Winter is here and that often means frosty toes and cold noses when we’re out and about enjoying life, but when you start feeling just as cold indoors, then you have a problem! Your home should be a cozy place where you can hunker down, so if you’re feeling the chill inside, there are a few things you should probably do at home this winter…
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Hunt Down Drafts Like They’re Your Worst Enemy
Okay, so if you’re feeling the chill at home, chances are your house has a draft or three. If you want to be toasty warm when you’re relaxing, you’ll want to do your best to hunt them down and seal them up.
Obviously, doors and windows are the usual culprits for drafts, so visit each one, and either light a candle or a stick of incense, and place it in front of your doors and windows, if the candle flickers or the smoke dances, it’s a sign you have an air leak. You can then use weatherstripping, caulking or a draft excluder to seal the gaps and get warm again.
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Channel Your Inner Squirrel (Yes, I’m Talking About Insulation)
Squirrels have it figured out. They’re over there, fluffing up their nests with leaves and twigs while you’re trying to remember if you’re supposed to “set the thermostat to auto or on?” It’s time to be more like the squirrels.
Check your attic and crawlspaces for proper insulation. If it’s thin, sad, or non-existent, that’s your problem right there. Insulation is like putting a big puffy jacket on your house, except your house doesn’t complain that it’s “too itchy” or “doesn’t like this color.” A little extra insulation can reduce your heating bills and keep the chill outside where it belongs.
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Seal It, Don’t Feel It (Draft-Proofing Windows & Doors)
Did you know that the edges of your doors and windows are like tiny portals to the Ice Age? If you’re tired of feeling like Jack from Titanic every time you sit by the window, you’ve got to seal that up. Weatherstripping, caulking, and shrink film window kits are your best friends at home this winter.
Don’t underestimate the power of these tools. Apply weatherstripping to your doors, seal up cracks with caulk, and slap on a window insulation film kit. Sure, you’ll feel like you’re shrink-wrapping your house like it’s leftover pizza, but you’ll be amazed how much warmer things get.
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Let the Sunshine Do the Heavy Lifting
Here’s a hot (pun intended) tip: Open your curtains during the day and let the sun’s natural warmth flood in. It’s free heat, and unlike your electric bill, the sun’s not going to judge you for how much you use it.
At night, be sure to close those curtains to trap in the day’s warmth. Heavy, thermal-insulated curtains work wonders. Think of it like tucking your house in for bed—adorable, right?
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Layer Up, But for Your House
You’ve heard the “put on another sweater” mantra, but what about putting a sweater on your floors? Rugs and carpets are winter essentials. If you’re walking barefoot on hardwood in December, you’re doing it wrong. Get some plush, cozy rugs and turn your house into a soft, foot-friendly haven. Your feet will thank you, and it’ll feel like you’re living in a luxury hotel. (Okay, maybe a hotel run by cats, but still.)
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Call in the Pros (Yes, It’s Time to Talk Furnace Repair)
Alright, you’ve done all the DIY heroics you can. If your house still feels like a walk-in freezer, it’s time to face the music: your furnace might be broken. Before you start Googling “How to fix a furnace using only duct tape and spite,” just call a professional.
Furnace repair from your local HVAC services company may not be glamorous, but it’s a lot better than living in an arctic survival simulation. Pro tip: Call them before your furnace is fully dead. Preventative maintenance is cheaper than emergency service calls at 3 a.m. when you’re breathing visible puffs of air inside at your home this winter.
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Make Your Own Heat (No, Not Like That, Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter)
Heat yourself up the old-fashioned way: get moving. Start a dance party, chase your dog around, or practice your “uncoordinated-but-enthusiastic” Zumba moves. Motion equals warmth. Sure, you’ll look ridiculous, but who’s watching? Your cat? Your cat’s judging you no matter what you do.
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Use Your Oven For More Than Frozen Pizza
If you’re baking cookies, brownies, or a seven-layer lasagna, you’re not just making dinner—you’re heating your home. Once you’re done cooking, leave the oven door cracked open (AFTER it’s off) to let the residual heat warm up your kitchen. Pro tip: This only works if you’re responsible enough to turn the oven off. If not, maybe stick to sealing drafts.
