Imagine you’re lounging at home, nestled with a book or six episodes deep into a long-delayed show binge. You’re in a more central room of your home, but you can see snow falling lightly outside of a window across the way. The still, gray landscape suggests to you that it’s quite frigid out there, but you’re cozy enough in your well-heated and insulated space, so it’s neither here nor there. Then, after a while, nature calls.
You head to your bathroom, but right before you cross the threshold, a wave a dreadful realization. Suddenly, you understand you’re about to walk into a space lined with cold, conductive tile and that stone flooring you absolutely couldn’t turn down when you first laid eyes on this place. And, unlike the warm haven you just left, your bathroom sits on the far fringe of your floor plan, so only a sole, tiled wall separates you all that snow and cold.
It's a scenario that many will find themselves in this season, especially in the new year when the wintery chill becomes even more biting—whether you live in the heart of Texas or the frozen New England corridor, around Boston or Worcester. Bathroom remodelers will be fielding a lot of calls across the country from households looking to better insulate their private sanctuaries, and while this is certainly an option, there are also many DIY solutions to giving your bathroom enough supplemental heat.
Warm Décor, Ceiling to Floor
Throwing down a few rugs and hanging thick drapes are always sound options, but you can further enhance the comforting ambience with warm hues and low light. A boilerplate bathroom with an off-white paint job or light blue tiling will only remind you of the inclement weather. Instead, choose deeper tones, like brick red, cobalt, violet, or forest green. Also, invest in some tea light or scented candles with seasonal fragrances like wood, cinnamon, or other earthly notes.
Invest in Space-Saving Heat Sources
Lining your bathroom with electric space heaters can quickly become impractical, and depending on the size of your space, potentially hazardous. As an alternative, consider more contemporary heating systems, such as radiant floorboard heaters or wall-mounted radiators. Not only do these fixtures sport a sleeker, more modern look, but they’re also non-obstructive, giving you more space for storage or other warm decorative adornments.
Choose Bath Fixtures With Excellent Heat Retention
Many new bathtubs and showers, especially those that skew more luxurious, are constructed from materials, like copper, brass, or soapstone, that are great at conducting and retaining heat. If one of your winter coping strategies includes extended soaks in a hot bath, then this is a must-make investment.
Inspect and Protect Your Pipes
As temperatures plunge, your piping facing increased freezing and bursting risks, which could create a repair nightmare at one of the worst possible times. You can look at your pipes using several methods. A full inspection is time-intensive, but you’ll get the best sense of any areas of concern—just be sure to shut off the main water valve, water pump, and water heater to ensure these appliances aren’t overexerted without water running through them.
If your pipes need a little extra insulation, you can do this simply by applying pipe wrapping, slip-on foam insulation, or heat tape. You can also flush your pipes with nontoxic plumber’s antifreeze. This will give your bathroom’s drainage systems added protection against freezing and cracking.
Don’t fret if your bathroom is giving you the cold shoulder this winter, as there are many ways to make it warmer and more accommodating. A mix of small design changes and maintenance tasks is all it takes to create a uniformly cozy home that will serve as a reliable winter retreat for years to come.
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