The colder temperatures are a constant reminder that winter is just around the corner.  Keeping your home warm during the cold winter months can be costly if you just crank the heat on your furnace.  Before turning up the thermostat consider trying some of these tips we found on ways to keep your home warm without breaking the bank:

Insulated Curtains – Curtains can have a large impact when it comes to heating and cooling your home. Insulated curtains are extremely beneficial, they save energy by reducing drafts and helping prevent heat loss. Another benefit of insulated curtains is that they help reduce noise from outside, keeping your home a little more quiet! When shopping for curtains look for ones that have acrylic or high-density foam insulation and reflective film as these will help direct heat into the room and trap it. During the day leave the curtains open, allowing the sun to help heat the house and close the curtains at night to help preserve that heat.

Ceiling Fans – Ceiling fans are a great way to cool down a room but did you know they can also be used to keep a room warm? By simply changing the direction of the fan (to the clockwise direction) it allows the fan to draw warmer air near the ceiling down into the room.  This will enable heat to be circulated throughout the room and create a more even temperature in the space.

Area Rugs – Mainly used as decoration, area rugs serve a much greater purpose during the cold winter months. Having an area rug provides an extra layer of insulation to the floor, preventing the cooler air from seeping up. It will also benefit your feet, as a soft surface will keep your feet warmer than a hard surface.

Cooking – On those bitterly cold days you can help take the edge off the chill with some good old home cooking.  Utilizing your oven or range will generate extra heat in the kitchen that will spread throughout the rest of the home.  This is a most efficient approach because you are killing two birds with one stone.  It will reduce the workload on your furnace to maintain a comfortable temperature AND you’ll have some delicious food to eat!

There are also other things you can do to help reduce your total energy costs this winter.  While these tips won’t necessarily keep your home warm, they will help reduce your overall utility bill:

Turn Down The Water Heater – Most of us don’t bother changing our water heater thermostat from it’s preset at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but in reality most people don’t even need water that hot. Lowering your water temperature to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit would be plenty warm for most people and would allow your water heater to work less and save you money!

Programmable Thermostat – Programmable thermostats are a great way to save money! With a programmable thermostat you are able to adjust the temperature on a predetermined schedule. You won’t have to worry about forgetting to turn down the heat when you leave or to turn it up before bed, you can program the thermostat to do that for you!

If you’re interested in saving a couple of bucks this winter season try out some of these great tips!