[Tiny Home Heating] DIY Window Insulation, Curtains & Airtight Tricks That Save Real Heat

Before you burn more wood or gas, seal the heat you already have. These DIY insulation tricks for windows, doors, and curtains can cut your heating needs by 50%.

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Heat Is Expensive. But Keeping It Is Free.

You can spend hours chopping wood or worry about your gas tank running out.
But if your tiny home leaks warmth like a sieve, it’s all for nothing.

🔥 What changed everything for me?
I stopped focusing on generating more heat…
And focused on keeping it in.

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🚪 Drafts Are Your Enemy

Wind sneaks in around windows, doors, gaps, and floorboards. It pulls warm air out and pushes cold air in.

Here’s how I found and blocked every leak in my 18m² cabin:

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✅ Step-by-Step: Airtight DIY Checklist

Leak Point	Solution	Tools Needed
🪟 Windows	Bubble wrap + thermal curtains	Spray bottle, scissors
🚪 Door gaps	Foam tape + fabric draft stopper	Foam strip, old towel
🪵 Floorboards	Rug + thick mat layer	Rug, foam underlay
🔗 Chimney base	Wool stuffing + heat-resistant tape	Wool, foil tape
🪜 Wall seams	Eco caulk + thick tapestries	Caulking gun, old blanket

🧪 Want to test leaks? On a windy day, hold a candle by windows/doors. If the flame flickers — seal it.

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🧊 Windows: The #1 Source of Heat Loss

Option 1: Bubble Wrap Insulation

• Spray window with water
• Press cut-to-fit bubble wrap (large bubble side facing in)
• Add curtain or extra layer if desired

🎯 Super effective. Cuts heat loss by up to 50%. Costs €0 if you reuse packaging.

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Option 2: DIY Thermal Curtains

Sew or clip together:

• Old wool blankets
• Emergency space blanket (foil) as inner liner
• Thick blackout curtain for outer shell

💡 Hang using a shower rod, branches, or wire.
Close at night → open in morning for sun.

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Option 3: Reflective Window Film

Apply directly to glass. Acts like double glazing.
Reflects warmth back inside at night, and blocks heat loss.

👉 Try this affordable kit

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🛌 Curtain Off Your Sleeping Area

If your tiny home is just one space, create a curtain pod around your bed:

• Hang blankets or sheets from the ceiling
• Line the inside with foil or bubble wrap
• Sleep inside a warm “nest” while the outer space cools

Like a warm cocoon — with 3–5°C difference from the outer room!

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🔄 Weekly Maintenance = Long-Term Warmth

• Re-check seals after big storms or humidity changes
• Re-tape any lifted edges or shifting bubble wrap
• Shake rugs + vacuum floor cracks to reduce mold/dust

Sealing your home once properly saved me half my firewood use.

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🧠 Think Like a Thermos, Not a Tent

Your tiny home should be:

• Tight
• Insulated
• Layered

Like a good winter coat — multiple layers trap heat better than thick single walls.

Wool + foil + bubble + air space = unbeatable combo

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💬 Show Us Your Winter Seal-Up!

Did you make your own thermal curtains? Draft-proof your van door?
Post your photos and tips in r/BasisLand

Let’s build the warmest community in the coldest climates.