How to Stay Warm Without Turning Up the Heat

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13 Ways to Stay Warm Without Turning Up the Heat

As the leaves change colors and the days grow shorter, there’s no denying that winter is just around the corner. While some see the season as a chance to enjoy the comforting embrace of a warm, cozy home, others see a sky-high heating bill. But what if I told you there were simple ways to stay warm without turning up the heat?

That’s right, you don’t have to sacrifice your commitment to sustainable living and spend a fortune on a heating bill in order to stay warm during those chilly winter days and frosty nights. In fact, you can make your home an eco-friendly haven while also keeping those shivers at bay.

Get ready to discover some practical and planet-loving ways to keep warm without cranking up the heat. From DIY tricks to smart energy-saving techniques, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s explore how to stay warm without turning up the heat so you can stay comfortably snug without a guilty conscience during those chilly winter months.

1. Dress in Layers

The absolute easiest way to stay warm without turning up the heat is to warm yourself up rather than heating a room or your whole house. The best way to do this is to dress in layers.

Thermals are a great option because they can trap millions of tiny air pockets to provide warming insulation. However, multiple layers of your everyday clothing can also work just as well.

Plus, when you’re wearing layers, you can easily add or remove clothing as needed to stay comfortable.

If you’re sitting down, a blanket or duvet over your legs and waist can help trap heat.

Side view of young smiling woman wrapped in blanket drinking hot tea while sitting on couch at home

Don’t forget that blankets on your bed will also help you stay warm and cozy when you’re sleeping. Here are several great options for super-soft and sustainable blankets:

2. Focus on Your Hands and Feet

The temperature of your hands and feet plays a key role in your overall perception of comfort. If your hands and feet are cold, your whole body is going to feel cold.

Therefore, thick socks, slippers, and mittens or gloves will go a long way toward making you feel warm. For an extra cozy touch, you can slide some eco-friendly hand warmers into your gloves to provide even more heat.

If you’re working from home or taking care of chores around the house, fingerless gloves are also a good option.

3. Don’t Forget Your Head

You’ve probably heard the saying that we lose half of our body heat through our heads. While this isn’t entirely true, the blood vessels in our scalp don’t constrict as much in the cold, so we do lose some body heat through our head (about 10%).

Also, when compared to adults, children tend to lose a higher percentage of body heat through their heads because their heads are bigger in comparison to their bodies.

While you probably don’t think twice about wearing a hat when you go outside, it’s also worth having one on when you’re inside. Plus, since heat can also be lost around your neck as it rises from underneath your clothing, wearing a scarf inside can help you stay warm without turning up the heat.

4. Cook With Your Oven and Stove

When you’re trying to cool your house without using air conditioning, one of the best things you can do is avoid using appliances that give off extra heat. However, when you’re trying to stay warm without turning up the heat, those same appliances can come in handy.

Your oven and stove both generate heat in your kitchen when you use them. Fortunately, they do this without using as much electricity as a furnace.

Therefore, when you need to cook something, don’t be afraid to use them. Also, when you’ve finished using your oven, leave the door slightly ajar to allow the hot air to escape and add heat to the room.

Obviously, you have to be very cautious about doing this if you have children or pets in the house because you don’t want them accidentally reaching inside and burning themselves.

Also, you never want to use your oven as a primary heat source, especially if it uses natural gas. Burning natural gas for an extended time can increase the carbon monoxide in your home to very dangerous levels.

5. Enjoy Warm Food and Beverages

Tea bag next to a glass cup on a brown wooden background

When it’s time to make some food, remember that you can heat yourself up from the inside when you enjoy warm food and beverages. Soup, tea, coffee, cider, and hot cocoa are great to have when you’re feeling cold.

Not only will they feel warm and toasty going down, but being able to hold on to a hot mug or bowl is also an excellent way to heat up cold hands.

If you decide to make some soup, consider doing it from scratch. In addition to being easy to put together, soup typically takes a while to cook, and having a simmering pot on the stove will generate heat in the kitchen.

6. Reverse Your Ceiling Fan Direction

White ceiling fan spinning quickly on wooden ceiling

While you might think I’m crazy for telling you to turn on a fan when you’re trying to stay warm without turning up the heat, there’s actually a very good reason to do it.

