10 Ways to Warm Up Your Bathroom in Winter

During the chilly winter months, the thought of touching your feet to the bathroom's ice-cold tile floors is enough to make you want to avoid the room altogether. And as for that dreaded moment when you step out of the steamy warmth of the shower into the frigid air—forget it! But there are some easy ways to cut the chill; here are ten ideas that will turn your bathroom into a cozy retreat during the coldest part of the year.

By Faith Towers | Updated Nov 19, 2020 11:04 AM

A Case of Cold Feet

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Patterned bathroom mat

There is nothing worse than touching cold tile with your bare feet. To mitigate the problem, place a few thick rugs in front of the sink, toilet, and shower. Not only will they keep your feet warm, but they will also lend a soft, inviting feel to the bathroom.


Related: How To—Get Your Bathroom Guest-Ready in 20 Minutes or Less

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A Warm Welcome

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Neutral bathroom color

Believe it or not, the visual warmth of a room can help to make it actually feel warmer. Decorate with warmer tones to give the space an intimate feel. Red, orange and yellow tones along with warm wood finishes will all help to lend a cozy ambiance to the space.


Related: Beyond White—11 Alternative Hues to Color Your Bath

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Efficiency Check

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Caulk bathroom window

If your bathroom feels chillier than the rest of the house, the windows may be the culprit. Perform a quick test to see if your windows are letting in drafts by holding up a piece of tissue around the perimeter—if it moves, you have an air leak. Caulk around the window to prevent future air flow.


Related: 8 Wise Ways to Winter-Proof Your Home for Practically Nothing

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Window of Opportunity

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Let sunlight into the bathroom

Let the sun shine in through the windows. The daylight will raise the temperature of the room slightly, and the sun’s bright rays will give your skin a warm sensation. If you are concerned about privacy, apply a decorative translucent film to the bottom half of the window.


Related: The 10 Best Plants for Your Bathroom

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Coming In Hot

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How to keep your towels warm

If you hate the feeling of wrapping up in a cold towel right after a hot shower, try this. Hang the over the edge of the shower door or shower rod so you don’t have to let the cold air in to reach it when you are finished. Just be sure to place it out of the way of any potential splashes, because a wet towel is even worse than a cold one.


Related: 10 Quick Fixes for a More Refreshing Shower

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Don’t Be Left Out In The Cold

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Hang your clothes outside the shower

Do you break out in goosebumps each morning when you leave your humid bathroom to go assemble the day’s outfit? Instead, choose it ahead of time and hang it on the back of the door. The clothing will heat up in the balmy bathroom—and the steam will loosen small wrinkles, too!

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Throw In The Towel

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Towel radiators

If simply hanging your towel over the edge of the shower door isn’t enough, you may want to invest in a heated towel warmer. They are usually mounted to the wall, and will warm up your towel all the while that you are in the shower.


Related: 9 Ways to Make a Half Bath Feel Whole 

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In The Heat of The Moment

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Heat lamps for the bathroom

Heat lamps are another great way to raise the temperature of the room for a brief period. Switching on a special lamp is much more efficient than, say, turning up the heat for the whole zone just so the bathroom will be warm when you get out of the shower. Your local home improvement store can help you pick the right one for your space.


Related: 9 Sneaky Ways to Cut Your Home Heating Bills

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Water It Down

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Bleeding the radiator

If you have radiators that don’t warm up completely, chances are it needs bleeding. Bleeding a radiator lets trapped air out of the system, allowing hot water to fully warm up the radiator. To do this, simply turn the radiator’s bleed valve counter-clockwise slightly with a radiator key (or a flat screwdriver) until you hear a hissing sound. Once water begins exiting the valve, turn the key clockwise to close it.


Related: 11 Stylish Ways to Enhance—or Hide—Your Radiators

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Take The Floor

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Heated bathroom floors

If you’re really serious about staying warm in the bathroom, consider adding radiant floor heating. Electric heating coils or water-heated tubing are added underneath your floors, creating warmth that rises from the floors upward to heat the room naturally. Not only will these heated floors keep your toes warm, but they'll heat the entire room as well.


Related: 8 Cutting Edge Components for Your Dream Bathroom

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