As interior expert Sanya Mehta puts it, “Warmth is as much about comfort and perception as it is about temperature.” Well, it’s right that winter has a weird way of entering into our homes, especially for those who live in apartments. These spaces can feel unexpectedly chilly. The floors are always cold or there’s always one window and door that allows cold wind in the house. What modern apartments face today is the shortage of sunlight in winters. And turning up the heater isn’t always an option, especially with rising electricity bills. So what can you do to avoid such a situation without spending a single penny? Good news is with some little adjustments and an understanding of how heat behaves, you can make your home feel warmer and cosy, without spending thousands on heaters and electricity bills.Let’s find out:Understand why flats are colder The main issue with flats or apartments is that they lose warmth faster than independent houses. It can be because of thin walls or poorly sealed windows/doors and floors made of tiles, among others. These work well for summers.Dr. Shree Deshmukh, an environmental design researcher based in Lucknow, said, “Most winter discomfort in apartments is because warm air escapes faster than our bodies can adapt. The solution is trapping existing heat and blocking cold air.”So what to do:Find the villain and block cold air
Canva
First of all, you need to find that small gap or unclosed door that makes your flat feel colder.If there’s a significant gap between door and floor, which is allowing cold air to come in, you can cover it with old towels, or cotton dupattas, or even warm shawls. Just roll them accordingly and place them at the bottom of doors to fill the open space and voila, you saved a whole lot of money!You can also push some old newspapers into window gaps and put a sellotape to keep it secure. Though these are temporary options, these work the best and are absolutely free!You can also place heavy furniture like wardrobes or bookshelves against walls to cover the gap. Interior stylist Sattvik Mohanty (Mumbai) says,“Indian homes generally are covered in textiles. These can be used strategically in winter and can change how warm a room feels almost instantly.”Use heavy curtains as insulation
Canva
Understand that your windows are the main villain when it comes to heat loss. What you can do is cover windows with:Thick or heavy curtainsOr bedsheetsYou can also use old blankets to cover the windowWith these simple tricks, you can bring the warmth back to your apartment without any heating.Let the sun in
Canva
Sunlight is free of cost. Use it. During the day, keep curtains open and let sunlight soak your house.Sit where the sun falls and get some natural heat.Vaibhav Srivastava, an architect from Lucknow, says, “Winter sun is capable of heating interior surfaces. Once the walls and floors absorb that warmth, they release it slowly through the evening helping to keep your flat warm for long.”Keep yourself warm
Canva
Do not try to heat an entire apartment. Instead, work on warming your body.Wear an ample layer of clothing.Always wear socks indoors.Cover your sofas and beds with warm covers and sheets. As per Ankur Singh, a Noida-based architect, “Once your body maintains its core temperature, the sensation of cold reduces. So work on keeping your body warm by drinking warm drinks like tea, hot milk and soup.”Use rugs on floors
Canva
Flats have tiles and marble floors which absorb cold. It is advisable to keep the floor covered with:Rugs, dhurries, or even folded bedsheets.Hang tapestries, shawls, or spare fabric on large bare walls.Cover the wall behind your bed for extra insulation.Sleep warmer without extra heatingNighttime cold feels harsher, so
Canva
Layer blankets instead of using one heavy quilt.Wear socks.Keep your bed away from windows.Close your balcony doorsClose off spare rooms.Lower blinds and curtains before sunset.Less open space means less heat loss.
Canva
Keeping your flat warm during winter isn’t always about buying a new heating appliance. It’s also about using what you already have more intelligently. Indian homes are rich in fabrics and sunlight. With a few thoughtful tricks, you can turn your apartment into a cozy winter retreat too without spending a single rupee!
About the Author
