Keeping Warm in Bed
Keeping warm in bed is a never-ending battle when you are a cold sleeper or have a cold bedroom. Soaring energy prices also mean that central heating is more expensive than ever, reaching a cost some people can’t afford.
So, what other ways can you keep warm in bed? You will find plenty of practical ways to do just that below. On a side note, if you are struggling to heat your home due to high energy costs, this article from Citizens Advice is helpful.
Let’s jump in!
Wear pyjamas
If you don’t wear pyjamas, you’re just asking to be cold! Pyjamas help keep you warm, especially when they are long-sleeved.
If you don’t have any pyjamas, wear a t-shirt and some Long Johns or leggings - anything will do to provide a layer of warmth!
Get a memory foam mattress.
Memory foam mattresses have no air pockets that let cold air through, so they are better at keeping you warm than spring mattresses.
The downside to memory foam is it can get too warm in summer, but you can get memory foam mattresses with a layer of cooling gel. The gel doesn’t make you cold; instead, it simply dissipates heat to stop you from sweating during the night.
Choose a suitable mattress tog.
One of the most common mistakes when making a bed warmer is choosing an incredibly thick duvet. A 12 tog duvet is the maximum you need in the UK, and a 10.5 tog all-season duvet is fine most nights.
If you are a cool sleeper, invest in a 10.5 to 12 tog duvet, but avoid going higher. While going higher will keep you warmer, it could also make you sweat.
Layer up with a flat sheet
This tip comes straight from the bedmaking handbook!
A flat sheet sits under your duvet to stop chills, and it will also prevent you from being uncovered at any point during the night. Flat sheets are standard in hotels because they are considered an essential component of any layered bed.
Get a thick duvet cover (flannelette)
If your duvet cover is lightweight and thin, you are missing a trick. You want a thick duvet cover that helps trap heat for winter nights.
You can get winter bedding that is lusciously thick and made from a weaved material, but the best bedding for keeping warm is flannelette bedding. Flannelette bedding is made from thick cotton, brushed for luxury and softness.
Heat your bed with a heated mattress topper.
A heated mattress topper is the best way to beat the cold. Just turn it on 20 minutes before bedtime, and you’ll have a nice, toasty bed to get into. Not only will a heated mattress topper pre-heat your bed, but it can keep you warm overnight on a low setting. Nothing beats every square inch of your mattress being warm, especially when you toss and turn a lot.
Heat your bedroom cheaply with an electric radiator
With energy prices sky-rocketing, the last thing you want to do is boot up your central heating system to heat your house.
A cheaper way to heat your bedroom (or any room) is with a free-standing electric radiator that you plug into the wall. An electric radiator costs around 45p to run for 8-hours, so it will only add around £13.50 to your monthly electricity bill.
Plug draughts and insulate your bedroom
The most significant cause of heat loss in bedrooms is the door. If you heat your bedroom but not the room outside the door, warm air will get sucked out of your bedroom. The easiest way to remedy this is with sealing strips.
You might also leak heat from your windows. Thermal curtains are a cheap way to trap heat inside your bedroom, or you can get insulated blinds. Another option is insulation window film, although it has mixed results.
You can plug gaps between the boards with floorboard gap filler strips made from flexible foam if you have exposed floorboards.
Tips for keeping warm in bed
1. Your Bedroom:
*The perfect temperature at night should be 15-19 degrees Celsius. Change the thermostat in your bedroom to this about an hour before you go to bed, so it is ready for you.
*There are no draughts; place a draught excluder by your door, and close the curtains when it starts to get dark to keep out any draughts. Add a few rugs which will keep your feet warm before getting into bed, and your floor will retain some of the heat rising from lower levels helping to heat the room.
*You can buy an electric heater which will help keep you warm through the night but make sure it is quiet so it doesn’t keep you awake and don’t stand it near anything that can catch fire.
2. Your Bed
- Choose a dual season mattress, so you can have the summer side to keep you cool and then when the winter months are coming, turn the mattress over to the winter side.
- Have a fleecy under the blanket as this extra layer will help protect you from the cold.
- Use a higher duvet tog in the winter. 13.5-15 is ideal.
- Layers are a good idea as they trap warm air, which will keep you warm.
- Electric blankets/duvets are good for adding some extra heat to your bed, and they will maintain the heat through the night. You can buy ones under your bottom sheet to heat the bed before you get into it.
- Use a hot water bottle. This may be old fashioned, but if it is covered and not too hot you can place it anywhere to keep you warm.
3. Yourself
- Have a nice warm bath before bed, which will warm you up and make you sleepy, especially if you have some lovely soothing oils in it.
- Have a nice warm drink as this will help warm your insides, helping you to feel and remain warm.
- Wear night clothes such as pyjamas, and to make sure that you keep extra warm, make sure that they are made from wool, cotton or silk and not synthetic fabrics.
- Invest in some thermal nightwear to keep you warm and not just for camping.
- Wear a pair of bed socks. This will help warm up your core temperature, and having warm feet will help you drop off quicker.
- Wearing a hat may sound silly in bed, but your head is where you lose heat from first, so a cap will keep the heat in longer.
- Keep your hands and feet under the covers.