You can tell when a house is warm and comfortable when you walk through the door. You feel relieved, as if you’ve just exhaled a breath; you weren’t even aware you were holding.
When it’s hot outside, you want your house to be light and airy with no extra layers to trap moisture or keep the heat in. However, once the weather turns chilly, you’ll want to put those layers back on to keep the house warm and inviting.
Fortunately, making your space cozy and warm for the winter doesn’t take much. Minor adjustments like placing slippers by the front door or switching to soft lighting can transform your house into a cozy winter retreat. Here are seven simple ideas to make your home warm and comfortable.
7 Ideas To Make Your House Warm And Comfortable
Temperature Control
The primary key to maintaining a comfortable temperature is having several components in the home that all contribute to a secure building envelope.
Making sure your crawlspace is at an acceptable temperature and keeps humidity out is critical for keeping your home at a stable temperature and lowering your heating bill.
You can use your existing HVAC unit for this, but make sure it is powerful enough to handle the job of another room.
Soft Lighting
As the nights grow longer and darker, your bed might tempt you before it’s time to relax. You can thwart that inclination and maintain regular sleep with soft lighting. Install warm-toned LED lights in table lamps to create a cozy candle-lit glow that isn’t too harsh but will keep you awake.
Close Vents
Seal any openings from the crawlspace to the outside and close all your vents. Doing this can prevent any heat from escaping and any cold air from leaking in.
Even though you might be eager to curl up at home and watch the leaves fall, your house must be set up to keep you warm all year.
Warm Up Your Kitchen
The kitchen is frequently the focal point of the home. Fresh flowers on the table, a comfortable place to sit, vibrant tea towels, and tiny speakers to stream music will make yours more inviting for both cooks and visitors.
Add Warmth Underfoot
When the weather is warm, sisal and flat-weave rugs are fantastic, but in the winter, you want a little pile. If you don’t have the money for a sizable area rug, think about layering smaller rugs in critical areas, such as next to the bed, underneath the coffee table, or in front of your favorite reading chair.
Insulate
Insulating your crawlspace is one of the most crucial things you can do to ensure heat isn’t escaping through it. You can choose to heat your crawlspace with the rest of the house or designate it as a “cold zone,” but there must be a wall or other obstruction between your home and the outside environment.
Installing a suitable ventilation system and insulating it beneath your floors will help keep the cold air in your crawl space from escaping. Ensure to protect the access door when insulating the area around the crawlspace to prevent cool air from seeping in.
Liquid Drainage
Snowfall occurs as winter weather approaches.
The amount of water can become a problem for your home as the snow melts. Check that your home’s exterior is waterproofed, and that proper drainage is in place.