your room layout if necessary (sorry, feng shui). While you're at it, clean those suckers out, too—a blocked register can cause problems with your HVAC system.

9. OPT FOR ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES

A white furnace that is unattached to anything, on a white background. / iStock

If your heating and cooling system is older, replace it with a more energy efficient option. It will cost you upfront, but your overall savings (more than $100 per year) and overall comfort will be worth it.

10. CHANGE YOUR FURNACE FILTER

A hand putting a new furnace filter into a furnace. / iStock

Your filter should be changed every three months at a minimum, but once a month is a better idea during peak times of the year. If your filter is dirty, your system works harder to keep you warm—or may not keep you warm at all.

11. QUIT USING YOUR ATTIC FOR STORAGE

An attic being framed and insulated, with tools splayed out across the floor. / iStock

If your attic floors are just wood (and thus a great place to stack boxes and holiday decorations), you're losing a lot of heat. Pulling up the wood and covering the floor in another layer of material, like blanket insulation, can take as much as 50 percent off your heating bill.

12. OPEN THE BATHROOM DOOR WHEN YOU SHOWER

A clear shower door open to show the tiled wall inside. A white bathtub is off to the left. / iStock

Though it's tempting to keep all of the warmth in the bathroom for when you get out, letting the steam out will help raise the humidity and the temperature in the rest of your dwelling.

13. ONE WORD: RUGS

A white sheepskin rug on a rustic wooden floor. / iStock

The same theory about bare wood floors in the attic applies to the rest of your place. We don't suggest you lay insulation down in the living room, but adding a few rugs will help absorb the cold coming through the floor. Put a pad under the rug for added oomph.

14. ADJUST DOOR THRESHOLDS

A welcome mat with a gold door threshold behind it. / iStock

If you can see light under the bottom of your front door, cold air is definitely getting through. Many times, you can raise the height of your threshold by turning the screws. Otherwise, invest in a new threshold—or at the very least, get a draft stopper.

15. SEAL DUCTWORK

A shiny silver piece of ductwork. / iStock

Making sure your ducts are properly sealed and insulated can make your heating system 20 percent more efficient. Properly sealed ducts will also help keep your house cooler in the warmer months, so you'll still be appreciating your efforts come July.

16. DO A HOME ENERGY AUDIT

A person holding a pencil over a piece of paper with a book open in the background. / iStock

You can have the most efficient furnace in the world, but it won't be able to keep up if your home is full of air leaks. The Department of Energy has a list of places and items you should check for leaks, including some easy fixes. You can also hire a professional to conduct the audit.

17. GO GREEN

Closeup of an indoor houseplant. / iStock

Get ready to work that green thumb! Adding a few key plants to the house will create more humidity, making your house feel warmer. English Ivy, rubber plants, and spider plants are all good choices for this purpose. Bonus: Keeping plants in your home will also help improve the air quality.

18. ADD DRAPES

Heavy turquoise drapes adorn the windows in a modern-looking living room with a low white couch and sunburst mirror. / iStock

Like a good rug, a thick pair of drapes will help block some of the cold air coming in from windows. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy says curtains can reduce your heat loss by up to 25 percent. Choose wisely; sheer or lacy options might look pretty, but they won't be very effective. Just make sure your new drapes don't block any HVAC vents!

19. CLOSE DOORS TO RARELY-USED ROOMS

Heavy wooden doors locked in the middle with a padlock. / iStock

Why waste energy on rooms you don't use? Keep the heat concentrated in the areas you do use by closing the door to that guest room that never gets used or the bathroom down in the basement you haven't set foot in for weeks.

20. THWART AIR LEAKS AROUND OUTLETS

A white outlet with a cord plugged into it on a lime green wall. / iStock

The electrical boxes behind outlets are known for being drafty because they're rarely sealed well. Popular Mechanics recommends removing the cover, then filling the gaps around the boxes with acrylic latex caulk (larger gaps may require foam sealant). Top all of that with a foam gasket, then replace the cover plate.

21. LIGHT SOME CANDLES

A candle in a white candle holder sitting on top of a rustic wood table. A knit blanket and an open book lie nearby. / iStock

It sounds a little facetious, but candles put off a decent amount of heat in a smaller space. Get even more heat by making this mini space heater out of terracotta pots.

22. PLUG ANY HOLES THAT GO OUTSIDE

A hand is holding electrical work that has been pulled through a cement wall. / iStock

Think dryer vents, electrical work, oven vents—any hole that leads to the exterior of your house should be sealed well with caulking. If they're not, you're probably losing heat.

23. SNUGGLE YOUR PETS

Three dog noses stick out from a gap in a colorful knit blanket. / iStock

OK, this one won't keep your house any hotter, but it will warm your lap and your heart. Win-win.

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