16 ways to keep warm in your home

Cooler weather has hit us hard here in the southern hemisphere. Have you given any thought to how you will keep warm in your home, especially if you live in a home that has poor insulation?

Here are our favourites for enjoying our home space when it’s cold and rainy outside.

Top tips to keep warm this winter

1. Wear more garments

This is an easy one! Just put on a couple more layers of clothes. Warm socks, house slippers, and a cosy jumper will help you keep out the chill and won’t incur expensive electricity costs.

2. Rug up

Cover your legs with a soft blanket or throw. It will keep you warm on the outside while you warm up your insides with a hot drink.

3. Huddle with your family

Cole weather is cuddle weather! Sit closer together when watching a movie to make the most of body heat. If you have pets, invite them onto your lap to add to the warm cuddle.

4. Crank up the fire

If you have an open fireplace, make use of it on colder days to keep your home nice and warm. Make sure to close it when you’re not using it to stop heat escaping up the open chimney.

5. Make sure the floor is covered

Floor coverings help keep warmth in your home, which is really important since you can lose up to 10% of heat via the floor if it is not insulated. So if you have bare floorboards, lay down rugs in the winter to keep your home warm.

6. More than one layer

Add an extra layer to your curtains in autumn and winter to keep in more heat. Attach it to the back or your curtains or hang it from the actual rod itself to insulate the area, particularly at night.

7. Maximise daylight

Sunlight contributes natural heat to your home, so keep curtains open during the day to make the most of this natural resource. Close them at night to keep the warmth in your home.

8. Fill the gaps

Are there places in your home that let in a draught when it’s cold? Search them out and seal them to improve your homes ability to retain heat. Think laterally and look at things like keyholes and door frames that can be temporarily sealed in chilly weather.

9. Bedding down for the night

We all love to retire to bed on a cold night, but there’s nothing worse than diving into an icy bed! Add flannelette sheets, an electric blanket, or a trusty hot water bottle for that extra bit of warmth.

10. Wall coverings

Did you know that adding coverings to your walls – especially external walls – can improve overall insulation by raising the internal wall surface temperature? And every little bit counts too. Use pictures, mirrors, posters, or even furniture like bookshelves with the books providing additional insulation. A green wall is also a really handy way to cover your walls while adding a bit of decorative flair!

11. Stylish screens

Position screens in your key living areas to keep the warmth around you and stop it disappearing into unused portions of the room. Remember that a screen will be at room temperature and help keep your back warm if it is behind you. Portable hedges can be moved around where you need, which makes them a versatile option for this.

12. Furniture placement

External walls are usually cooler than internal ones. Position your furniture near internal walls to maximise the rooms heat.

13. Insulate your windows

Purchase a DIY window insulation kit to reduce the loss of heat through and around your windows. They are easy to install and will make a big difference to your heating bill.

14. Close the doors

Closing doors to the rooms not being used can reduce heat loss and help keep the main rooms being used warm. It’s a super simple trick, all you need to do is develop the habit of closing doors behind you!

15. Check your heating vents

Are they clean? Is air flowing freely when your heating is on? Is there dust or debris build-up? Make sure they are working properly and are free of obstructions to maximise the heat that can get through them.

16. Venting drafts

Make sure that bathroom vents have draught blockers installed so that cold air doesn’t blow back into your home.

Stay warm through the cool season

The best thing to do is to audit your home before the cold weather arrives and make a plan. Locate and plug draughts (this will help in the summer as well) and decide what other measures you can easily implement to keep warm in your home when autumn and winter arrive.

If you’d like to utilise indoor greenery to aid in keeping your home warm, our wide selection of artificial plants, hedges, and green walls is a great place to start!

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