If the winter is nipping at your nose, chilling your toes, and driving up your utility bill with the increased use of your heating system then it’s high time to reconsider some alternatives to heating the entire house without raising the thermostat to keep you warm while you sleep. After all, the bedroom is the only room in your house in which you can feel cosy and snug without increasing your energy consumption. Here are some tips for maintaining a toasty bedroom without turning up the heat.
Consider Warmer Bedding
When nature lowers its thermostat, the apparent solution is to dial up the heat in your bed. Like thicker layers of clothing for chilly weather, heavier layers of bedding will keep you warmer at night. Change your sheets from percale or sateen to flannel, then cover them with a cosy blanket and a down-filled comforter or duvet.
For added warmth consider an electric blanket. But remember to keep one on top and not stacked beneath a cover or duvet. Otherwise, you run the risk of burning yourself or creating a fire danger. Additionally, keep in mind that electric blankets often aren't advised for small children due to potential safety concerns with the wiring and controllers. Also, if your bedroom tends to get quite cold consider using an electric mattress pad, which is designed to warm up your entire bed from underneath the covers.
Lay Down Woven Rugs
You can't create a warm and cosy bedroom without layering down hand-made woven rugs made from the best natural materials, extremely comfortable and soft to the touch. They’ll give your bare floor warmth and colour as they look fantastic on every kind of flooring, including tile and wood.
Moreover, due to their vibrant colours and varied textures, a woven rug can level up your bedroom décor. Even when placed in the room's corner, woven rugs can become the room's centre point because they are so striking. Depending on your furniture, they can give the space a classic or modern aspect. They can also add a lovely touch to the room's stark walls.
Most regular rugs, on the other hand, are of poor quality and will only provide you with aesthetic appeal and style for a very brief period. But that’s not the case with weave rugs which are made to last. They are produced by weaving techniques which is one of the most well-known methods of producing rugs in terms of utmost quality and durability.
In this regard, hand-made alternatives are very soft because of the hand-knotted production technique used in the process. Moreover, they have piled so, when you touch them, you can feel the softness of their piles with your hands.
However, if you have small kids and pets, hand-woven options might not be the best floor solution as these rugs are sensitive and require a high level of care and maintenance. Instead, opt for machine-weaved ones which are more user-friendly but still of great quality.
Check for Drafts
Warm interior air tends to escape through any gaps or cracks in your bedroom windows and, if you have any, outside doors. As a result, you'll feel cold and have to spend more money on utilities to maintain the right indoor air temperature.
Check all windows and doors that open to the exterior once a season. When all windows and doors are closed, you can check for drafts by hand. Alternately, hold a burning incense stick near the windows and doors while keeping an eye out for any strange smoke movement. Your room will remain warmer if you fill up these gaps. Using caulk or weather-stripping are simple yet inexpensive methods to stop those little leaks around windows and doors.
Cover the Windows
Since outside temperatures are transferred through the window glass, you can partially insulate your bedroom during the winter by switching to heavier or more insulated window coverings. Cover your blinds or replace the sheers with thick, lined drapes instead of lightweight ones. While you're at it, pick a bright hue to dispel some of the winter melancholy. Insulated window treatments can also help if your windows let a lot of heat in during the summer.
Use a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans are a terrific method to cut back on energy use, any time of the year. On sticky, sweltering days and nights in the summer, the counterclockwise spin generates a refreshing wind. But once winter arrives, it's time to rotate your fan in the opposite direction, clockwise. The switch that controls the rotational direction is often located on the base of the ceiling fan. In this manner, the warmer air will be pushed down into the room where it is most needed by the fan's blades as they draw it from the ceiling.
Take advantage of your seasonal fan adjustment to wipe down the blades as well; they are a prime spot for dust build-up. Simply place a pillowcase over each blade and slide the material to the very end. The accumulated dust won’t float down to cover your bedroom but will stay inside the pillowcase.
Add a Space Heater
The advisable temperature for restful sleep is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If your bedroom gets colder than that, you can use a space heater to warm things up a little without turning on the central heating. Look for a portable heater that is the right size for your room when making your selection. And put it far enough away from the bed so that there is no risk of the bed covering the gadget.
You’ll also want to play it safe with the cord. In case of emergency, don't stretch it across your bedroom's exit or at nighttime bathroom visits. Additionally, confirm that the heater has a safety feature that will instantly shut it off if it tips over or overheats. Just like electric blankets, portable heaters are acceptable in an adult's bedroom, but they shouldn't be used unattended in a child's room.
