In most places around the globe, winter won’t win the contest for the “most popular season.” But with a few hacks and tips, you can make the coldest season a more pleasant one. 

Let this list of 10 ways to stay comfortable and warm get you through the winter until the spring thaw comes around again.  

1.Dress in Layers

By dressing in layers, you’ll stay warmer both indoors and outdoors. That’s because the air between layers creates thermal insulation. 

Wear a thermal shirt and leggings as a base layer to draw sweat away from the skin. Add a middle layer to retain body heat. For outdoor activities in winter, the outer or shell layer protects you from wind and precipitation. A softshell jacket is perfect for prolonged outdoor activities, like winter hikes. This type of jacket is protective yet breathable, keeping you from overheating.  

2. Make Your Bed Warm and Cozy

Stay warmer in your bed with a set of cozy flannel sheets. They add thickness and warmth for winter nights. 

Check blankets, comforters, or duvets for a “fill power” number, which refers to the bedcover’s insulating power. Bedcovers with a fill power number between 550 and 800 will provide the most warmth. Also, place your bed against an interior wall if possible.  

3. Check for Drafts

Become a draft detective in your home by checking for air leaks around windows, doors, openings near pipes, window A/C units, and electrical outlets. 

Light a candle or stick of incense and walk around the house to check. Wavering smoke is evidence of a draft. Seal cracks with caulk or weatherstripping. You can also opt for an energy audit from your utility company. 

4. Dress Your Windows for the Cold

Adding another layer of drapes or curtains to windows will help keep the cold out. You don’t have to remove your pretty shears. Simply hang a heavier curtain over them for the winter. Better yet, purchase blackout drapes. 

If you live where the summers are hot and sultry, they pull double duty by keeping rooms cooler.  

5. Insulate With Bubble Wrap

One major cause of heat loss in homes is poorly insulated windows. With this hack, you won’t need to spend a fortune replacing them. Purchase a roll of bubble wrap and cut pieces to fit over window panes and sliding glass patio doors. Spray them lightly with water and press on the pieces of bubble wrap. As the water dries, the bubble wrap will adhere to the glass. 

6. Use the Oven More Often

Just as summer is for no-bake meals and outdoor grilling, winter is for firing up the oven for baking. In addition to a hot hearty meal, fresh-baked bread, or a pan of cookies, you’ll “kill two birds” by adding to the heat in your home. 

When you’re finished baking, turn the oven off and leave the door open. Now, have a cup of hot tea or cocoa and warm up with those cookies.  

7. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans work by turning clockwise to force cool air down. Most people think they should turn off ceiling fans in the winter, but you can make them work for you instead. 

Most ceiling fans have a switch on the base that allows you to reverse the direction to counterclockwise. Going in this direction, the blades will draw warm air from below up to the ceiling, warming the air in between as it travels.   

8. Make Your Fireplace Work Harder

There’s nothing quite like an open fire to feel warm and cozy in winter, but they can be tricky. That’s because home heat can escape through the chimney when not in use, even if the damper is closed. 

Solve the problem with a fireplace plug, which is an inflatable “pillow” that you can fit inside over the top of the firebox. Also, stay warmer by installing glass fireplace doors if you don’t already have them. 

9. Supplement the Heat

When it’s bitter cold and you have a fairly large home with high ceilings, a space heater can go a long way to keep you comfortable. The key is to pick one or two rooms, perhaps a bedroom and an office, that can be closed off. Hang out in these rooms with a space heater until the cold moderates a bit. 

10. Increase Your Home’s Humidity

Humid air is typically warmer than dry air. Using a humidifier adds moisture, making it feel warmer. In a pinch, you can add humidity by placing a pot of water near your heating unit.