Winter can be a wonderful and magical time for your family, but let’s face it, the cold can put a damper on anyone’s spirits.
Apart from getting the shivers throughout the day, the cold months can also make us susceptible to colds and flu as a study shows that the influenza virus is more likely to be transmitted during winter than any other season. This is why it is important to keep ourselves healthy and maintain the warmth of our home during the winter months, and one way to do it is to make our homes warm. Heating a home can be quite costly as last year, it was projected that those who used heating oil to warm their home will spend an average of $378 more than the previous year. However, there are other cost-effective ways to make your home warm and cozy. By following these tips, you can enjoy having a warm and inviting home all winter long.
Install a bio-ethanol fireplace in the living room
If you don’t have a traditional fireplace in your home, don’t fret. You can still enjoy the relaxing warmth of fire by installing an indoor bio-ethanol fireplace in your living room. This type of fireplace doesn’t require a chimney as you don’t need wood to feed the flames. All you need is some bio-ethanol fuel, which is a safer alternative to firewood as it gives off warmth without smoke, soot, or harsh odors. Moreover, it’s a stylish way to upgrade your space as the ethanol fireplace can serve as the focal point of your living room.
Change the direction of your ceiling fans
A practical way to make your home warm during the winter is to reverse your ceiling fans. Doing so will cause the fan blades to push the hot air downwards and out towards the walls to keep a room warm. To know if you’ve reversed your fan, check to see if the fan blades are moving clockwise.
Bring out the thick rugs, throw blankets, and soft pillows
Now is the perfect time to bring out your thick rugs, your softest pillows, and your warmest throw blankets. Choose plain or patterned area rugs for your living room, dining room, and bedroom. Make sure that there are a few throw blankets on your couch, in your home office, and a playroom for added warmth. Pillows of all shapes and sizes can also make a room cozier in an instant.
Block out drafts
Cold air can leak through windows and doors, so see if you need to make any fixes to stop the cold air from blowing in. For the gaps under the doors and windows, you can use old towels or mats to block out drafts. You can also make a DIY draft stopper by sewing a length of fabric into a tube, filling it with rags, then sewing it shut.
Use the oven to warm your kitchen
After using your oven to cook your dinner, don’t waste that heat by closing the oven doors. Leave them open to let the heat wash over your kitchen and keep the space warm while you eat. Just remember to keep little ones away from the oven while the doors are open.
Having a warm home can help to keep your family healthy this winter. Follow these tips to make your home warm, cozy, and inviting without spending a fortune.