How to Fix a Cold Residential Room

Check the windows for drafts. Light a candle and move it around the frame of the window to see whether air is coming into the room. Apply weatherproofing strips between the frame and the casement. Lock the window for a tighter seal. Hang storm windows on the outside of the year-round window if it doesn't have double-glazed glass.

Hang heavy draperies in front of the windows and run them down to the floor and wider than the window. Put a second, liner drapery behind them for an added layer of cold protection. Open draperies over a south-facing window to bring in solar heat. Close draperies when no sun is present.

Replace an old furnace or heater with one that is Energy Star-rated for efficiency and cost effectiveness. Seal drafty air vents that hang in the ceiling.

Walk on the floor in bare feet to determine whether the cold originates from the bottom of the room. Buy area rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting to keep warmth in if the floors are stone or tile. Install under-floor heating, an expensive but effective solution to heating a room.

Furnish the room with fabrics, not leather. Upholster a large sofa in chenille or corduroy for additional warmth. Place a throw blanket nearby for chilly evenings.

Install a wood-burning stove. Run the flue through the ceiling of a single-level home or through a side wall. Keep seasoned wood nearby. Purchase a ventless gas fireplace if you have gas running to the house. Close the damper of a log-burning fireplace when it's not in use.

Purchase electric, gas or oil portable heaters. Turn them on before using the room and let them heat the area. Turn the portable heater off before going to sleep.

Feel your walls. Hang draperies or a fabric backdrop if the walls are cold, as is often the case in old stone houses that don't have insulation cavities. Speak with an insulation expert if you have cavity walls and they are cold. You may need more insulation. Check your attic for adequate insulation. Less than 6 inches of insulation means more is required.

Attach a fan to the ceiling. Set the blades to force the warm air sitting near the ceiling back down into the room. Keep the fan movement on low to avoid feeling the movement of air. Find a ceiling fan with a built-in heater for winter use and a regular fan for the summer.

Place air deflectors over heating vents to redirect the output of heat, especially if furniture is in front of the vent. Clean the heating vent of debris by removing the cover and suctioning particles out. Close any heating vents in rooms not being used.

Add a humidifier to furnace equipment or use a portable machine. Increase the humidity, and the room temperature will increase by at least 10 percent.