You know it’s cold when the postman stops wearing shorts – and today is that day! But don’t worry, we understand how difficult it gets when the cold weather follows you into your property. And to help, we’ve brought together 12 great tips on how to stay warm in cold weather at home.

Maybe not all of our list will apply but we hope you’re able to find that one golden tip to help you save money on heating bills and – most importantly – stay crisp.

1. Dress Up Your Windows

Curtains are often seen as an accessory but they’re much more than that. Aside from accenting your room and blocking out light, these window dressings can also help keep in a lot of heat. Our soft furnishing’s department recommends upgrading light and thin curtains with heavier woollen drapes in winter. However, remember to open up your curtains on brighter days to let in natural light and heat.

2. Lay Down a Throw

We’ve covered plenty of ways to use a throw around the home – but this one’s a little more obvious. Layering up with extra clothes is a good idea but having a throw to hand can often be the best way to snuggle up on the sofa at the end of the day. You can also use throws as an extra layer on top of your duvet set for maximum warmth.

3. Keep the Draught Out

Many people who come in store are often surprised at what we have available aside from furniture. However, we offer plenty of accessories such as draught excluders to help you stay warm in winter. Draught excluders work well in country homes and rooms that have a slightly airier feel.

4. Upgrade Your Bed Linens

Our linens department’s top tip is to upgrade your duvet set. People are often surprised at how much warmer a thicker duvet set can leave you – saving on heating bills by eliminating the need to keep your heating on past bedtime. This is a simple but very effective way to keep yourself warm, but we find it’s an often overlooked part of the home.

5. Bedroom Rug

There’s nothing worse than stepping out of bed onto a cold, hard surface. However, if you are one of the many who don’t use carpet in their bedroom, an alternative way to keep your feet warm is by investing in a bedroom rug. Not only will this avoid the unpleasant chill of hard floors, but it can also add another design element to your room for use throughout the year.

6. Make the Most of Your Fireplace

More and more homes are investing in fire places – and it’s easy to see why! These traditional fittings offer a convenient way to save on your heating bill, while also providing an attractive focal point in living rooms. We recommend making the most of your fireplace by bringing in an accent chair or two to create a more intimate seating arrangement – that’s closer to the heat. We’ve also covered how to decorate if you have a fireplace and this is covered in more detail from a design point of view.

7. Dressing Gowns

Without a doubt the worst time of day to be feeling cold is in the mornings. Getting up and ready for work is the hardest thing we have to do during the winter months – especially when it’s nice and toasty between the sheets. One of the ways to null the chill is to buy a dressing gown. While many purchase these items as Christmas presents from our Horley store, we suggest you treat yourself and feel the benefits sooner.

8. Keep Yourself Warmies

Microwaving teddies may seem like a sinister thought to some, but our new range of Warmies are designed for that very purpose. Simply microwave your teddy for a minute or two and reap the benefits of a warming snuggle buddy.

9. Fluffy Cushions

It may not be the first thing that springs to mind but adding a couple of these around your home can give off a cosier feel. Ideal for bedrooms and living rooms, fluffy cushions can provide a quick and cost-effective way to snuggle down for the evening.

10. Bath Mats

We’re all about fluffy bath mats in our linens department. Not only will these handy additions soak up excess water, but they’ll also keep your feet away from your bathroom’s cold, hard floor. Making the chilly bathroom dash that much easier – it’s not worth neglecting your bathroom accessories.

11. Take Up Baking

It might not be your thing but in case it is, baking will kill two birds with one stone. Tasty treats and excess heat; that’s what you’ll get when you take up baking as a hobby. And to help you do so, you can find a range of homewares and kitchen utensils in our cookshop at Horley. Having the oven on warms up the home and leaving the door open after use will maximise the benefits of additional heat.

12. Hand Warmers

Whether you’re out and about or in the home, hand warmers do exactly what they say on the tin. And you can find a range of reusable hand warmers in our Horley store – ideal for the colder months.

So, there you have it: our list of ways to stay warm in cold weather. Make sure you let us know if you’ve got any tips of your own. Comment on our Facebook page.