How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Estonian winters are long and dark, but that doesn't mean your home has to be cold and gloomy as well. According to new European Union energy directives, the winter indoor temperature in our homes should be in the comfort zone of 20-25°C. However, a cozy home doesn't just mean warm temperature – it's a combination of soft lighting, comfortable textiles, and well-thought-out details that improve our well-being.

Let's take a closer look at how to make your home cozier, more energy-efficient, and warmer for winter 2025 without spending a lot of money.

Textiles for Creating Warmth

One of the fastest and most affordable ways to make your home cozier is by adding textiles. Textiles are like clothing for your home – they not only look good but also provide a sense of warmth and acoustic comfort.

Heavy curtains are an excellent solution for improving heat retention. Double curtains or models with thermal lining help prevent cold from entering the room through winter windows. We often feel the cold right around the windows, where heat tends to escape.

Add some soft blankets and cushions to your sofa and armchairs. These not only look cozy but are also practical when you want to keep warm while watching TV in the evening, for example.

Floors can be quite cold in winter, especially if you have a wooden or tiled floor. Wool rugs are excellent heat insulators that make a room feel immediately cozier and keep your feet warm.

If you have underfloor heating in your home, keep in mind that it may not always be best for plants, as it can excessively dry out the soil in pots. A good solution is to place plants on small stands to reduce direct heat exposure.

Lighting for Creating Cozy Evenings

In winter, when days are short, home lighting becomes especially important as a mood creator.

Don't rely only on ceiling lights. Combine different light sources: floor lamps, table lamps, and wall-mounted lights. This layered lighting creates a more varied and warmer atmosphere.

Choose LED bulbs that emit warm yellowish-white light (2700-3000K) instead of cold bluish light. This creates a relaxing and cozy feeling. Adjusting the lighting according to your mood or time of day changes the atmosphere in your home. Smart lighting solutions allow you to instantly change the mood of a room.

Candles and lantern-style lights add warm and flickering light, which creates a particularly soothing atmosphere. You should be careful with these, but there are many safe alternatives available.

According to the EU directive, starting in 2026, building control systems must be able to monitor various indoor climate parameters, including lighting. So smart lighting solutions are not just convenient, but also future-proof.

Improving Heat Retention

According to EU Model Indoor Environmental Quality regulations, winter temperature in residential buildings should be between 20-25°C. How can you achieve this in an energy-efficient way?

Check and replace window and door seals if necessary. Worn seals are one of the main causes of heat loss.

Make sure radiators are clean and that furniture doesn't block the spread of heat. Bleed radiators regularly to remove air bubbles that prevent even heat distribution.

Improving sound insulation often contributes to heat retention as well. Materials that retain heat often also block noise, making the investment doubly useful – your home becomes both quieter and warmer.

Winter Home Design

A winter home could feel like a kind of refuge from the cold outside world. A few simple design ideas help create a warm atmosphere.

Wood, wool, velvet, and other warm materials create coziness for your home. At the same time, thoughtfully designed interiors increase home comfort and make everyday life more pleasant.

Although winter brings less light, plants can improve the quality of indoor spaces. Choose shade-tolerant species like pothos, tiger lily, or philodendron. From the Kinnisvara24 blog you'll find good tips on how to care for houseplants in winter.

To create a warm and cozy atmosphere in winter, add soft textiles to your home, such as cushions, throws, and blankets. These not only add warmth but also create a visually pleasing and inviting atmosphere where it's pleasant to spend time.

Optimizing the Heating System

Efficient operation of the heating system is especially important in winter.

The optimal room temperature is 20–21°C. Studies show that every degree above this can increase heating costs by several percent, so it's worth using programmable thermostats to comfortably adjust the temperature throughout the day and save energy.

Regular heating system maintenance helps ensure trouble-free operation of equipment and even heat distribution throughout the home. A clean and well-maintained system operates more efficiently, which can help reduce heating costs and extend the lifespan of equipment.

If you're on a district heating network, you might be interested in how district heating prices are formed. Fuel prices are often one of the main factors, so it might be wise to consider additional heating alternatives, especially during peak season.

Smart Innovations to Make Your Home Cozier

During the winter season, smart home automation helps monitor temperature, humidity, and air quality, making your home comfortable and cozy. Smart solutions, such as programmable thermostats or indoor climate monitoring devices, make your home warm, healthy, and energy-efficient.

New systems allow you to monitor temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels in your home, creating a healthier and cozier environment. Such digital climate control gives you a better overview of your home's indoor climate and allows you to make more informed decisions.

Automatically adjustable curtains or smart windows that change their transparency according to light and temperature are an investment that pays for itself in comfort and energy savings.

Review your home and identify areas where heat loss might occur. Often, strategic additional insulation in certain areas is enough to feel a noticeably warmer home. This is often a cost-effective way to make your home warmer without overloading the heating system.

How Kinnisvara24 Can Help

If you've thought about changing your home, Kinnisvara24 offers a wide range of options.

On our portal, you can search for energy-efficient apartments and houses that keep your heating bills under control. Energy class is one important criterion to consider when choosing a home.

If you're looking for a temporary home, you'll definitely find something suitable in our rental apartment offerings for the winter season. Be sure to ask the landlord about the heating system and heat retention.

New developments often offer the most innovative heating and ventilation solutions that comply with EU energy efficiency directives. These are usually already originally designed to be energy-efficient and comfortable.

Summary

Making your home cozy for winter doesn't always require large investments. Textiles, lighting, small improvements, and smart solutions can all together create a significant difference in your home's temperature and atmosphere. Besides making your home more pleasant, these ideas often help save energy as well – which is good for both your wallet and the environment.

If you're looking for a new home or want to improve your current living space, visit Kinnisvara24 portal to find the best offers and the latest information about the real estate market. In our wide selection, you'll surely find a home that offers you warmth and coziness even on the coldest winter days.