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Humidity is Your Friend (For Once)
Dry winter air makes everything feel colder, and it’s responsible for 90% of your “shocking” encounters with door handles. Humid air feels warmer, so grab a humidifier and let it do its thing. Bonus: Your skin won’t feel like ancient parchment paper.
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Blanket Forts: Not Just for Kids
Hear me out: Why are blanket forts exclusively for children? Reclaim the magic. Grab every pillow, blanket, and comforter in your house and create an adult-sized fortress of warmth. Bonus points if you string up some fairy lights for “vibes.” Spend an evening watching movies from your fort and feel like a kid again—a much warmer kid, at that.
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Channel Your Inner Caveman (Fire = Warmth)
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, use it. There’s something primal and satisfying about warming yourself by an open fire while the wind howls outside. No fireplace? No problem. You can buy an electric space heater that’s just as warm but without the whole “is my chimney clean enough?” anxiety.
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Invent the “Winter Olympics: Home Edition”
If it’s chilly at home, you might as well make it a sporting event. The “Winter Olympics: Home Edition” is your chance to reclaim glory without stepping outside. Slide around your hardwood floors in socks and call it “indoor curling” (just be prepared to explain the crash to your landlord). Turn sweeping the kitchen into a competitive event—speed, technique, and flair all count for points.
Got stairs? Congratulations, you’ve just unlocked the “Blanket Tobogganing” category (helmets are optional, but strongly encouraged). For the grand finale, attempt to put on as many layers of clothing as possible in under one minute. Medal winners receive hot cocoa and the right to demand applause from anyone within earshot.
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Turn Chores Into Survival Training
What’s the difference between “cleaning your house” and “survival training”? Absolutely nothing if you market it correctly. Suddenly, mopping the floors becomes a “rainy tundra endurance trek.” Washing dishes? A “frozen waterfall reclamation mission.” Want to feel heroic while doing laundry? Pretend you’re “curing pelts for winter clothing.”
This mental rebranding turns boring housework into a life-or-death saga that’s way more satisfying—and it’s also a great way to trick your housemates into doing their share. Just tell them, “If we don’t get these towels folded, we may not survive the night.”
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Master the Art of “Microclimate Management”
Forget whole-house heating. You’re a microclimate manager now. Your goal? Create a personal “zone of warmth” around your body like you’re the sun’s chosen one. This might mean strategic placement of space heaters, wearing an electric blanket like a royal cloak, or engineering a “nest” on your couch with blankets, pillows, and possibly a fortress wall made of books.
Upgrade your strategy by making heat “traps” (like covering vents with foil to direct airflow toward your lair) or designating one “super warm” room in the house where everyone retreats, like penguins huddling for survival. Bonus points if you create signs that say “Welcome to the Warm Zone. Entry Fee: Snacks.”
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Create the “Chill Cinema Experience” (For Better or Worse)
Movie theaters are cold on purpose, so if your house is already freezing, you’re halfway there. At home this winter, Turn it into an authentic “chill cinema experience” by mimicking the full theater vibe. Get some popcorn, dim the lights, and complain loudly about people talking during the film (even if you’re the only one there). For extra authenticity, place your coldest, draftiest chair directly in front of the “screen” (your TV) to give yourself that “just-like-the-multiplex” chill. If you’re feeling wild, charge yourself $20 for snacks to really drive home the experience.
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Make “Warmth Quests” Your New Adventure Game
Gamify the whole “staying warm” experience by turning it into a series of “quests” with clear objectives and rewards at home this winter.
- Task 1: “Locate the Legendary Fleece of Coziness” (find your fluffiest blanket).
- Task 2: “Forge the Hot Beverage of Destiny” (make tea, coffee, or hot chocolate—extra points for latte art).
- Task 3: “The Great Sock Hunt” (locate and match every orphaned sock in the house). Complete all quests to unlock the “Warmth Warrior” title.
Bonus points if you narrate your progress like a fantasy RPG: “The Hero has discovered the elusive fleece, and now embarks on the perilous journey toward the boiling cauldron of the kitchen. Will they succeed, or will the stove’s pilot light betray them?”
Be smarter than winter!
