Caught an article this morning about how some folks are using big south-facing windows paired with concrete or tile floors to keep their homes warmer in winter, just by soaking up the sun. I’ve got a friend who swears her living room stays toasty all day because of this. Anyone here actually tried it? Wondering if it’s as effective as they say, or if it just means you need better blinds for summer…
That’s actually how our place is set up—big south-facing windows and a lot of tile in the living room.
I can back your friend up on that, at least in winter. On sunny days, the floor gets warm by late morning and it really does keep things comfortable even after the sun goes down. We’re in central PA, so winters get cold but we still get enough sun for it to make a difference.“I’ve got a friend who swears her living room stays toasty all day because of this.”
It’s not magic though. If it’s cloudy for a few days straight, you don’t get much out of it. And you’ve totally got the right idea about blinds for summer. That same living room turns into a greenhouse if I forget to close the shades before I leave for work. We ended up getting those cellular blinds that trap heat in winter and block it in summer, which helps a ton.
One thing I didn’t expect—our dog loves sprawling out on the warm tile like he’s at a spa. It’s kind of hilarious.
If you’re thinking about doing it, I’d say it’s worth it for winter comfort and maybe even saving a bit on heating. Just be ready to manage the heat in July or August, otherwise you’ll be running the AC more than you want. Not a perfect system, but it’s pretty cozy when it works.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with our place. South-facing windows and tile floors are awesome in the winter—our living room turns into a sun trap and you can actually feel the warmth under your feet. But you’re right, it’s totally dependent on the weather. If we get a run of gray days (which happens a lot here in upstate NY), it’s back to sweaters and socks.
I tried blackout curtains for summer but honestly, they made the room feel like a cave. Ended up switching to those honeycomb blinds too, just for some balance. Our cat is obsessed with the warm spots—he’ll follow the sun patches around like it’s his job. It’s definitely not perfect but I’d do it again for those sunny winter afternoons.
Our cat is obsessed with the warm spots—he’ll follow the sun patches around like it’s his job.
That’s classic—pets know how to find the best spot in the house. I hear you on the honeycomb blinds. In my experience, they do a better job balancing light and insulation than blackout curtains, especially if you get the double-cell kind. One thing I always warn folks about: those tile floors are great for thermal mass, but if you don’t have decent subfloor insulation, they’ll suck heat out fast on cloudy stretches. Seen a lot of people surprised by that after a renovation. Still, nothing beats stepping onto a sun-warmed floor in January... just gotta watch out for those long gray spells.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with the floors getting cold if there’s no sun for a couple days. My place has big windows and tile in the kitchen—on a sunny winter afternoon it’s honestly perfect, but after a few gray days the floor is like an ice rink. I guess it’s a tradeoff. I’ve thought about putting down rugs, but then you lose some of the heat-soaking effect on the sunny days.
I tried those double-cell honeycomb blinds too, mostly for summer since the sun can really crank up the heat in July. They work, but I still have to keep an eye on the thermostat or it gets stuffy. Winter’s less of an issue for overheating, at least where I am.
One thing I didn’t expect: the dog always camps out in the sunniest spot, and now I kind of plan my furniture around that patch of sunlight. It’s weird how much difference just a bit of direct sun makes, even when it’s freezing out.
If I ever redo the floors, I’d probably go with something warmer than tile—maybe wood or even those fake wood planks that aren’t so cold underfoot. But for now, I’ll take the free heat when I can get it.
I get the appeal of those big sunny windows, but honestly, I’m not totally sold on the whole “thermal mass” thing with tile. In my place, the tile just stays cold, even after a sunny afternoon—maybe my house is too drafty, or maybe it’s just wishful thinking that the floor ever gets warm enough to matter. I tried rugs too, and yeah, you lose some of that sun-warmed feeling, but at least your feet aren’t freezing when you grab coffee in the morning. Maybe it’s just me, but if I ever redo the floors, I’m skipping tile altogether.
I hear you on the cold tile—mine only ever feels warm if I stand in a sunbeam for a while, but the rest of the floor is always chilly. My place is older and drafty too, so maybe that’s part of it. I ended up putting down thick slippers by the coffee pot... not the most elegant solution, but it works. If I could do it over, I’d probably look at cork or even wood instead.
My place is older and drafty too, so maybe that’s part of it. I ended up putting down thick slippers by the coffee pot...
Not sure cork or wood would really solve the cold issue, honestly. Wood’s a bit warmer than tile, but in a drafty place, your feet are still gonna feel it. Plus, isn’t cork kind of soft and prone to dents? I get the appeal, but what about area rugs instead? I tried one in my kitchen—easier to swap out if it gets gross, and you can go as thick as you want. Anyone else worried about spills with wood floors near the coffee pot?
I’ve seen a lot of drafty homes where even wood floors feel cold underfoot, especially near big windows or exterior walls. Rugs definitely help, and they’re way less hassle than refinishing wood if you get a spill or scratch. Cork is warmer but yeah, it’s soft—my neighbor’s kitchen has dents from dropped pans. With older windows, you’ll still get that chill unless you address the drafts directly. Sometimes even thick curtains or sealing gaps makes more difference than changing the flooring. I’d be nervous about coffee spills on wood too… cleanup’s never as easy as they say.
I get the concern about cold floors near big windows, but I honestly think people overestimate how much flooring type alone impacts that. In my place (built in the 60s, so not exactly airtight), the biggest difference came after I actually tackled the window drafts and not just what was underfoot. I used to blame the hardwood for being freezing in winter, but once I added some proper weatherstripping and swapped out old caulking, it felt way less chilly—even before putting down any rugs.
Rugs are a quick fix, sure, but they’re not magic if you’ve got real air leaks. I’ve tried thick curtains too—they help a bit with radiant cold, but if there’s a legit draft, you’ll still feel it. Honestly, heavy curtains just made my living room feel smaller and darker during the day, which kind of defeats the point of big windows for me.
I hear you on cork being warm but soft. I put cork tiles in a basement rec room—super comfy, but after a couple years, there’s definitely some dents and scratches that don’t bounce back. Wouldn’t do it in a kitchen or anywhere with heavy furniture again.
On spills: wood isn’t as fragile as people think if you keep up with sealing it every couple years. I’ve had coffee mishaps and as long as you wipe it up quickly, no harm done. The only time I had trouble was when a spill went unnoticed overnight—then yeah, you get a mark.
If you want warmth underfoot without fussing over rugs or worrying about dents, maybe look into engineered wood with underlayment. Not as soft as cork but holds up better than solid hardwood against moisture and temperature swings. Just my two cents from messing around with different options over the years.