Winter is almost here, and it’s time to start getting your home ready for the cold weather season. But before you turn on your heater, take a moment to consider all of the ways you can warm up your home without wasting energy—and driving up your utility bills. To help, we rounded up a handful of simple things you can do to keep your place toasty this season—without running your heating system non-stop.
Image by @janette via @barnandwillow
1. Hang blackout lined window treatments
Heavier than our privacy lining, blackout lining is designed to insulate your windows and keep cold air out. That’s why adding blackout lining to your Barn & Willow curtains or shades will help hold onto the warm air your heater worked hard to create—and keep your place cozy throughout the cold weather season.
2. Lay down some rugs
A few plush rugs can go a long way when trying to warm up your home. Use rugs and other textiles to cover any cold, non-carpeted floors you have at home and simultaneously soften up your space for the winter season.
3. Seal windows and doors
Nothing chills a warm home faster than a cold draft making its way inside. Whether with weather-resistant tape or a good old-fashioned door sweep, take care to seal any cracks or gaps in your windows and doors before the cold weather arrives to keep cool air out and reduce wasteful warm air leakage.
4. Rearrange your furniture
Your furniture layout can make or break the warm air flow in your home. Go through every room of your home to make sure that none of your warm-air registers—including vents, baseboard heaters and radiators—are blocked by furnishings and then rearrange your space around the heating vents if necessary.
5. Open your shades
When all else fails you can always count on sunlight to warm up your home. Open the drapes and shades on your south-facing windows to let natural sunlight into your home during the day. Just remember to close them at night to retain the heat.
