You don’t need to turn up the thermostat to stay warm. Use these tried and true, old fashioned ways to keep your body warm without having to touch the thermostat.
Seal drafts in doors and windows. This helps keep cold air from coming in. You can simply use a beach towel but you can also make a “snake” by filling a stocking with rice or bean bag filling.
Lay rugs on the floor. If you have solid flooring like wood or tile, using area rugs or throw rugs can definitely help to warm up the space. Your feet will feel warmer and visually it makes the room feel cozier.
Keep your bed warm with an electric blanket or hot water bottle. In the old days, a metal container filled with embers would’ve been placed under the sheets to warm up the bed. Nowadays there are all manner of electric blankets and even electric mattress pads that are easy to use.
Hang heavier drapes and keep them closed at night. In the olden days, it was common to hang much heavier velvet drapes over windows in the winter. You can switch out your current drapery or use a double drapery rod that allows you to hang two sets of drapes. Keep them closed at night and also during the day if you aren’t at home. This will be especially helpful if your home has older window panes.
Close doors between rooms. If you are able to close off individual rooms, you can help keep warm air in and prevent drafts. This is especially helpful at night or when you aren’t using those rooms.
Drink warm liquids. This may sound like a no-brainer but sipping warm liquids does make you feel warmer. But this doesn’t mean you need to load up on caffeine or sugary cocoa. A mug of herbal tea or simply warm water, lemon and honey are perfect companions on cold nights.
Use your fireplace. Again, this is an old-time trick for warming our bodies but you’ll want to enclose the room with the fireplace. Fires need oxygen to stay lit and often when the fireplace is lit, we feel a draft coming into that room. So a cozy fireplace will feel even warmer if you can close off some doors.
