How to Keep Warm in Bed Without Heating: 10 Practical Tips

The quickest way to keep warm in bed without heating is to stop heat escaping from underneath you, then trap it on top. Put a blanket or fleece under your bottom sheet, use a warmer duvet or layer blankets over it, and warm the bed before you get in with a covered hot water bottle or an electric blanket. Wear thin, warm layers and loose bed socks, close the curtains and bedroom door, and block draughts around the window.

The clocks went back on Sunday 25 October, so the evenings now get dark much earlier and many households are deciding when to switch the heating on for the winter. The tips below help you stay comfortable at night without leaving the heating running until morning. One important caveat first: GOV.UK advises heating rooms you spend a lot of time in, including the bedroom, to at least 18°C. If you are over 65, have a long-term health condition, are pregnant or are looking after a young child, do not let a cold bedroom become a way of saving money.

Why you feel cold in bed

A bed loses heat in two directions. Warm air escapes upwards through thin bedding, and your body heat is drawn downwards into the mattress, which is often the part people forget. A cold room makes both worse, and draughts from windows and doors keep replacing the warm air around you with colder air.

Your body temperature also drops naturally during the night, so a bed that feels fine at 10pm can feel chilly at 3am. The aim is to slow every route heat takes out of the bed.

10 ways to keep warm in bed without heating

1. Put a blanket under the bottom sheet

This is the most useful change for most people. A fleece blanket, a spare duvet folded in half or a mattress topper placed between the mattress and the fitted sheet insulates you from below. Many people find this makes a bigger difference than adding another blanket on top, because the mattress is no longer drawing heat away from your back.

2. Use a higher tog duvet or layer what you have

The tog rating tells you how warm a duvet is. Winter duvets are usually 10.5 tog or higher, while summer ones are much lighter. If you do not want to buy a new duvet, a blanket or throw laid over your existing one works well. Several thin layers trap more warm air than one heavy layer, and you can remove one if you get too hot.

3. Warm the bed before you get in

Getting into cold sheets makes it harder to warm up. Put a hot water bottle in the bed 20 to 30 minutes before you go up, or switch on an electric blanket designed to pre-heat the bed. Placing it where your feet will go is usually the most effective spot. See the safety section below before using either.

4. Wear thin, warm layers to bed

Long-sleeved pyjamas, a thin thermal top or a pair of leggings under pyjama bottoms will keep you warmer than a single thick layer. If you tend to wake up sweaty and then cold, lighter breathable layers work better than heavy fleece.

5. Keep your feet warm

Cold feet are one of the most common reasons people struggle to drop off. A pair of loose, soft bed socks helps, as long as they are not tight around the ankle. A hot water bottle at the foot of the bed or an extra blanket folded over the bottom of the duvet also helps. Our guide on how to keep your feet warm at home has more ideas for cold feet in the evening.

6. Close the curtains and the bedroom door

Shut the curtains as soon as it gets dark, which after the clocks change will be around teatime. Thick or lined curtains help most. Keeping the bedroom door closed holds whatever warmth is in the room, and London Fire Brigade also recommends closing internal doors at night because it slows the spread of fire and smoke.

7. Block draughts

Feel around the window frame and under the door on a windy evening. A draught excluder or a rolled towel along the bottom of the door is a quick fix, and self-adhesive draught strips are inexpensive for gaps around windows. GOV.UK suggests keeping bedroom windows closed at night during cold weather.

8. Move the bed away from cold walls and windows

If your bed sits under a window or against an outside wall, moving it even a short distance can make it feel warmer.

9. Warm yourself up before bed

A warm, not hot, bath or shower an hour or so before bed, a warm drink and a light snack can all help. Gentle movement in the evening gets your circulation going, but avoid hard exercise right before you try to sleep.

10. Wear a hat or cover your neck if your head feels cold

If the room is very cold, a soft beanie or a loose scarf can make a noticeable difference to how comfortable you feel. Avoid anything with ties or long cords, and never put hats or extra layers on babies in bed, as they need to stay at a safe temperature.

Hot water bottle and electric blanket safety

Both are cheap ways to warm a bed, but they cause burns and fires every winter when they are misused.

Hot water bottles

• Use hot water from a kettle that has been left to cool for a few minutes, never boiling water.
• Fill the bottle about two-thirds full, squeeze out the air and make sure the stopper is tight.
• Always use a cover, and do not hold it directly against your skin or lie on it.
• Check it for cracks or perishing before each use, and replace old bottles.

Electric blankets

London Fire Brigade advises the following:

• Unplug the blanket before you get into bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use.
• Never use a hot water bottle at the same time as an electric blanket.
• Do not use one with an airflow pressure-relief mattress or if you use emollient creams.
• Do not buy second-hand blankets, check regularly for wear and tear, and replace at least every 10 years.
• Store it flat, rolled up or loosely folded so the wiring is not damaged.

Replace a blanket if the fabric is frayed or scorched, wires are poking through, the cord is damaged or the controls buzz or smell.

What to wear to bed to keep warm

Comfort matters more than thickness. A good cold-night setup is a long-sleeved top, full-length bottoms, and socks that are loose enough not to restrict circulation. Many people find cotton or wool less clammy than heavy synthetic fleece, but it depends on whether you run hot or cold at night.

If you get up in the night, keep something warm for your feet beside the bed so you are not stepping onto a cold floor. Our fluffy sock slippers are a long, plush style with a thick polyester interior and a non-slip bottom, and the listing gives a fit of shoe sizes 5 to 10. They are better suited to padding around the house in the evening than to wearing all night, so slip them off once you are under the duvet if they feel too warm. You will find them with other cold-weather pieces in our winter collection.

When a cold bedroom is a health risk

Feeling a little chilly in bed is uncomfortable, but a cold home can make some people unwell. GOV.UK's keeping warm and well guidance lists older people, those with heart or lung conditions, pregnant women and young children among those most at risk. If that applies to you or someone you live with, heat the bedroom before bed rather than relying on bedding alone.

If you are struggling with energy bills, your local council, your energy supplier and Citizens Advice can tell you about grants and support that may be available.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to put a blanket on top of or under the duvet?

Both help, but a blanket under the bottom sheet often makes the bigger difference, because it stops the mattress drawing heat away from you. A blanket on top of the duvet adds extra insulation on cold nights.

Should you wear socks in bed?

Many people find that loose, soft socks help them warm up and fall asleep more easily. Avoid tight socks with elastic cuffs, and take them off if your feet get too hot.

What temperature should a bedroom be at night?

GOV.UK suggests heating rooms you spend a lot of time in, including the bedroom, to at least 18°C, especially if you are older or have a health condition.

Can you use a hot water bottle and an electric blanket together?

No. Fire services advise never using a hot water bottle in the same bed as an electric blanket.

Warmer nights from tonight

Keeping warm in bed without heating mostly comes down to insulating from below, layering on top, warming the bed before you get in and keeping draughts out. Start with a blanket under the sheet and a pre-warmed bed tonight, and add warm layers and loose socks if you still feel the cold. If you spend your days at home too, our guide to keeping warm working from home covers the hours before bed.