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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Malvika Padin

How to keep warm without putting your heating on – including rearranging furniture

As energy prices, cost of living and inflation continue to mount in the UK, the winter season is not something that people are likely to be looking forward to.

Heating our homes to get through the colder months is never particularly cheap, however, this year with rising energy bills is particularly difficult for most.

In fact, many parts of the country are set to open up local buildings as "warm banks" for those who can't afford to lose money on energy and heating.

However, there might be some ways to keep warming without turning on heating, according to Leanne O'Malley from retailer Studio.

Opt for flannel or fleece bedding

One of the easiest ways to avoid feeling the chill especially at nights is replacing your bedding with warmer alternatives.

Leanne O'Malley of Studio recommends trying flannel or fleece for winter bedding as these thicker materials act as effective insulators.

These options tend to also be quite affordable as well as cosy to keep you warm and comfortable without spending too much.

Try electric or weighted blanket

Electric or weighted blankets are a great investment to keep yourself warm in a cost-effective manner during winters.

These are significantly cheaper than keeping your central heating running.

Electric blankets are great for keeping you warm in a cost-effective way this winter. Many electric blankets also come with self-timers, so you can set them to be on for just an hour or two while you drift off, which will help you to reduce costs even further.

Meanwhile, weighted blankets not just keep you warm on a budget, but have the added bonus of reducing feelings of anxiety and improving sleep issues.

Use a warm duvet

While we're picking winter bedding, it's best that we go for a duvet that's warm and versatile.

This doesn't necessarily mean the thickest duvet available. Instead, pick something that withstands cold nights but is also not too warm for milder evenings.

By doing this you'll be able to save on buying a new duvet once we transition into spring.

Leanne O'Malley of retail expert Studio advises: "The 'tog' of a duvet is a rating between the range of 2.5 to 15 which indicates its warmth. So, a tog of 10.5 to 12.5 is a good place to start when picking a duvet for this winter."

Pick cosy nightclothes

Aside from bedding, it's important to pick comfy and warm nightclothes as well.

Spending a little money now on more suitable pyjamas will go a long way this winter, insulating heat overnight and hopefully reducing the amount of time you need your heating on.

The most ideal choice is fleece or wool pyjamas with dressing gowns, hooded blankets and oversized hoodies also making for good options.

If you’re someone who struggles with poor circulation or simply often finds that your feet have escaped the duvet, then don’t forget to get on some thick, fuzzy socks too.

Reseal your windows

Check your windows for for cracks and leaks, as this could be the cause of draughts or pesky condensation.

If you find any gaps letting cold air in, use silicone-based caulk or sealant to reseal your windows yourself and save cash on hiring a professional.

Make sure to check windows throughout your house, not just the bedroom as it's important to insulate as much as heat as possible.

Rearrange your furniture

The layout of your room and the furniture in it could be making you colder.

Make sure your bed is positioned away from windows and doors to avoid any draught.

Also try to keep your bed as close to the radiator as possible but without obstructing it, as this impacts the overall temperature of the room.

Allow enough space for the radiator’s heat to circulate so that the entire bedroom is nice and toasty at night.

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