Whether you’re a native New Yorker or a transplant from warmer environs, winters in NYC can be both magical and harrowing. When the decorations have been taken down and the holiday markets are closed, cold, snowy weather can inspire serious dread. In order to survive winter in the city, it’s imperative to warm both your home and your psyche. Heed these nine tips for keeping your home, body, and soul cozy through the cold months in New York City.

Get a Space Heater

Your apartment should already be heated according to city regulations, but sometimes you’ll need a little extra warmth. Your room might not have that idyllic fireplace you’ve always wanted, but you can warm your toes with a small space heater, which is just as effective — and requires less wood gathering.

Just be sure to take a look at your lease and check if it allows for the use of space heaters. Some leases may not due to the risks they pose to both you and the property. However, other landlords may welcome the use of a space heater and even deduct the purchase from your rent if they cover heat in the building. The best thing to do if the lease is unclear is ask.

Always be as careful as possible when using space heaters. Never put a space heater on carpet, rugs, furniture, or cabinetry, and keep it at least three feet away from anything flammable. Make sure to turn them off when you’re not home, and unplug them, too. It’s also best practice not to plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater, and not plug them into a power strip or extension cord, as these could overheat.

Manhattan Rentals Under $3,500 on StreetEasy Article continues below

West Chelsea

458 West 20th Street

$2,499 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hamilton Heights

503 West 148th Street

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Upper West Side

158 West 84th Street

$3,195 No Fee

1 |

1

Washington Heights

511 West 175th Street

$3,300 No Fee

4 |

1

Hudson Heights

711 West 190th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Fort George

85 Fairview Avenue

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Hudson Heights

690 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,695 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

13 East 117th Street

$3,000 No Fee

2 |

1

Midtown South

139 East 33rd Street

$2,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

405 East 69th Street

$3,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

51 East 131st Street

$2,995 No Fee

1 |

1

Sutton Place

324 East 59th Street

$2,450 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bundle Up With the Right Gear

As British author Alfred Wainwright once said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” In other words, staying warm in an NYC winter is largely about having the right gear. Sure, everyone wants to stay fashionable in this style-obsessed city, but that snowstorm doesn’t care how good you look — and it will soak through your new leather boots.

Invest in a pair of waterproof snow shoes and some puffy, insulated outerwear. Gloves and hats are always a good idea, as well as scarves. Leave all your heels indoors when the streets are piled knee-high with slush. If you work in an office, wear sensible shoes for the commute and throw your office shoes in your bag. And listen to the mantra for any cold climate: layer up!

Stock Up on Hot Beverages

There’s nothing like coming in from a cold commute home to a hot mug of apple cider, cocoa, coffee, or tea. Warm beverages will physically heat up your body, and the sugar will combat your winter sadness. If you want to really get fancy, invest in a milk steamer, try some high-end hot chocolate mixes, or toss in some Baileys Irish Cream.

Brooklyn Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Bushwick

1369 Greene Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Greenpoint

18 Diamond Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

3116 Clarendon Road

$2,852 No Fee

2 |

1

Bay Ridge

565 80th Street

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Greenpoint

153 Dupont Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Homecrest

1820 East 19th Street

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

2

Stuyvesant Heights

51 Mac Dougal Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

East Flatbush

1249 New York Avenue

$2,299 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bay Ridge

7002 Ridge Boulevard

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

East Flatbush

1249 New York Avenue

$2,499 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

185 Veronica Place

$2,649 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

204 Linden Boulevard

$2,599 No Fee

1 |

1

Keep the Air Circulating

It might sound bizarre to turn on your fan — known predominately as a cooling device — in the middle of winter. But did you know that running your ceiling fan in reverse will actually help the warm air sink down from the ceiling, thereby circulating your apartment’s heat? (Most fans have a small reverse switch on their side or under an easily accessible panel.) Science is a beautiful thing.

If your building uses radiator heating, but you only have radiators in certain rooms, both ceiling and plug-in fans can help move some of that hot air around to ensure the entire apartment is the right temp.

