Easy ways to warm up your home as cold weather sets in

From blistering hot to freezing cold — it always seems to happen overnight, doesn’t it? If your home was too hot during the summer, you might now be worried it will be too cold during the winter. Though keep in mind – if you live in a rental and don't control the thermostate, the landlord doesn’t have a responsibility to provide you with air conditioning, but they certainly do have a responsibility to keep you warm during Canada’s colder months – generally above 21 to 22°C.

But still, there are times you’ll want to warm up, and with winter around the corner, it’s never too early to prep your home for the cold. We all complain about it, but winter can be really fun! It’s just no fun to come home to a cold space.

Don’t worry — there are plenty of cost-effective ways to warm up a cold home (that make your life too difficult)!

Put down draft stoppers

Draft stoppers (also known as door snakes) act as barriers between the indoors and the cold outdoors. They are cheap to buy and easy enough to make if you’re more of a DIYer (just stuff them and sew them). It’s a small effort to put in for great results — in drafty apartments, you wouldn’t believe how much freezing air is drifting in through the gap at the bottom of the front door. This also goes for older homes with old, ill-fitting doors, but newer homes can have this problem too.

Cover your windows with insulation film

Insulation film is basically Saran wrap for your windows — and it works wonders! I personally use it to cover most of my windows in the winter, and the difference in temperature can be felt immediately. As you’re placing it around the window, you’ll be able to see how strong the air coming in really is, because the draft will create a bubble beneath the wrap. Choose wisely when deciding which windows to cover because you will not be able to open them once they are insulated.

Cover cold surfaces

Put down a rug or two on your cold floors. If your ceramic tile is freezing during the winter, a nice rug to warm the feet can do a lot. Hardwood floors also get cold during the winter, so a warm rug could be a welcome addition there too – as well as those stone floors that are so pretty to look at. They're not as much fun in the middle of a cold, winter night. Putting up thick or layered curtains can also keep warmth in. Cellular shades are a good option too, as they let light in, but tend to keep the cold out.

Reverse your ceiling fans and buy a good space heater

If you have ceiling fans, reverse the direction of the blades. This will bring the warm air down and help keep the temperature in your home from plummeting. Heat rises, sometimes you have to push back against the laws of thermodynamics. You might still need a little help staying warm, especially if you've got a room or an area of your home that just doesn't get great heat circulation, so invest in a good space heater. If you're in a rental, just check your lease to confirm you’re allowed to have small appliances like heaters – especially if you aren’t responsible for paying for utilities.

Get creative

I’ve lived in a few cold apartments, and I’ve found that it’s all about knowing the little tricks. Once you’ve insulted the windows, sealed the gaps around the house and added warmth wherever you can, all you need to do is throw on some slippers and get creative. Sleep with a hot water bottle, microwave your socks, warm your towel on the radiator and leave the oven door open for a little while after you’ve cooked a meal or two for a creative little touch of warmth!