Cozy Up Your Home for Winter with These DIY Ideas

Winterizing Your Home

Basic coziness means your home has to be ready to face the cold months.

If you’ve got drafty doors and windows, grab some draft-stoppers. If you’ve got a fireplace, make sure the flue is clear and test out the pilot light. If your winter electric bill saps all the good vibes from your mood, maybe consider installing some more energy-efficient options. Get started on these projects early with our Home Improvement Source database from Explora.

Disaster Planning

Turn those winter disasters and emergencies into minor inconveniences by being prepared with the following resources at your fingertips.

• The 7 Steps to Emergency Preparedness for Families
  Whether it be a house fire or a simple power-outage at your apartment, make sure your family is prepared with first-aid kits, essential supplies and an evacuation plan.
• Building an Emergency Winter Supply Kit for Your Car
  It’s good practice to have a basic emergency kit in your car in case you get stuck on the side of the road with car troubles, but did you know that you need different supplies in the winter than in the summer? The National Weather Service has put together a simple list of essential emergency supplies to keep in your car during the winter so you don’t have to end up helplessly stranded.
• Why You Should Be #WinterReady
  Ready.gov is a “national public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies and disasters.” Their page on Why You Should Be #WinterReady includes information on winter travel, how to prevent house heating fires, how to prepare for power outages, tips for your specific needs and additional resources.
• MedLine Plus
  Unsure if it’s a cold, the flu or COVID? MedLine Plus can help you figure it out and give you information on how to stay safe and healthy during the winter so your cozy time doesn’t get ruined by seasonal illness. MedLine Plus, created by the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine, is an online health information resource for patients, family and friends.

Ambiance for Maximum Coziness

The cherry on top of a cozy home is creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort that you can relish in during the cold winter months. Explora’s Hobbies & Crafts Source is a great place to find tips for seasonal home décor.

If you’re particularly prone to getting seasonal affect, this article, Battling the Winter Blues, is a great place to get ideas for décor to help lift your spirits.

For the more craft-oriented, we offer over 1,000 arts and crafts video classes through Creativebug. Learn how to arrange a seasonal bouquet, winter garland or wreath. Knit a plush throw pillow and matching blanket. Create a votive or luminaria for a homemade candle. Then bask in the warm glow of all that you created.