How to Keep Warm Working From Home: 9 Practical Tips

To keep warm working from home, warm yourself rather than the whole house. Wear several thin layers with something on your legs, keep your feet off cold floors in thick socks or slippers, put a blanket over your lap, and choose a desk spot away from draughts and outside walls. Then get up and move for a few minutes every hour. Sitting still at a desk is one of the quickest ways to feel cold, even in a room that is not especially chilly.

Below, we explain why home working feels so cold, nine practical ways to stay comfortable at your desk, and what to do about cold hands when you are typing.

Why do I feel so cold working from home?

An office is usually heated all day, full of people and busy with movement. At home you are often alone in one room, sitting for long stretches, with the heating set lower to keep bills down. When you sit still, your body makes less heat, and it protects your core by sending less warm blood to your hands and feet. That is why fingers and toes are usually the first to feel the cold, and why cold hands can make typing slower and clumsier.

Draughts make it worse. A thin stream of cold air from a window, a gap under a door or a hard floor can make you feel much colder than the room temperature suggests. Feeling cold is also distracting, so it is worth sorting out before it affects your working day.

Nine ways to keep warm working from home

1. Choose your desk spot carefully

Set up away from windows and outside walls if you can, and out of the path of any draught from a door. A spot that catches some daylight is ideal, because the sun adds a little warmth during the day. If your desk sat by the window all summer, it may be worth moving it for the colder months.

2. Wear thin layers, not one thick jumper

Several thin layers trap more warm air than one bulky one, and you can take one off if you warm up. A close-fitting base layer, a long-sleeved top and a jumper or fleece is a comfortable combination for a desk day. A scarf, polo neck or snood helps too, because warm air escapes from the neck of your clothes.

3. Do not forget your legs

Your legs sit under the desk, often in the coldest air in the room. A pair of thick leggings under loose trousers or joggers adds a warm layer without much bulk, and you can wear them on their own on a lazier day. Tights or thermal long johns under your trousers work in the same way.

4. Keep your feet off cold floors

Hard floors pull heat away from your feet surprisingly quickly. Thick socks are a good start, but a soled sock or slipper adds a barrier between your foot and the floor. A rug under your desk, or simply resting your feet on a low footrest or a folded blanket, keeps them out of the cold air near the floor. For more ideas, see our guide on how to keep your feet warm at home.

5. Put a blanket over your lap

A throw or blanket over your legs and waist traps the warmth you are already making. If you have a hot water bottle, tuck it under the blanket, filled with hot rather than boiling water and in a cover. A heated throw is another option for long days at the desk. Never use a hot water bottle in bed alongside an electric blanket.

6. Warm your hands between tasks

Fingerless gloves or wrist warmers keep your hands and wrists warmer while leaving your fingertips free for the keyboard and mouse. Between tasks, wrap your hands around a warm mug or tuck them under your arms for a minute. Warm hands also depend on a warm core, so if your fingers are cold, add a layer to your body as well.

7. Get up and move every hour

Movement is the simplest way to make heat. Make a drink, walk up and down the stairs a few times, or do a couple of minutes of stretching between calls. Avoid anything that leaves you sweaty, because damp clothes will make you colder once you sit down again. A brisk walk at lunchtime, wrapped up properly, also helps you feel warmer when you come back in.

8. Keep the heat in your room

Close the door of the room you work in so warm air stays put. Block the gap under the door with a draught excluder or a rolled-up towel, and draw the curtains as soon as it starts to get dark. Keep radiators clear of furniture and long curtains so the heat can reach the room.

9. Have warm food and drinks

A hot drink and a warm lunch, such as soup, make you feel more comfortable, and filling a hot water bottle while the kettle is on means boiling it only once. Drink regularly through the day as well; feeling thirsty is not something to ignore just because it is cold.

Should I heat one room instead of the whole house?

If you are home alone during the day, heating the room you work in, rather than every room, is a common way to stay comfortable for less. Close the doors to unused rooms and turn their radiators down. If you use a portable heater, use an electric one with safety features, keep it well away from curtains, bedding and papers, and never leave it on unattended. Never use a gas cooker or oven to heat a room, and do not bring patio heaters or portable gas heaters indoors, because of the risk of fire and carbon monoxide.

The Met Office advises heating your home to at least 18°C if you are 65 or over, have reduced mobility or have a health condition such as heart or lung disease. See its guidance on keeping your home warm in winter for more detail.

What to wear working from home in winter

Cosy pieces for desk days

A couple of pieces from our winter range suit a day at a home desk. Our black floor socks have a PU leather foot with a soft velvet lining and come in one size (39–44), so there is a layer between your feet and a cold floor. Our thick knitted leggings are full length, one size (UK 8–14) and sent in a random colour, and they layer easily under looser trousers.

You can see gloves, socks, slipper socks and more in our winter collection.

Frequently asked questions

How can I keep my hands warm while typing?

Fingerless gloves or wrist warmers keep your hands warmer while leaving your fingertips free. Keep your core warm with an extra layer, warm your hands on a mug between tasks, and get up and move regularly to help blood flow to your fingers.

What temperature should my home office be?

There is no single right number for a healthy adult who is dressed warmly, but the Met Office recommends at least 18°C for people aged 65 or over or with certain health conditions. If you feel cold even with layers on, it is a sign the room needs more heat.

Is it cheaper to heat yourself or the room?

Warming yourself with layers, a blanket and a hot water bottle generally costs far less than heating a whole house. Many people combine both: they heat the room they work in and wrap up warmly rather than turning the thermostat up.

Why are my feet always cold at my desk?

Your feet are furthest from your heart, close to the cold floor and rarely move when you sit. Thick socks with a sole, a rug or footrest, and regular breaks to walk around usually make a noticeable difference.

A warmer working day

Staying warm at a home desk is mostly about small habits: a good spot, thin layers, warm feet and legs, and regular movement. