9 ways to make your home feel warm and cosy without turning up the heating
From heated throws and electric blankets to foot warmers and heated cushions
The cold has officially crept in, which means we're keeping one eye on the energy bills and one eye on the thermostat. To help you worry a little less and stay warm a little more, we've found 9 ways to stay cosy and worm without the cost.
The smartest way to stay cosy is to warm yourself rather than the whole house. Whether it's a heated throw on the sofa, an electric blanket in your bed, or a warmed cushion at your desk, today's heated accessories are efficient, toasty warm, and beautifully made.
Pair these with dehumidifiers that keep damp at bay and mini heaters for zoned warmth and you'll be snug all winter long. Here are our nine favourite ways to do it.
Nine cost-effective ways to stay cosy at home
This heated cushion is perfect for popping in your lap or behind your flower back. The infrared technology warms your body directly, so you’re not losing any energy to heating the air around you. Plus, it’s cordless so you can take it to wherever you want to sit.
Top tip: Place it against your lower back rather than your lap, as warming your core makes the rest of you feel warmer too.
Snuggling up under a blanket is cosy anyway, but when it’s heated too, you get a double dose of warmth. This is big enough to drape over you and someone else when you’re on the sofa or snuggled in bed.
Top tip: Check that you have lots of plugs, or an extension lead, so that it can comfortably reach you.
If you love draping a blanket over you, this takes things to a whole new level. The sleeves mean that you can make a cup of tea or type at your laptop with total convenience and you’re not tied to a plug socket because this is completely cordless.
Top tip: Slip it on before you get out of bed on dark mornings, so you step into the day already warm.
Keeping your toes toasty is a little trick that makes a big difference. The boucle fabric is already warm, but once this is on, it gives your feet a boost that warms even the coldest parts of your body.
Top tip: a pair of toasty socks will enhance how warm your feet feel too
I swear by electric blankets for keeping the cold at bay. This sits on top of your mattress, warming the bed before you climb in and all through the night. This model (my favourite electric blankets) has two zones, so you and a partner can have different temperatures underneath you.
Top tip: Turn it on as you start your evening wind-down, then lower or switch it off once you’re in bed.
Don’t underestimate what a dehumidifier can do got the feel of the air in your home: by taking the moisture out, you won’t have that damp, clammy feeling in your skin and you’ll help to stop mould and condensation from clinging to the windows.
Top tip: we love that this is an air purifier too, because it keeps the air clean when you’ve not got much ventilation through the windows
You can’t beat a steaming hot cup of tea or coffee for warming you up from the inside out. These natural, insulated coffee cups are great to have full and sat beside you, whether you’re on the sofa or working from home.
Top tip: pre-heat the cup with hot water and then add in your drink, so that you don’t lose any temperature to the cool metal walls
As well as warming you up, it’s important to look at preventing the things that cool home down. A draught excluder is a really effective way to minimise heat loss from your room and it can add style to your decor too.
Top tip: pick a style that suits what your room already looks like. We also love seasonal looks, such as pumpkin draught excluders in the autumn.
Compact, quiet, and efficient on all fronts, this is the perfect heater to have in your rooms. The subtle silhouette will blend into the background and it pumps out an astonishing about of heat without noise or scent.
Top tip: place your heater away from furniture to maximise the amount of hot air that can reach you
Staying cosy at home needn’t mean cranking up the heating or putting up with a chilly house. By warming yourself directly, choosing soft layers you love and keeping damp under control, you can create a home that feels warm, calm and quietly indulgent whilst saving energy. Treat yourself to one or two of these this winter, and you may find the thermostat stays untouched far longer than you expected.