Get Some Cozy Stay-at-Home Attire

If you’re going to stay in and stay warm, you might as well do it right. Investing in a good fluffy robe, comfy sweatpants, or even a onesie can make getting out of bed in the morning a bit more bearable. Even if you never wear any of these items out of your home, they’re worth having if your apartment tends to stay on the colder side. (Although if it’s always on the really cold side, contact your super or landlord.)

Keep Your Holiday Lights Up

The holidays come and go pretty early on in the winter, and New Yorkers could certainly use some extra cheer in January and February. So consider keeping some of your holiday decorations up past December, namely the lights. String white lights around your room or apartment to give it a homey, festive flair even after the holidays have ended. Relaxing in a room lit by twinkle lights is inherently cozy.

Manhattan Homes Under $1.5M on StreetEasy Article continues below

West Village

815 Greenwich Street

$929,000

1 |

1

Hudson Yards

430 West 34th Street

$1,250,000

2 |

2

Beekman

434 East 52nd Street

$785,000

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

124 East 79th Street

$925,000

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

405 East 63rd Street

$595,000

1 |

1

East Village

107 Avenue A

$949,000

1 |

2

Midtown South

220 Madison Avenue

$1,450,000

2 |

2

Lower East Side

110 Forsythe Street

$799,000

3 |

1

Lower East Side

268 East Broadway

$995,000

2 |

1

Greenwich Village

88 Bleecker Street

$845,000

1 |

1

Upper West Side

50 West 96th Street

$1,150,000

2 |

1.5

Lincoln Square

180 West End Avenue

$510,000

Studio |

1

Insulate Your Apartment

The smallest gaps in your window or holes in your wall will let in air just as easily as they will pesky critters (yes, that’s an NYC euphemism for cockroaches). Kill two birds — or roaches — with one stone by making sure that all openings to the outside world are closed, painted over, and/or sealed shut. For large gaps, contact your building super right away. Otherwise, you can fight cold drafts with door snakes, heavy or thermal curtains, and weatherproofing window tape. For very drafty windows, try insulating with plastic sheet insulation. It’s not the most stylish option, but for especially old windows, it might be your best option. Just enlist the help of a friend to help install it.

Get Thick Rugs and Socks

Make your apartment instantly cozier by covering over any wood or linoleum surfaces with heavy rugs, so your toes won’t go into shock every time you roll out of bed. Area rugs can also help insulate your apartment and keep the heat in. Pair your rugs with a new collection of extra-fuzzy socks, which are at once stylish and warm, or go with the old-school wool type. And never underestimate the power of a good pair of slippers.

Brooklyn Homes Under $1.5M on StreetEasy Article continues below

East Flatbush

8 East 53rd Street

$999,999

4 |

3

Windsor Terrace

1139 Prospect Avenue

$885,000

1 |

1

Williamsburg

429 Kent Avenue

$975,000

1 |

1

Bay Ridge

133 84th Street

$1,449,000

3 |

2

Cypress Hills

114 Shepherd Avenue

$899,000

6 |

3

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

229 Hawthorne Street

$1,425,000

2 |

2.5

Flatbush

575 East 28th Street

$1,450,000

6 |

4

DUMBO

100 Jay Street

$1,050,000

1 |

1

Bushwick

23 Bleecker Street

$673,750

1 |

1

Crown Heights

960 Sterling Place

$599,000

1 |

1

Crown Heights

892 Bergen Street

$1,100,000

2 |

2

Mill Basin

2300 National Drive

$1,399,000

5 |

3

Leave Your Apartment…Sometimes

Your impulse will be to stream TV and nuzzle under the covers, sip hot cocoa, and bask in the glow of your remaining holiday lights — and you should! But you should also go get some fresh air, or sunshine if there is any. Periodically leaving your apartment and taking a walk through the frigid-but-magnificent city will help you adjust to winter and ward off that other cold-season hazard: cabin fever. 

New York City has no shortage of indoor activities to enjoy, whether you want to check out a food hall, wander through a museum, play indoor pickleball, or dance the night away.

Some outdoor activities, such as holiday markets, might use outdoor space heaters to help keep you warm as you browse. (Some of them stay open past the holidays, too!)

We hope these tips enable you to survive winter in New York — and perhaps even enjoy it. Stay warm out there!