7 Ways to Making Your Living Room More Energy Efficient and Cozier

Make your living room, one of the places we spend a lot of time in, feel more welcoming and energy efficient without turning up the thermostat with these four cost-effective ideas.
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The winter months can take a toil on our moods and sense of well-being. The shortage of natural sunlight can trigger sadness or even seasonal affective disorder. Make your living room, one of the places we spend a lot of time in, feel more welcoming and energy efficient without turning up the thermostat with these four cost-effective ideas.

Use curtains

One of the best places to making a room cozier is by adding curtains. In fact, there are curtains that can save on your energy bill. They do a great job of tracking heat during the fall and winter months so you can actually save about $20 on your energy bill. If your living room has radiators, avoid floor length curtains as the heat can rise behind them, and be lost.

Use a throw blanket

Another way to save energy is to keep a folded throw blanket on your sofa or love seat and it comes in handy when you need that extra layer to curl up with. They can also add a real nice flash of color or pattern to bland living room spaces.


Use Indoor Plants

Use indoor plants such as golden pothos and gerbera daisies, which can increase humidity levels and decrease household dust. When plants release the moisture of its leaves into a room, that moist air holds in heat. A thermostat can be set a bit lower while plants can make the air nice and humid.

Use energy efficient and unused fireplaces

Unused fireplaces can be cozy and energy efficient. Chimney pillows can decrease on the amount of entering draughts and the amount of heat lost. A do-it-yourself stacked wood fireplace façade adds a cozy ambience. Groups of candles can be used to create ambience or shelves to create a cozy reading nook. You can also place some of the indoor plants, create wall art or a throw rug.

Paint rooms to feel warmer

Cozy colors such as reds, oranges, or yellow can help boost the mood of a room and actually help the room feel warmer especially if those walls don't get enough sunlight.

Use slow cooker to infuse a warm and cozy aroma

Slow cookers and crock pots are more energy efficient than electric and gas oven, typically using less energy than a light bulb.

Replace your traditional gas or wood fireplace.

A traditional gas or wood fireplace wastes energy by sending heat through the chimney. Consider an eco-friendly option such as a gel-fireplace insert that create a burning fire without gas, wood, electricity, or even a chimney. It's smoke-free, emits fewer allergens than a wood fireplace. The basic model starts at $100.

As you can see, these seven ways can lift your spirits and energize your living room while warming it at the same time.

Happy decorating!

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