One of the easiest ways to make the home warmer is completely free. Open the curtains during the day to allow sunlight to heat the interior, then close them at night to retain that accumulated warmth while keeping the night’s cool air out.
In fact, curtains are one of the original forms of home insulation, dating back to animal hides that covered door and window openings to provide privacy and protection from the elements. Today, thermal curtains are available in a wide variety of attractive styles. They offer energy efficiency and can also be found in full blackout models that have the added benefits of light and noise reduction for better sleep.
Modern Curtain Tech
Thermal curtains (insulated or energy-efficient curtains) are multilayer designs that feature a decorative fabric on the room-facing side, usually made of a dense material with an insulating lining on the outside, which is often white to reflect the sun’s rays in summer and help lower the AC bill for all-season use. Blackout curtains feature a noise-reducing layer as well. Make sure they’re long and wide enough to completely cover the glass on the window or door.Want to save money, or can’t find a style that suits you? There are many DIY thermal curtain instructions available online. Don’t have a sewing machine? There are easy “no sew” instructions as well.
Got a particularly drafty exterior or interior doorway? Consider a quilted magnetic air blocker door curtain. Designed for seasonal use, they feature adhesive Velcro tapes that secure them around the doorframe. The Velcro allows it to be easily removed for, say, a family Thanksgiving dinner. Heavy-duty magnets close the drape tightly yet are easy to open, even for children. Tiebacks hold the curtain open and out of the way during the day.
Beefed-Up Protection
Even new windows can benefit from window inserts (interior storm windows) and the extra layer of protection they offer. For drafty older windows, however, they may help avoid the expense of full window replacement. Custom-made to size, with a strong frame and clear thin film, they push into place to create an extra insulating pocket of air.
There’s a reason why sealing windows with heavy-duty plastic sheets makes most comprehensive lists for “energy-efficiency heating tips.” A formal insert makes the setup simple and attractive. As a bonus, they work in conjunction with curtains and also work in the summer to keep hot air out and help reduce air-conditioning costs.
Tenant’s Choice
Tenants who have a “no drill” clause in their lease still have plenty of options with blinds or shades that use a tension bar to hold them in place. The pleated, honeycomb nature of insulated cellular shades means that they can reduce heat loss through windows 40 percent or more, according to the Department of Energy, but even Roman or roller shades and traditional louvered blinds will help.Drafts Be Gone
A door draft stopper is a great newbie crafter project. It starts with a long piece of durable fabric—such as a pair of old jeans—that can hold sand, cat litter, or (uncooked) rice filling.Bed and Neck Warmers
Fill an additional sock or two with rice to make bed warmers. Put it in the microwave for 90 seconds, and toss it between the sheets before tucking in. A long sock can also double as a neck warmer to reduce holiday stress, or use the draft stop instructions and a general material size of 24 inches by 10 inches to make a spa-quality neck wrap with a final fit of 22 inches long and four inches wide, so it rests comfortably on the shoulders. Don’t overfill—it should be flexible. Dried herbs can also be added to enhance the experience.
