Cold Feet, Cold Home: Stay Warm and Save on Heating

Updated: 1 November 2026 · 5 min read

Cosy sofa with a heated throw, knitted hot water bottle, wool socks and a draught excluder by the door

The quick answer

The biggest win is warming yourself rather than all the air: a heated throw uses only roughly 60–100 watts, and a hot water bottle uses no electricity at all. Add draught-proofing (door seals, draught excluder, thermal curtains) and keep your feet warm. That often lets you lower the room temperature by 1–2 °C without feeling cold. But don't let rooms drop much below 16 °C, or damp and mould can follow.

⚠️ Safety: Heated throws and blankets: only use products with auto shut-off and a recognised safety mark, never use them folded or creased, don't use them for babies, small children or anyone who can't feel heat properly (for example diabetes with nerve damage), and check the cable regularly. Hot water bottles: never fill with boiling water, fill only about two-thirds, squeeze out the air and don't put them directly on bare skin. Replace cracked or brittle bottles immediately.

Why you feel cold even with the heating on

Feeling warm isn’t only about air temperature. Cold surfaces such as windows, external walls and tiled floors draw heat from your body. On top of that, draughts feel much colder than the thermometer shows. That’s why 20 °C can feel chilly, while 19 °C without draughts and with warm feet is perfectly comfortable.

1. Stop draughts

The cheapest and most effective step:

Under the door: a draught excluder or self-adhesive door-bottom seal closes the gap to the hallway, stairwell or an unheated room.
On windows: check the rubber seal is still flexible. Older windows can often be adjusted at the hinges (winter setting); otherwise self-adhesive sealing strips help. If you rent, ask before making permanent changes.
Thermal curtains: drawn in the evening they create an insulating air layer in front of the cold glass. Don’t cover radiators, though.

Important: if you seal up, keep airing regularly. More in How to ventilate and heat in winter.

2. Warm your body, not all the air

Heated throw: on the sofa or in bed it warms you exactly where you are. At roughly 60–100 watts it uses only a fraction of what a fan heater does.

Foot warmer: cold feet make your whole body shiver. An electric foot warmer under the desk can make a big difference when working from home.

Hot water bottle: the classic with no electricity. Ideal for pre-warming the bed.

Clothing: layers, wool socks, thick-soled slippers and a wearable blanket are unbeatable value.

3. Take the chill off cold floors

Tiles and laminate feel cold because they conduct heat away quickly. A rug or runner, warm slippers and a mat under the desk help noticeably.

4. Heat where you are, not everywhere equally

Bring the room you’re using to a comfortable temperature.
Keep rarely used rooms a little cooler, but not much below 16 °C.
Keep doors closed between rooms at different temperatures.

Careful with extra heaters

A fan heater is tempting, but expensive in the long run and needs particular care. When it makes sense and what to watch out for: Use a fan heater safely.

If your home still won’t warm up

If it won’t get warm even with radiators turned right up, there’s often a technical problem, such as air in the system, a stuck thermostatic valve or low pressure. If you rent, that’s one for your landlord or building management.

Products that actually help

We only recommend what fits the problem. Household basics often do the job – products are the convenient or long-term fix.

Electric heated throw with auto shut-off

A warm blanket for the sofa with several heat settings and automatic switch-off. Washable once the controller is removed.