by Bruce W. Coffman

Created on: June 07, 2010

Warm and cozy. This is how we all want to feel on an icy cold winter's day. Making your home and warm and cozy haven from the bitter chill doesn't have to cost a fortune if you just keep a few basics in mind.

Keeping the Cold Out

Proper insulation is the best first step toward keeping the cold out of your house. However, even older homes and those with poor insulation can be helped with a few quick fixes. First, perform the lighter test. Walk around your home with a simple butane lighter and watch for where it flickers to see where cold air is leaking inside. Attack these areas with a few simple items from your local hardware store: expanding foam, plastic sheeting, duct tape and weather stripping.

For large cracks in walls or around windows and doors, simply fill with expanding foam. It is available in an easy-to-use spray can at most hardware and other stores. For windows and unused doors, cover with plastic sheeting and secure around the edges with duct tape. Seal around doorways with weather stripping to keep drafts at bay.

Keeping the Warm In 

Remember what your mom or dad always told you about running in and out? It's especially important during the cold winter months when you want to keep the air you've warmed from escaping your home. Keep as much of your warm air inside as possible by opening doors only when necessary and closing them quickly.

Keeping Yourself Toasty

Invest in a few winter essentials to cuddle up in and keep you nice and warm. A fuzzy throw or cuddly blanket kept on your couch or favorite chair gives you something nice and soft to snuggle up with. Also consider a pair of plush socks or slippers to wear when you scoot around those cold floors. Pack away those summer sleep clothes and opt for warmer materials like jersey or flannel.

Create a Warmer Look

The mind is a powerful thing and there numerous ways we can make it believe things that aren't necessarily so. You might not be able to convince yourself that you're in the Bahamas, but you can create some subtle psychological schemes to make you "feel" like it's a little warmer than what it really is. Surround yourself with warm colors like reds, oranges and yellows. Hang pictures of bright, sunlit places. Light candles and bask in their glow. All these things will help your mind to believe that your body is warmer and can even stave off the winter blues.

Start with these basics and expand with your own ideas. You'll find it's easier than you may have thought to keep your house, and yourself, warm on a winter's day.  

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