Moving your bed against an internal wall can help keep a bedroom warm through winter without turning on the heating, according to Lisa Davis, product advisor at Opera Beds. The advice comes as many households look to cut energy spending during the colder months.
Figures cited in the report suggest that 1.7 million households admitted in 2024 that they would not switch on their central heating because of mounting energy costs. Cold conditions can lead to health complications and disturb sleep, but the heating does not have to be the only option.
How to make a room feel warmer
Positioning a bed against internal walls is generally best, as these walls are less prone to temperature fluctuations and can help a person stay warm through the evening. It is also recommended to keep the bed away from windows, since even well-insulated windows can lose warmth and allow cold draughts inside.
Furniture should not block radiators, which can reduce their effectiveness, and a rug on hard flooring can provide insulation and reduce heat loss.
Draw curtains at dusk
Another free method is to draw curtains as soon as dusk falls, now that the clocks have gone back. Curtains with thermal lining are particularly effective at stopping cold air from seeping through windows, and thick materials such as wool, velvet or fleece retain heat best.
On a limited budget, a shower curtain placed behind existing curtains can offer extra insulation.
How to stop a draught
Draughts from windows and doors should be blocked using weather stripping and window film, which can have a greater impact than expected. To find draughts, check for air movement around doors, windows, floorboards, beams, skirting boards and air conditioning units, or hold a lit match near suspected leaks to see if it flickers.
Keeping doors to empty rooms closed concentrates heat where it is needed most, and a draught excluder prevents cold air from entering beneath doors.