Ceiling fans have a switch on their motor that can reverse the direction they spin. When they spin counterclockwise, they create a breeze that helps cool down your skin.

However, when they turn clockwise at a low speed, they push warm air that has drifted up to the ceiling back down to where you are.

7. Use Your Curtains Wisely

Curtains are for more than just privacy. You can also use them to effectively warm and cool your house.

About 76% of the sunlight that hits your windows turns into heat. Therefore, when the sun is out, keep your curtains open so all of that warmth can shine through the glass.

When nighttime rolls around, close your curtains to trap as much warm air as possible inside your house. Blackout curtains with a thermal lining are also a great choice because they can block cold air from seeping into your room.

8. Spend More Time Upstairs

If you think back to your elementary school science lessons, you’ll remember that warm air rises and cold air sinks. If you have a second story in your home, try spending more time up there to take advantage of the warm air.

You can also consider moving your home office or TV upstairs during the colder months to make things more comfortable and convenient.

9. Use Draft Stoppers on Your Doors

We already know that cold air sinks, so it seems pretty obvious that it can easily travel through the gaps under your doors. One incredibly simple way to prevent this from happening is to place a draft stopper under your door.

From weighted fabric to adjustable foam, there are all types of different draft stoppers that can complement the style of your home.

Plus, draft stoppers do more than just prevent air from seeping in or out. They can also help keep out dust, noise, and bugs!

10. Close Off Unused Rooms

If you have rooms in your house that you don’t use that often, it’s a waste of money to heat them during the winter. Instead, close the vents and shut the door to these rooms.

Don’t forget to place one of the draft stoppers we just mentioned along the bottom of the door to seal the cold air inside the room!

While that particular room might be freezing during the colder months, it doesn’t really matter because you’re not using it and you’re not wasting money heating it.

11. Get Up and Move Around

Getting up and moving around helps your body generate heat. If you’re at home and starting to feel cold, you can do something active.

Even just walking some laps around your house can raise your body temperature in just a few minutes. Plus, not only can a little bit of exercise help you stay warm without turning up the heat, but it’s also good for your health.

Other ways you can get up and move around include taking care of a home repair project, cleaning the house, or even playing a game.

If you’re working from home, consider setting a timer to remind you to get up and move every once in a while. This helps prevent your body from becoming so cold and stiff that you don’t feel like being active.

12. Use Microwaveable Heating Pads

Microwaveable heating pads are a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to warm up when you’re cold. You can stick small ones in your socks or gloves to heat up your feet and hands. Or you can place larger ones under a blanket when you’re sitting or lying down to warm your entire body.

You can easily find all types of microwaveable heating pads in various sizes. If you’re crafty, you can also make one yourself.

Simply sew some dried beans in between two pieces of 100% cotton fabric. Whenever you need to warm up, you can microwave your heating pad in 30-second increments until it’s at your desired temperature.

13. Seal Up Places Where Cold Air Can Leak In

Cold air loves to slip inside your house using any type of crack or crevice it can find. That’s why it’s really important to ensure your entire house is well-insulated.

Some areas are rather obvious, like your roof. As the warm air rises in your home, the cold air outside is always trying to sink below it. Missing shingles on your roof and poor insulation in your attic area make it incredibly easy for this cold air to get inside.

Cold air can leak in at some not-so-obvious places as well. For example, if you sometimes think the air feels colder around your electric outlets, you’re not imagining it. This is one place where insulation can be lacking and cold air can get in.

Fortunately, it’s a very easy fix. Simply pick up a pack of these outlet insulation pads and place them behind your switch plates. They effectively insulate the outlet and prevent cold air from getting into your home.

You also want to make sure you check for any cracks around your windows and doors. Even one tiny crack can allow a lot of chilly air to come in.

A quick and simple way to check for cracks around windows that you might not see is to move a candle around the frame. If the flame flickers, you have air seeping in. Use some caulk in that area to seal the crack.

Easy Ways to Stay Warm at Home Without Turning Up the Heat

Staying warm without cranking up the heat doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a few simple adjustments and a commitment to living sustainably, you can enjoy a cozy, snug winter without harming the planet or your wallet.

By following these tips, you’re not only reducing your carbon footprint but also setting an example for a greener, more sustainable way of living. With a little effort and some creativity, you can make winter a season of warmth and comfort, all while keeping the planet in mind.

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