15 Ways to Make Your House Warmer Without Cringing at the Heating Bill

When I was in Southern California, I used to think that I’d love living in a four season location. And when I moved to one and experienced my first winter, I quickly realized that I liked it in doses.

But instead of complaining about the obvious cold now, I’ve come to the conclusion that winter just needs to be done right. If I’m gonna live in a place that has an actual cold season, then I need to adapt my mindset, habits, and lifestyle. And that means trying new (and fun) winter activities, making cozy recipes, and finding ways to make my living space more warm.

And if you’re looking for ways to stay cozy while reducing your heating bills too, then I’ve curated a few simple lifestyle changes and hacks you can try this year. Learning how to keep your house warm in the winter is actually pretty easy and kind of fun. You get to create warmer, comforting spaces while having a more energy-efficient home.

So try a few these strategies this month and enjoy the winter season a little bit more.

1. Curate Your Own Cozy Indoor Uniforms

There are so many ways to make the house warmer in the winter, but a great place to start is with what you’re wearing. So instead of turning up the heat, have your own set of cozy indoor uniforms.

This could be a cute housecoat and cashmere socks (or wool slippers), knit wraps instead of thin throws, a cute knit set, and layered loungewear like a tank, sweater, and knit leggings.

Your core warmth matters so much more than ambient air temperature, so make sure you focus on this first.

2. Layer Warm Lighting in Rooms

While this strategy doesn’t help your home retain heat, it’s still a great way to reduce your heating bills. So instead of overhead and cool lights that make a room feel colder psychologically, opt for some warm lighting to create a perception of warmth.

Try layering your rooms with 2-3 different warm lamps. So think a table lamp, floor lamp, and an accent lamp. Then opt for 2700K bulbs and maybe even put your lamps on a timer so the house starts “glowing” automatically at dusk.

3. Use Heavier Curtains

Heavier curtains are definitely one of the best (and simplest) ways to make your house warmer. Modern windows leak cold air a lot more than people realize, so hang up thick curtains around high-impact spots.

These can be places like behind your couch if it’s against a window or your bedroom windows (especially overnight). Also, you’ll wanna opt for fabrics like velvet, wool, or even insulated linen curtains, and hang them higher and wider than the window frame so they can seal better and even visually elevate your space.

Doing this really is a great way to kill drafts and stop thermal loss.

4. Use Rugs Throughout the House

Pretty sure nothing feels worse than getting out of a warm, cozy bed only for your feet to touch a cold wood surface. And if you’re curating your own list of tips on how to make your house warmer in the winter, then this should be on there.

Try covering as many surfaces as you can with rugs. So think layering with a thin flatweave and a plush rug on top, putting runners down long hallways and beside the bed, and even small accent rugs under desks.

It’s a great way to change your overall comfort perception and lower heating costs.

5. Hot Drinks as a Lifestyle

Warm drinks are such a great way to feel warmer throughout the day, but instead of just having a hot coffee, find ways to be more intentional with it.

So for instance, here are a few winter drink station tips:

• Your electric kettle is always filled.
• A tea tray with mugs, honey, and cinnamon sticks.
• Bone broth or miso packets nearby.
• Your French press is always ready to go.

You’ll naturally sip warmth throughout the day instead of only relying on heating.

6. Move Furniture Away from Exterior Windows and Walls

This might just be one of the quickest tips on maximizing your energy efficiency.

If you have couches, chairs, or frequently used tables that are right by your exterior windows and walls, then just take some time to move them back. These are the places where you’re gonna feel the cold a whole lot more.

7. Humidify Your Home

Dry air can actually make your home feel a lot colder, but humidity holds onto the heat more which makes it great for warming up the home.

So here are some low-effort tricks for raising the humidity in your space:

• Make a simmer pot with cinnamon sticks, citrus peels, cloves, or anything else that sounds nice to you.
• Leave your bathroom door open after hot showers.
• Air-dry laundry indoors whenever you can.
• Buy an oil humidifier so your home can smell good naturally.

8. Close or Open Interior Doors Based on Your Heating System

If you want to up your long-term savings over the course of the winter, then here’s a quick tip.

If you have an HVAC system, keep all doors in home open as often as possible; it helps your system work less hard. But if you have a wall mounted AC and heating unit, then always make sure to close doors to rooms you’re not using.

9. Dress Your Furniture Like It’s Winter Too

When it comes to learning how to keep heat in the house, this is one of my favorite tips I discovered myself.

Some furniture fabric types can be kind of cold, so throwing some sheepskins (personal favorite for feeling warmer) or knit throws on couches and chairs is such a good move. You can also add seat cushioning to dining room chairs or any other kind of seating.

Basically you’re warming the surfaces your body touches which will instantly change your thermal perception.

10. Cook Strategically (Your Oven + Stove Are Free Heat)

A quick way to have a heat gain in your home is to use your oven and stovetop intentionally in the evenings.

So think roasted veggies, long-simmering soups, bread baking, sheet-pan dinners, roasts, and anything else that’ll make your home feel (and smell) better.

Also, make sure to leave the oven door cracked slightly open after turning it off if there aren’t any kids or pets nearby.

11. Start a Soft Furnishings Rule

Textiles trap heat and absorb the cold air movement. Think of it as insulation disguised as decor. So this winter, put throws on every seating surface, add extra pillows, put up fabric wall hangings or tapestries, and upholster benches.

12. Create Warm Zones Instead of Heating the Whole House

If you can, create spaces where you generally hang out in that are warm and cozy.

So for instance, this could be a reading nook, a cozy sofa corner, or an evening lounge area. And once you have your designated spots, you can customize those spaces with throws, lamps, rugs, pillows, a space heater, and anything else that makes you feel cozy.

13. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Since the heat rises in a room, you can set your ceiling fan to run clockwise which will help pull the cold air up and bring the warm air down. Just make sure it’s on a lower speed so it’s not cooling your space.

14. Window Sealing, But Make It Discreet

Drafts kill warmth, so to stop the heat loss you can figure out where the air leaks are coming from and seal those gaps.

Here are some easy fixes for when your home loses heat:

• Clear weatherseal tape.
• Under door draft stoppers (or rolled towels in chic covers).
• Clear thermal window film.

15. Use Scents for Perceived Warmth

While this won’t stop heat escape, it will make you feel warmer.

Warm ambient scents like amber, vanilla, cedar, cinnamon, or sandalwood can subtly shift how cozy and warm your space feels (as shown in studies).

So to quickly add that warm feeling to your home, start making your own simmer pot recipes, use beeswax candles, and use essential oil diffusers with the right scents.

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