Another year, yet another bout of freezing cold weather. Despite its annual occurrence, it still seems to catch us by surprise. Anyone else sleeping in a bobble hat and gloves? You're not alone.
This weekend saw the UK hit minus degrees, with winter well and truly marking its arrival. If you’re lucky enough to be living in a fully functioning, heat-retaining house, then the struggle ends as soon as you walk through the door. But, if like many, you’re surviving in a house that remains perpetually 5 degrees colder than the outside world, going home simply means shivering your tits off in the confines of your damp and mouldy walls.
The plight of surviving rented accommodation in winter can seem pretty daunting, especially in older houses that could probably do with a lil' bit of structural work. Frankly, not everyone is willing to turn the heating on as they might have been in previous years (cozzie livs and all that.)
So, we’ve found some surprisingly simple - and affordable - solutions that might make your bedroom that little bit warmer. Because trust us, when the temperature drops to -1 degrees, every little bit really does help.
1. Get a draft stopper
The concept of a stuffed animal draft stopper might scream your nan's spare bedroom, but they're super effective. Pop one at the bottom of your bedroom door, near drafty front doors, and even along your windowsills if you’re feeling a bit of a breeze there too.
2. Power to the rug
Got bare floors? No wonder your tootsies are cold. According to the National Energy Foundation, the average house can see 10% of heat lost through floors that aren’t insulated. If you’re renting, it’s probably going to be pretty hard to work out how well your bare floors are insulated, but popping a snazzy rug down can definitely contribute to making a room that little bit warmer. We know that large rugs can prove a tad bit spenny, so why not try buying a couple of smaller ones to overlap across the floor? Boho chic.
3. Upgrade your curtains
Sausage dog draft stoppers aside, a slightly more grown-up way to limit drafts from single glazed windows is to up your curtain game. If they’re thin and flimsy, or if you don’t have any at all, then light won't be the only thing getting in. It might be time to treat yourself to some thick curtains. Y'know, to prevent hypothermia and stuff.
4. Don’t underestimate the throw
It's hard to find a house that doesn't own at least one decorative throw - and now it's time to start using them properly. You know how your mum reminds you to wear lots of thin layers to keep yourself warm? Well, apply the same rule to your blanket situation. Whip 'em off the side of your sofa and throw them over you. And when you get into bed, simply treat yourself to a few extra throws rather than stressing about electric blanket.
5. Get creative with your radiator
Apparently, the tin foil method is legit. The idea is that you put some heat reflective foil behind the radiator to stop the heat vanishing through the wall instead of actually warming the room. You do need to buy good quality aluminium foil to get the most out of the technique, though.
6. Go overboard with the candles
Truth be told, you’d need quite a number of candles to significantly feel like you’ve heated your room up (and for safety measures, we’re totally not promoting any fire hazards over here). But you have to admit, the warm glow and zen-like feelings you get from having a few candles going gives the illusion of heat (for a while). Or nab yourself an electric heater. They're both wins in our eyes.