5 Ways to Insulate Your Apartment Windows for Winter

Move.org has analyzed the effectiveness and affordability of different insulation methods to help you find the best and most affordable ways to insulate your apartment. 

The best way to seal out the cold air and walk around the apartment you moved into without wearing four sweaters is by insulating the windows.

Insulation lessens over time. Depending on when your apartment was last remodeled, your heater might be working overtime trying to keep your place warm.

While you might not be able to convince your landlord to replace your windows altogether, renter friendly window insulation is an easy way to keep your apartment warm and lower your utility costs. Learn more about the supplies we recommend and ways to keep cold out.

While you're thinking about warming the air in your home, it's also a good time to think about keeping your air clean. Raising plants in your home can be a satisfying way to pass the time, but it can also improve your indoor air quality.

However, not every place has the same plant-friendly climate.

We wanted to know which houseplants are best equipped to thrive in each state’s weather, so we compared light, water, and temperature preferences of 20 of the most popular plants in America. We then weighed them against each state’s average temperature, percentage of sun, and inches of rain to find the best matches.

Peperomia was the most optimal match for nine different states, particularly on the East Coast. It requires medium to bright light with a wide temperature range of 55–80 degrees Fahrenheit, making it ideal for those looking for something easy.

Five states would find a friend in the golden pothos, an easy-to-maintain plant that generally prefers humidity but can also tolerate temperatures as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although the Chinese money plant requires regular watering, it can tolerate temps as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit and grows well in indirect light—just watch out for temperature swings and dry soil.

Monstera’s a challenge to maintain in some states, but if you live in a southern coastal state, the indirect light-loving plant will be perfect for adding extra flair to your home. Just make sure it’s got water.

These popular plants match up with at least one state’s average climate:

• Snake plant
• Chinese evergreen
• Spider plant
• Ponytail palm
• Fern
• ZZ (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
• Bromeliad
• Air plant
• Philodendron

Of the 20 popular plants in our list, the following didn’t make the most optimal match for any states:

• Aloe vera
• Yucca
• Majesty palm
• Fiddle-leaf fig
• Jade
• Dieffenbachia
• Rubber plant

These plants can still work for your home. Just make sure your local climate can support them and that you’re willing to keep up with their maintenance schedules.

Of course, just because a plant is popular and matches your state’s average climate doesn’t always mean it’s the right one for you. You should also consider your plant parenting abilities (not all of us can remember to water a plant more than once a month, okay?).

Outside or inside, your plant will be happiest when it gets the proper light. And if you live in a state where the temperature swings, make sure your plant can handle it.

If you’re looking for minimal effort (no stepladders required), put your plants where they’re easy to water—or where they can receive enough rain on their own.

Owning a plant is a labor of love no matter how little effort you’re required to put in. Even different parts of your home can cause your plant to either thrive or wither, so check in on your plant pals often as they keep you company.

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1. Cornell Cooperative Extension, "House Plants for Healthier Indoor Air," Accessed May 16, 2024.