Winter months are coming. Aside from preparing for the holidays, you must also prepare your home for the colder weather ahead. The holidays are sweeter and more enjoyable if your home is warm and cozy.
If you are worried about your electricity bill sky-rocketing because of your heating, read on. There are ways to help keep your heating bill at a minimum while your home stays comfortably warm. From keeping your heating system and furnace regularly maintained to using rugs, here are some cost-efficient ways to cozy up your space for the holidays:
- Regularly maintain your heating system.
A regularly maintained heating system and furnace will help ensure that you have energy-efficient heating. When your system is adequately maintained, parts and components are well-lubricated and working correctly. This means that they require lesser energy to keep your home warm. Your maintenance person will also ensure that your ducts, filters, and vents are clean so your heating will not overwork itself pushing warm air through a clogged and dirty airway.
Regular maintenance will also help you have peace of mind that your furnace is not likely to break down in the middle of a cold night. You do not want to go through a chilly winter night when your heating suddenly goes down.
- Use thicker curtains and draperies.
Switch your light and flimsy curtains and draperies for thicker ones. Thicker curtains help your windows keep the warmed air inside your home and keeps them from escaping. Thick curtains and draperies help as an extra layer that prevents heat loss. If you don’t want to spend on expensive curtains, you can use two single-layer curtains. Another option is to line your curtains with fleece.
Aside from window curtains, door curtains also help keep warmed air from escaping. It will be more effective if you put it up in a way that will cover gaps where heat can escape. It is especially important to hang one in your main door where cold air can also come inside through gaps.
- Take advantage of sunlight.
The heat that comes from the sun is free, so take advantage of it. Open the curtains during the daytime and let sunlight into your home, especially for windows that face the East. Close the curtains when the sun starts to set to let your home retain the heat.
- Use rugs.
Cold hard floors can add to the winter chill. Putting rugs and carpets on your floors is another inexpensive way to help keep your home warmer. Your feet will certainly feel warmer with them on the floor than stepping directly on floor tiles or wood. You can use rugs in the living room and bedrooms. Some even put mats on the kitchen floors. Just ensure to vacuum your rugs and carpets at least once a week to keep it clean and to prevent the accumulation of dust and allergens.
To keep it stylish and cozier, layer several rugs. It will keep your feet feel significantly warmer while making your room look more chic and unique. The denser your carpets, the more effective they will be at keeping your home comfortable.
- Hang decorative tapestries.
Beautiful and colorful tapestries can be the focal point in your living room. Aside from making your home’s aesthetics a notch higher, it can also keep your home warm. Cold walls can make you lose warmed air through conduction. If you have wall insulation, then good for you. But if not, the next best thing is to hang tapestries that can make your cold walls warmer.
- Create a cozy den.
Snuggling and making a burrito out of yourself during winter months while enjoying a holiday movie is relaxing. Create a warm and comfortable corner in your home where you can snuggle up, drink hot chocolate, and read a good book. It can be your sofa or a reading chair. Pile on the pillows and add on some throws. Add some blankets for some boho-chic appeal that you can use to wrap yourself with. Use throws and blankets with different colors and patterns to make it look casual yet chic.
- Turn your fan into winter mode.
Fans have a mechanism to switch to winter mode. In winter mode, the blades of the fan run in the opposite direction. When the fan spins in a clockwise direction, it pushes the warm air from near the ceiling downwards. Avoid running your fan at its highest speed. Run it at its lowest speed to avoid creating a draft in your room.
- Close unused rooms.
You can close unoccupied and unused rooms to keep the warmed air within the area. This will also prevent the cold air from these rooms circulating throughout the house.
Keeping your home warm and cozy this holiday season is essential, not just for your comfort but your health as well. Keep your home warm in the most cost-effective ways possible to lessen your heating bills and expenses.
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