There is something magical about the colder months. Wearing cozy clothes, drinking hot lattes, snuggling under blankets, and watching the snow fall outside your windows… Alright, maybe I just feel this way because I love winter and colder weather—a true New Englander! But I’ll admit that there are definitely some less-than-ideal things about the winter months, especially when it comes to your home. Winter also brings drafty windows, dry air, the chill of cold sheets when you first get into bed, and everyone’s least favorite: the insanely high utility bill from cranking up the thermostat to make your house warmer. Especially as energy prices continue to climb, checking your utility bill in the winter can feel like a jumpscare.
So, if you’re tired of spending a small fortune on gas or electricity to keep your house warm, there are a few easy steps you can take—without resorting to shivering through the winter. Here are 14 easy hacks to make your house feel warmer and reduce your utility bills this winter.
1. Replace your air filter
If your home uses a furnace for heat, don’t forget to check your air filter regularly this winter. The filter helps capture dust and debris from the air, which builds up over time and can eventually block airflow, reducing the efficiency of your furnace. To ensure warm air can circulate freely, replace dirty or clogged filters ASAP. It’s generally recommended to replace your furnace filter every couple of months, but check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure. Then set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget!
2. Rearrange your furniture
Switching up your furniture layout is an easy way to give a room a fresh look, but it can also help with warmth in the winter. Windows and exterior walls are colder than interior ones, so you may want to move your furniture away from these areas. Pull seating and beds in toward the center of the room or move them to an interior wall so you’re not sitting or sleeping in the coldest spot in the room.
3. Add rugs throughout the house
Rugs are great for adding personality and color to your space, but on top of their aesthetic appeal, they can also make your house warmer. Thanks to their plush material, rugs act as insulation, keeping the heat from slipping through the floor and blocking cooler air from sneaking in around doors. Plus, they feel much warmer on your feet than hard-surface flooring like tile or hardwood. For an extra boost of warmth, use dark-colored rugs in areas where sunlight hits. The dark color will absorb more heat from the sun and release it slowly into the room.
4. Block drafts as much as possible
Got a window that doesn’t quite seal properly? Keep cold breezes out by using draft guards on your windows or under doors. You can even add insulating film across your windows to further prevent heat from escaping through the glass. And, of course, don’t leave exterior doors open any longer than they need to be (that includes your garage door!).
5. Ensure vents aren’t blocked
If your vents are obstructed by furniture, rugs, or even a stack of Amazon boxes (guilty…), it will be much harder to keep your home warm. Uninterrupted airflow is essential for your HVAC system to work efficiently. Check that all vents are open and clear of any blockages or debris in the rooms you’re trying to heat.
6. Switch the direction of your ceiling fan
When I moved into an apartment with ceiling fans, I was ecstatic, mainly for the cooling benefits during the warmer months. But then a friend taught me about using ceiling fans to make your house warmer in the winter. I thought she was crazy—who wants to use a fan in the winter!? However, since heat rises, your ceiling fan can actually make a big difference. If you reverse the direction of your ceiling fan from counterclockwise to clockwise, it will pull the cool air up, which will then force the warmer air back down into the room. To avoid a cooling effect, keep the fan on low speed.
7. Warm up your bedding
The seasonal bedding swap is a ritual I will always adore. Switch out your summer sheets for a flannel or brushed cotton sheet set. For even more warmth, layer an electric blanket under your duvet and turn it on a few minutes before you’re ready to get into bed. By the time you’re done with your nightly routine, your bed will be nice and toasty.
8. Add a space heater
If one room in your home feels especially chilly during the colder months, a space heater can be a game-changer. I always keep one in my bedroom once December arrives, and it makes winter so much more bearable. By using a space heater to warm up the room you’re currently in, you’ll avoid wasting energy by heating up the whole house.
9. Use your oven often
During the winter months, it’s only natural to crave warm, cozy meals, so you’re likely using your oven more often anyway. When you’re done cooking, turn off the oven but don’t let that heat go to waste. Open the oven door, even just a crack, to let that leftover heat warm up your kitchen.
10. Increase humidity around the house
Extra humidity isn’t just good for dry winter skin. Because humid air holds heat more efficiently than dry air, it can also make your space feel warmer. Some simple ways to boost moisture include boiling water on the stove, putting a container filled with water on top of your radiators, not using the bathroom fan after a shower, or even purchasing a humidifier.
11. Be strategic with sunshine
Sunlight carries a lot of heat, and using it to your advantage can make your house feel warmer in the winter. When the sun is shining during the day, open your curtains and blinds around the house to let the warmth in. As the sun goes down, close them again to keep that warmth in and the cold out. This will also ensure your home is nice and bright during the day, which can help boost your mood during the gloomy winter months.
12. Hang blackout curtains
For an added layer of insulation on your windows, put up blackout curtains. In addition to blocking light and providing privacy, they can also help conserve heat. The added layer of insulation will reduce heat transfer, which means the heat from your furnace will stay inside your house instead of leaking out the windows.
13. Keep interior doors open
You might be in the habit of always closing the door behind you when you leave a room, but this actually makes it harder for your HVAC system to do its job. Keeping interior doors open allows air to flow freely, helping to distribute heat more evenly and preventing drafty spots. Before cranking up the thermostat, make sure the doors between rooms are open to optimize airflow.
14. Treat yourself to a cozy pair of slippers
There’s nothing worse than walking on cold floors. In my apartment, the bedrooms and living room are carpeted, but the bathrooms and kitchen aren’t. So if I’m not wearing slippers when I venture out of bed in the mornings to make coffee, my groggy walk to the kitchen feels like walking on an iceberg. Wearing a cozy pair of slippers around the house can save your feet from freezing and help preserve your body heat.
Emily Wise, Contributing Writer
Emily Wise is a Virginia-based content creator with over five years of experience creating content strategies for SaaS companies. Although she spends her days in the tech world, she has spent many years as a lifestyle writer for her personal site, as well as for several publications across the web.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
