You’re spot on about the north-facing rooms being a pain in winter. I’ve got a similar setup—south-facing windows practically heat my living room on sunny afternoons, but the north side just never catches a break. Shrink-wrap kits made a big difference for me too, even if they’re not the prettiest solution. Honestly, I think a lot of folks underestimate how much orientation matters. Sometimes it feels like you can throw all the insulation and heavy curtains at a north window and still end up needing a sweater.
I’ve been wondering if it’s even possible to make a north-facing room feel warm without just cranking the heat. I tried those shrink-wrap window kits this year, too—definitely helped with drafts, but yeah, they’re not exactly stylish. I keep reading about “thermal mass” and how it helps with passive solar heating, but unless you’ve got big south-facing windows and a concrete floor or something, it seems pretty theoretical. Anyone ever try those insulated cellular shades? Curtains alone don’t seem to cut it for me—my office still feels like a walk-in fridge half the time.
North-facing rooms are the ultimate test of patience in winter, aren’t they? I’ve got one that basically laughs at my radiator. I went with those cellular shades last year—honestly, they made a difference, especially compared to my old sad curtains. Not a miracle cure, but you don’t get that icy draft rolling down your neck every time you sit by the window. They’re not cheap though, and if you get the blackout ones, your room can feel like a cave during the day. If you want “warm” as in “not wearing mittens indoors,” they’re worth a shot.
North-facing rooms are a real pain in the winter, I totally get it. Mine has always been cold, no matter how high I crank the heat. I tried the cellular shades too—agreed, they’re a step up from regular curtains, but yeah, they’re not magic. I noticed less draft, but sometimes I still end up with a blanket on my lap if I’m sitting by the window for a while. The blackout ones made my room feel a bit gloomy during the day, so I switched to the light-filtering kind. Not quite as warm, but at least I don’t feel like I’m living in a bunker.
Did you notice any condensation issues with the shades? I found a bit more moisture on the windows in the mornings, probably because they trap air. Still, I’d rather deal with that than freezing fingers. If you’re looking for “cozy” and not just “less freezing,” layering up with a thick rug helped me too. North-facing windows just don’t want to play nice, do they?
“Did you notice any condensation issues with the shades? I found a bit more moisture on the windows in the mornings, probably because they trap air.”
Funny you mention that—condensation actually drove me nuts last winter. I get what you’re saying about preferring that over being cold, but I started worrying about mold with all that extra moisture. Have you tried cracking the window just a touch for ventilation, even when it’s cold? Sounds counterintuitive, but it helped balance things out for me... didn’t solve everything, but at least my sills stopped getting soggy.
As for rugs, totally agree—makes a bigger difference than I expected. But have you thought about putting clear plastic film on the windows too? It’s not pretty, but it really cut drafts for me (and was way cheaper than new shades). North-facing rooms are just stubborn like that.
I hear you on the north-facing windows—ours barely get any sun in winter and always feel chilly, no matter what I try. I did the plastic film trick last year too. Not the prettiest, but it made a noticeable difference. I haven’t had much luck with just rugs, though... maybe my floors are just too cold to begin with? I still get a bit of condensation if I keep the shades down all night, but like you said, cracking the window helps. Sometimes it feels like a losing battle with these old windows.
Yeah, rugs barely did anything for me either... my old hardwood just soaks up the cold. The plastic film helped a bit, but honestly, those north-facing windows are just stubborn. I tried putting some insulated curtains up this year—kinda bulky, but it made the room feel less drafty. Condensation’s still a pain though. Sometimes I just give up and wear thicker socks around the house. Old windows have their own agenda, I swear.
Old windows have their own agenda, I swear.
Ain’t that the truth. I’ve got 1950s single-pane specials over here and I’m pretty sure they’re just decorative at this point. North-facing too—so I get all the cold, none of the winter sun. I tried that plastic film one year, but it ended up looking like I’d wrapped my house in Saran Wrap and it still didn’t do much for the chill. At least it cut down on the drafts, but condensation was still a mess. Woke up to little puddles on the sill most mornings.
Insulated curtains helped a bit, but you’re right, they’re bulky as heck. Feels like living inside a tent sometimes. I tried the “towel at the bottom of the window” trick too. Works in a pinch, but it’s not exactly a long-term solution, especially when the cat decides it’s her new bed.
Funny thing is, my neighbor has south-facing windows and his living room is basically a greenhouse all winter. Meanwhile, I’m over here layering socks and considering if I should just start wearing gloves indoors. I keep telling myself replacing the windows would solve it, but then I look at the quotes and suddenly my old windows seem... not so bad.
I hear some folks swear by those thermal window inserts—like a custom-fit storm window you pop in from the inside. Haven’t tried them myself yet, mostly because I keep thinking, “How much difference could it really make?” But at this point, I’d almost try anything short of moving.
Anyway, just wanted to say you’re not alone with stubborn old windows. Sometimes I think they’re just testing our patience for fun.
North-facing windows are a real pain in winter. I’ve got a 1948 brick house, and the original wood windows are basically cold radiators. I tried the shrink film too—total eyesore, and it barely made a dent in the temperature. The condensation issue you mentioned is spot-on. I ended up with peeling paint around the sills because of it.
I finally bit the bullet and made some DIY acrylic inserts last year. Not the prettiest, but honestly, they made a bigger difference than I expected. The drafts dropped off, and the room felt less like a walk-in freezer. Still not as good as proper double glazing, but at a fraction of the cost, I’ll take it. If you’re even a little handy, it’s worth a shot.
I do envy anyone with south-facing windows. My parents’ place is all south exposure and they barely turn the heat on during sunny days. Meanwhile, I’m over here with a space heater under my desk and a pile of sweaters. Upgrading is expensive, but sometimes these little hacks buy you a few more years of tolerable winters.
Yeah, north-facing windows are brutal this time of year. I’ve tried the shrink film too—same deal, just looked tacky and didn’t help much. Those acrylic inserts are underrated though. Not pretty, but they do block a ton of drafts. Sometimes you gotta settle for functional over stylish, right?