7 Ways to Keep Your Portland Home Warmer This Winter (Without Touching the Thermostat)
Blinds By Design Blog
Fall is here, and if you live in Portland or anywhere along the Maine coast, you know what’s coming. Short days, cold nights, and wind that finds every gap in your home.
Turning up the thermostat is the obvious fix, but it’s also the most expensive one. The good news is that a few smart changes around your windows can make rooms feel noticeably warmer. Here are seven ideas you can start on this weekend, with a few that are worth doing before the first real cold snap.
1. Install Insulating Cellular Shades
Windows are one of the biggest sources of heat loss in most homes. Cellular shades, also called honeycomb shades, are built with pockets of trapped air that act as a buffer between your room and the cold glass. Double-cell styles insulate best, and they come in light-filtering and blackout fabrics so you can use them in any room.
2. Layer Draperies Over Your Shades
For the coldest rooms, layering is hard to beat. Heavy or lined custom draperies hung over a shade add a second barrier against drafts, and they make a room feel cozier and more finished. Floor-length panels that sit close to the wall work best at holding warm air in.
3. Let the Sun Work for You
South-facing windows can bring in free heat on bright winter days. Open your shades in the morning to let sunlight warm the room, then close them as the sun sets to keep that warmth from escaping. It’s a simple habit, but it adds up over a whole season.
If remembering to do this every day sounds unrealistic, motorized shades can follow a schedule for you, opening at sunrise and closing at dusk automatically.
4. Close Everything at Night
The coldest hours of the day are when your windows lose the most heat. Make it a routine to close shades, blinds, or drapery every evening. Even a basic closed covering is better than bare glass, and an insulating one is better still.
5. Consider Plantation Shutters for Key Rooms
Solid, well-fitted shutters add a durable layer over the window and are a classic choice in New England homes. They offer good light control and privacy, and when closed on a cold night they create a snug barrier. They’re also a long-lasting investment that holds its value and looks great.
6. Get the Fit Right
A shade that doesn’t fit well lets air slip around the edges and loses much of its benefit. This is where custom measuring matters. Professionally measured and installed window treatments sit closer to the frame, which reduces gaps and helps them perform the way they should. It’s one of the biggest advantages of working with a local installer instead of ordering online and guessing.
7. Seal the Small Stuff Too
Window treatments do a lot, but they work best alongside basic weatherproofing. Check for gaps around window frames, replace worn weatherstripping, and use caulk where you find cracks. For guidance on air sealing and other low-cost steps, the U.S. Department of Energy offers helpful resources for homeowners. Efficiency Maine is also worth checking for current programs and rebates in our state.
Which Rooms Should You Start With?
If you can’t do the whole house at once, prioritize in this order:
- Bedrooms: You spend the coldest hours of the night here, and insulating or blackout shades make a real difference to comfort and sleep.
- Large windows and picture windows: More glass means more heat loss.
- North-facing rooms: These get the least sun and tend to feel the chill most.
- Older windows: Single-pane or drafty windows benefit the most from an added layer.
Plan Ahead Before Winter Hits
Custom window treatments take time to order, build, and install, so fall is the right moment to start. Waiting until the first deep freeze often means a longer wait for the products you want.
Blinds by Design brings our mobile showroom straight to your door. We’ll bring samples, measure your windows, and help you choose the right treatments for each room, from budget-friendly options to premium brands like Hunter Douglas, Graber, Norman, Levolor, and Bali.
Request a free consultation today, or call (207) 501-2800. We proudly serve Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Brunswick, Augusta, and surrounding communities. Browse our project gallery for ideas, and read what neighbors are saying in our customer reviews.