Hygge is so last season. This winter, it’s all about cozymaxxing.
Cozymaxxing is exactly what it sounds like: creating ways to turn your home into a haven where you can cozy up all season long, snuggling in soft blankets before a blazing fire. But all the blankets in the world won’t make your home feel cozy if you haven’t kept cold drafts out, protected your pipes, and made sure your home is ready for winter.
The good news? You don't need a major renovation to make your home the ultimate cozymaxxing retreat. To get your home ready for winter, seal drafts with weatherstripping, install door sweeps and window insulation kits, insulate exposed pipes, cover your outdoor air conditioner, and check for other gaps where cold air can get in. These six simple projects can help you create a warmer, cozier home you’ll want to nest in all season long.
1. Seal Drafts With Weatherstripping
Nothing ruins a cozy evening faster than a cold draft sneaking in around a door or window. Weatherstripping is an easy, inexpensive way to stop those drafts and keep warm air inside so rooms feel more comfortable without cranking up the thermostat.
Start by checking around the edges of exterior doors and windows for cracked, compressed, or missing weatherstripping and replace any that’s worn or damaged. Don't forget basement and garage entry doors, too. Sealing these gaps stops cold air before it makes its way into your living spaces. Not sure what weatherstripping product to use? Read this post to pick the right weatherstripping for your project.
2. Block Cold Air with Door Sweeps
Weatherstripping seals the sides and top of a door, but what about the gap underneath? If you can see daylight beneath an exterior door or feel cold air coming through, it's time to add a door sweep.
Door sweeps attach to the bottom of a door to close the gap between the door and the threshold. Designs range from a flexible rubber or vinyl strip that’s screwed into the door to versions that slide onto the bottom or are simply stuck on with adhesive.
3. Install Window Insulation Kits
If you’ve got older or inefficient windows, rooms will feel chilly even when they’re shut tight. Window insulation kits are an easy, inexpensive solution when you don’t want to replace old windows. These kits include clear plastic film and double-sided tape that’s installed on the inside of the window frame to create an insulating layer that stops drafts cold.
Before installing a window kit, clean the window frame with soap and water or rubbing alcohol so the tape can stick tight. Once the frame is completely dry, apply tape around the perimeter, then measure carefully and cut the film to size. Finally, use a handheld hair dryer to shrink the film to a crystal-clear sheet that instantly makes rooms cozier. Watch this video for easy-to-follow instructions on installing window kits:
4. Protect Pipes with Pipe Insulation
Cozymaxxing is all about making winter at home feel a little more luxurious—beginning with warm showers to start the day. The best part? Some of the upgrades that make your home cozier can also help protect it from winter damage, like pipe and duct insulation. Insulating hot-water pipes helps keep water warmer as it travels to your bathroom. That means less time shivering in the shower while you wait for the water temperature to rise, because there's nothing that kills cozy winter morning vibes faster than a cold shower.
There's a practical bonus, too: Pipe insulation helps protect vulnerable plumbing from freezing when temperatures plummet. Exposed pipes in unheated basements, crawl spaces, and garages are especially at risk. Our Tubular Foam Pipe Insulation is an easy DIY upgrade. Tubes come pre-slit so you just cut them to size and slip them onto pipes for a secure fit. Our Self-Sealing Tees & Elbows make it easy to insulate elbows, tees, and other connections, too; they’re shaped to fit these areas, no tricky cutting required. Find other ways to protect your pipes here.
5. Cover Your Outdoor Air Conditioner
When you’re thinking about cozymaxxing, your outdoor air conditioner might be the furthest thing from your mind, but it needs some attention before winter hits. Start by clearing away leaves, twigs, and other debris around the outdoor condenser, then add an Air Conditioner Cover to keep it protected all season long. Watch this video to learn how to install the cover properly:
6. Give Your Home a Winter Draft Check
Once you've tackled your main projects, take one final walk through your home to look for overlooked spots where cold air might be sneaking in. Check around exterior door frames, window trim, basement windows, attic access points, and openings where plumbing or wiring passes through exterior walls, and add weatherstripping or caulk as needed.
