My roommate and I have been having this ongoing debate lately. She insists that closing curtains at night helps trap heat inside the room, especially during colder months. I'm kinda skeptical though... I mean, curtains are just fabric, right? How much insulation can they really provide?
I get the logic behind it—blocking drafts and maybe reducing heat loss through windows—but does it actually make a noticeable difference? Our apartment has pretty thin windows, and honestly, sometimes I feel like it's freezing no matter what we do. I've tried closing them a few nights in a row now, but I'm not sure if it's just placebo or if there's some actual science behind it.
Has anyone else tested this out or know if there's legit science backing this up? Or is my roommate just falling for an old wives' tale here...
Honestly, I thought the same thing until I moved into my first house last winter. Thin windows too, and I swear closing those thick curtains made a noticeable difference. Maybe not huge, but definitely better than nothing...
Yeah, I was pretty skeptical about this too at first. But honestly, after dealing with drafty windows in my own place, I gotta admit curtains do help a bit. It's not like it'll turn your room into a sauna or anything, but you definitely notice less chill creeping in. Plus, even if it's just psychological, feeling cozier counts for something, right? Anyway, glad I'm not the only one noticing this...
I had the same doubts when my wife first suggested heavier curtains for our bedroom. I figured, how much difference could a piece of fabric really make? But honestly, after we swapped out our thin blinds for some thicker, lined curtains, I noticed a real improvement. Like you said, it's not gonna magically turn your room into a tropical paradise, but it definitely cuts down on that sneaky chill that creeps in overnight.
Funny enough, I remember growing up, my grandma always insisted on closing the curtains as soon as it got dark. She'd say it kept the house warmer, and as a kid, I thought she was just being old-fashioned or something. Turns out, grandma knew what she was talking about after all... who knew?
I think part of it is psychological, sure—there's something comforting about having that barrier between you and the cold outside. But there's also a practical side to it. Curtains, especially heavier ones, create a bit of an insulating layer of air between the window and the room. It's subtle, but noticeable enough if you've ever lived in an older house with drafty windows (like mine).
Anyway, glad to see others noticing this too. Sometimes these little home improvements seem trivial at first, but they really do add up over time. Plus, anything that helps shave a bit off the heating bill is a win in my book.
Curtains, especially heavier ones, create a bit of an insulating layer of air between the window and the room. It's subtle, but noticeable enough if you've ever lived in an older house with drafty ...
Thicker curtains definitely help, especially if your windows are thin or older. They won't completely fix the chill, but they do slow down heat loss noticeably. I've seen this plenty of times with customers upgrading their window treatments.
"They won't completely fix the chill, but they do slow down heat loss noticeably."
Totally agree with this. I've lived in a couple of older apartments with single-pane windows, and heavier curtains made a real difference. It's not like suddenly your room feels tropical or anything, but you definitely notice less of that cold draft sneaking in around the edges. I remember one winter, before I got thicker curtains, I'd always feel this chilly breeze near my desk. After upgrading to some heavier drapes, it wasn't perfect—but it was way more comfortable. Plus, it's a pretty affordable way to boost energy efficiency without having to replace windows entirely (which can get pricey fast). Every little bit helps when you're trying to keep heating costs down...
Yeah, heavier curtains do help somewhat, but I wonder how much depends on the curtain material itself? I've noticed thicker fabrics seem better at blocking drafts. Like you said though,
—still beats freezing your toes off, right?"it's not like suddenly your room feels tropical"
I've definitely noticed a difference with thicker curtains, but honestly, I think the way they're hung matters just as much as the fabric itself. If there's a gap at the top or sides, cold air still sneaks in, no matter how heavy your curtains are. Last winter, I ended up installing curtain rods closer to the ceiling and wider than the window frame—made a noticeable improvement. Also, layering helps: I put sheer curtains behind heavier ones, and it created a bit of an insulating pocket of air. Not exactly tropical paradise, like you said, but it did stop that annoying chill around my windows.
I'm curious though, has anyone tried thermal liners or those insulating curtain backings? Wondering if they're worth the extra cost or if it's just marketing hype...