We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
The warm September weather is well and truly over, with a chilly blast due to hit the UK this week. Temperatures are forecast to plummet as we head towards the weekend, and for the first time in months, this may lead Britons to switch on the heating in a bid to keep warm.
With many of the UK still working from home, keeping your living space warm and cosy has never been more important.
However, all that time at home with the heating on can see bills mount up – and while it’s easy to switch on the central heating – there are more cost-effective ways to warm up your house.
Whether it is reaching for the thicker socks or warmer jumper, grabbing a hot water bottle or putting a drought excluder in front of the door – there are numerous ways to keep warm this cold season.
Express.co.uk has sought advice from leading experts on keeping your home toasty as we head towards the winter season – and it might save you a penny or two in the process.
Read More: What you need to do NOW to avoid unexpected phone bills on EU hols
Check your blind spot
Blinds and shutters don’t just keep the light out, they can be used to effectively control the temperature in your home – meaning that you can keep all that precious heat in during the winter months.
And if you’re looking to upgrade your window fittings ahead of the winter Jason Peterkin, director at 247 Blinds advised: “Wooden Venetian blinds or plantation shutters are great for keeping the temperature at a nice, warm level in the home as they allow you to adjust the amount of light filtering into the room by altering the size of the gap between the slats.
“Wooden Venetians and shutters are often thicker and essentially act as a barrier between your windows and the room.
“They are particularly good at retaining heat, as wood possesses insulative properties naturally.”
Make sure your windows are cold-proof
Similarly, your windows could be contributing to that chill in your home.
If you’re feeling unwanted cold air in your home, this may be because your windows are not performing as well as they should be.
In fact, estimates show up to 40 percent of your home’s energy escapes from your windows.
If you live in an older house which lets a lot of the outside air in, then purchasing a smoke pen will help you detect which spots need the most attention.
DON’T MISS
Vitamin D deficiency: Could a lack of the vitamin be causing your cold [INSIGHT]
UK weather forecast: Charts show icy Arctic BLAST to smash Britain [FORECAST]
UK cold weather forecast: Arctic air to hit Britain – maps turn PURPLE [ANALYSIS]
If you follow the smoke trail and pay close attention to the floorboards, doors and windows, you’ll be able to easily identify the main source of draught.
Martin Troughton, Marketing Director at Safestyle explained: “Older windows tend to let a lot of the precious heat from your home escape meaning that you’re using more energy than you probably need to when heating each room.
“Energy-efficient windows, on the other hand, will not only make your home feel warmer and save you money on your energy bills, but it will also help to reduce your carbon footprint.
“However, it’s not only old windows that can have a negative impact; if your windows are poorly installed and maintained, then this can also be problematic.
“It’s really important to keep up the maintenance of your windows as failing to do so could actually cost you a lot of money in heating bills.”
Upgrade your mattress to one which regulates body temperature
Being cold in bed is perhaps one of the worst feelings, waking up and reaching for the blanket to make sure every part of you is covered.
As well as being extremely unpleasant, shivering in bed can also cause a major disruption to your sleeping pattern.
Though many of us often think of hot water bottles and electric blankets as a way to stay cosy during the night, we should also be thinking about our mattress choice.
Jonathan Warren, director at bed specialist Time4Sleep explained just how important it is to choose the right mattress.
He said: “There are a number of mattress options available that can help you to regulate your body’s temperature.
“The generation elite gel memory foam mattresses include intelligent temperature regulating technology to help keep you cool in the summer and warm during autumn and winter.
“These mattresses include a temperature-regulating gel that adjusts with your body temperature to ensure you’re never too cold during the night, resulting in a truly refreshing night’s sleep.”
Layer up over your classic cotton this autumn
Classic cotton sheets and linens are the staples for nearly every home and everyone likes to inject a little colour and layer up with different textures and fabrics.
Not only can these brighten your space and add personality to a room, but it can also be a clever way to warm up your bedroom and living room during the chillier months.
Lucy Ackroyd, Head of Design at Christy explains: “Pure cotton sheets have sensory benefits and are naturally breathable so they help to regulate your temperature and moisture levels while you sleep.
“Using these as a base, alongside injecting colour, layering and mixing textures are very popular design elements to incorporate into your bedroom, and in autumn and winter they can also up the cosy factor and keep you extra toasty at night too!”
Source: Read Full Article