As winter approaches, it’s time to make sure you’re prepared to spend more time inside. And for those occasional snowstorms, you’re also going to want to make sure you can stay warm in the winter while you camp out from inside your house.
There are many different ways to keep yourself and your family warm as the temperatures drop. But it’s hard to tell which ones are the most effective and long-lasting.
If you are frequently waking up cold or spending your days shivering by the fire, it’s time to change your habits.
This guide will give you all the best tips for this season if you’re looking to stay warm (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?).
Warm Your Body
The first step to keeping warm in the winter is to make sure your body and core are warm. Invest in jackets, hats, gloves, scarves, and socks.
The best materials for clothing in the winter include wool and flannel, as well as down fabric for winter coats especially.
Double-check your winter clothes for holes and wear them because these can affect how warm you will stay. Taking care to adequately cover your fingers, toes, and head while outside is especially important in frigid climates to avoid frostbite.
Using warm layers can also help you stay warm inside and reduce heating costs. So when you’re tempted to turn up the thermostat, try adding a fleece first and save yourself some money.
Flannel Sheets
Another heating tip to reduce the cost of heating your house at night is to switch all your bedsheets to flannel. It will keep you warm while you sleep, so you won’t have to worry about heating every bedroom in the house.
Plus, your quality of sleep can improve when you sleep in a cool room as opposed to a warm one.
Bake
Winter is a great time for cozying up on the couch with some soup or freshly baked bread. If you love to cook or bake, take advantage of your passion in the winter.
Bustling around the kitchen will keep your body moving and your blood circulating. Plus, having the oven or stove on will produce its own heat that will warm up the kitchen real quickly.
A pro tip: after you’ve turned off the oven, leave the oven door open a few inches to let the residual heat flow into the kitchen.
Stay Active
The suggestion of doing jumping jacks when you’re cold is, in fact, not a ridiculous one. Moving your body can help warm up your extremities and your core by getting your heart rate up.
You can try bundling up and going for a walk or a run outside. Snowshoeing is also a great winter activity that will make you focus more on your coordination rather than the cold.
Or if you’re more of a thrill-seeker, plan a day to head up to the mountains to go skiing or snowboarding.
You can even follow a workout video at home, or start to build a special workout space in your house where you can go to sweat it out and produce your own heat. If you start to work up enough of a sweat, you might even shed a layer or two.
Space Heaters and Hand Warmers
Since heating bills can get expensive during the colder months, another way to save some money is by using more direct sources of heat.
If you don’t have a fireplace or woodstove, investing in a space heater can warm you up while sitting on the couch or working at your desk. Electric blankets and heating pads can be layered right over your clothes to keep you warm, as well.
And if you do venture outside, stick some hand warmers in your pockets and foot warmers in your shoes.
Warmer Curtains
The light and flowy curtains you used on your windows during the summer are not going to make the cut once the temperatures drop.
Buy some new curtains that are heavy or insulated. If you can’t afford insulated curtains, the weight will help to reduce heat loss from windows and doors.
Opting for darker-colored curtains can also attract the sun more and help warm up your home that extra bit.
Fix Gaps and Drafts
If there are tiny gaps in the sides of your windows and doors, try to repair them before winter comes.
You can caulk drafts at the sides of windows and walls. There are also some inventive DIY fixes for door drafts that include using blankets and even pool noodles to insulate from cold weather drafts.
Check the Heating System
Before winter sets in, have your home heating system checked to make sure it’s functioning properly. If there are any issues, your gas bill could be astronomically more than you’re expecting, and your house will still feel cold.
In the case that you need a new heating system, find a quality service that can do installations. Especially as the temperature drops, you don’t want to take any risks with not having proper heat in your home.
Staying Warm in the Winter
Plan on staying warm in the winter with the right precautions. The colder season can be miserable if you don’t have a plan in place, and it can also affect your family if not everyone is equipped to live with the colder temperatures.
More home and lifestyle tips are right around the corner, sitting next to the fire, and waiting for you to discover them. Head to our page to check it out.
