7 surprising tricks to stay warm in bed this winter
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Freezing temperatures are par for the course during the winter in the UK, particularly with a predicted snow bomb on the way.
But with heating costs continually rising, Brits are getting increasingly creative to try to stay warm and avoid forking out a fortune on bills.
Research reveals we spend an extra 24 hours in bed to avoid the big chill during winter, but there are some simple yet surprising ways to ramp up the cosy and stay as toasty as possible in bed.
Read more: Aldi now stocks a weighted blanket that costs under £30
Switch up your PJs
According to Georgia Metcalfe, co-founder and creative director of The French Bedroom Company changing up your nightwear can actually have an impact on how warm you feel in bed.
"Choose a pair of pyjamas that feel soft and provide comfort," she suggests. "One of the best materials to feel warm on cold evenings is silk - it is a natural thermal regulator and keeps heat between the threads."
Shop: John Lewis & Partners Piped Silk Pyjama Set | £130
Watch: 7 hacks to make your home warmer and cosier this winter
Dial up the duvet tog
The best temperate for sleep is around 18°C. "To reach this easily in winter, choose a higher tog duvet of at least 13 which will retain as much heat as possible," Metcalfe suggests. "If you want an added layer, place a velvet bedspread on top of your bed linen, or for something more luxurious, try cashmere."
And if you're struggling to recall the last time you changed your duvet it might be time to do so as the stuffing in older duvets can clump together and lead to cold spots.
Shop: 13.5 Tog Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet | £35 - £65 from John Lewis
Only heat your bedroom
It can be inefficient to heat the whole home all the time, so Metcalfe suggests only turning up the heating in the bedroom and making sure the windows and doors are closed to maximise the temperature of the room.
Another option is to use draught excluders; those long, sausage-shaped things that go in front of doors.
"Improve insulation to avoid leaking heat and place a draught excluder at the bottom of your bedroom door," Metcalfe adds.
Shop: Fabric Draught Excluder Draft Insulator | £9.99 from Amazon
Sleep in fluffy socks
Cotton or woollen socks are the most effective at keeping heat inside the body, with research also proving that it provides the most restful sleep.
"Wearing socks also helps a process called distal vasodilation, which increases blood flow to your feet and allows you to fall asleep more easily," Metcalfe explains.
Shop: Women's Fluffies Short Socks | £4.95 from Seasalt Cornwall
Reposition your bed
If your bed is positioned next to a window, Metcalfe suggests moving it to the other side of the room away from the windows.
"Even if you have double or triple glazed windows, cold weather will cool the glass at night which will make that part of a bedroom colder and as a result, leave you to feel it," Metcalfe explains.
"If moving the bed isn’t an option but you feel frozen, insulate the edges of the window more by using foil."
Place a thick rug on the floor
A surprising amount of heat can be lost from an uninsulated floor, and if you have wood or laminate it will make the bedroom cold quickly.
"Investing in a thick rug will add an extra layer of insulation, will help prevent drafts and also provide a stylish layer to your bedroom," Metcalfe says.
"Another benefit is in the morning you will have a cosy feeling for your feet when you walk across the room."
Shop: Cosy Teddy Rug | £30 - £140 from Dunelm
Use a hot water bottle
In winter, a hot water bottle is fantastic at keeping you warm at night, and in the morning.
"It also has many benefits for the body which boost short and long-term health including relaxing muscles, preventing lactic acid build up and soothing any aches and pains," Metcalfe explains.
