Winterizing your home can be a real challenge if you live in an old, drafty house or apartment. It can also be expensive. Luckily, we’ve found some low-tech and low-cost ways to make your home feel cozier (and possibly lower your energy bill) during the cold winter months. From drafty windows to gaps under the doors, taking care of these problem areas will take the chill out of your living space.
How to Make a Drafty House Feel Cozier
Apply bubble wrap to old windows to help insulate them. The bigger the bubbles in the bubble wrap, the better.
via Blommi
Make your own draft stoppers to put at the bottoms of your doors. You’ll be surprised at how much cold air comes through even tiny cracks under the doors! Put them at the bottoms of your windows, too.
via Mama of 3 Munchkins
But if sewing isn’t your thing, you can buy draft dodgers like these at reasonable prices in most mass retail stores beginning in the fall.
Or use a pool noodle to make a few draft stoppers. It’s not like you’ll be using them in the pool this winter, anyway.
via Tip Hero
Wool blankets over the windows can make a world of difference in the temperature of your house. And you can make them look pretty if you make them look like window shades like the picture below.
via Remodelista
According to This Old House, thin plastic film (like this one) can help a room retain up to 55 percent of its heat. Luckily, it’s inexpensive and easy to apply using some double-sided tape and your trusty hair dryer.
via This Old House
Now if you’re frugal with both your time and your money, you’ll love this idea. Attach magnetic tape to plastic sheets, and paint your window trim with magnetic paint. You’ll then be able to reuse your plastic window sheets every year, making it much more cost effective.
via Everyday Crafty Goodness
Cheap shower curtains are an option if you’re on a super tight budget but you still want something that you can reuse next year. Just use thumb tacks to pin them up.
via Pinterest
Sometimes, air leaks are difficult to detect, especially around outlets and light switches. Carry around some burning incense to figure out which ones are drafty. Then it’s as easy as putting some socket sealers behind them to stop the leaks.
via Family Handyman
No extra money to replace basement windows? Bat insulation and Styrofoam boards can keep a lot of the cold air out.
via Blessed Beyond Crazy
It’s not just the exterior doors that you have to worry about. Basements and attics are notorious for heat gain and heat loss, so make sure any gaps under the door leading to your basement or attic are sealed with weather stripping or a door sweep.
via DIY Network
Here’s an easy-to-implement tip: Stuff plastic in the gaps around your windows. All you need is plastic wrap and a putty knife!
via The Snug
Frigid floors can be a real problem during the winter months. Put down a rug (or several) to keep toes toasty. Layering rugs is an even better idea, and if you use coordinating colors and patterns, it can look really chic.
via About.com Small Spaces
Don’t forget to close off unused fireplaces. While you can pay for fireplace screens to keep the cold out, you can easily make your own fireplace screen from an old window or other materials around the house.
via Indulgy
But if you prefer the aesthetics of your fireplace as is, cut a piece of foam board to insert at the top of the fireplace instead. You’ll never see it! Just remember to remove it before lighting any fires!
via Adventures in DIY
Use bungee cords to hang thermal drapes behind the prettier curtains over your sliding glass doors. This keeps the cold air out without ruining the look of your room.
via Pinterest
For more tips on dealing with Old Man Winter, check out 13 Car Hacks to Get You Through Winter and How to Stay Warm in Snowy Weather.
