Nothing says warm and cozy like snuggling next to a roaring fire. A traditional open box, wood-burning fireplace draws air from inside the home and can make the room with the fireplace feel drafty. You can prevent this draft by closing off surrounding doors. Before you use your wood-burning fireplace for the winter it's a smart idea to have a professional chimney sweeper clean the inside and inspect the exterior of the chimney for cracks or damage. Do this once a year.

Cold air can easily rush through leaks in windows and doors, instantly chilling a room. If your windows and doors have cracked seals, you can purchase new ones or hire a professional to replace them. For a quick and simple fix, you can place a heavy towel underneath doors (like the door that enters the cold garage) or use a poly weatherstrip.

Rugs, both carpeting and area rugs, are much warmer on our feet compared to hard surfaces like tile or wood. Traditionally, rugs were laid down in the winter months and stored in the summer months to help make a room feel warmer. Bedrooms can get a huge boost of warmth by having a rug next to the bed, so can bathrooms, kitchens or living rooms.

Beautiful, artistically designed lighting solutions are one of the highlights of any interior and the winter season is the perfect time to light up your home. One of the most comprehensive basic lighting layouts to use for a living room space is to have at least one of each type of lamp: a floor, table, and task lamp as well as an overhead fixture. It’s likely that you won’t often use all of your lighting options at once, but covering all of your bases helps to ensure that whatever level of light you need will be present and available for you in whatever corner of your home needs it most.

The old idea of switching out your drapery and curtains for the winter still makes sense today. Window panes, especially older ones, allow heat to be lost through the glass, making a cold room feel even colder. If you have drapes or curtains, purchase a thicker material for the winter months and be sure to close them at night.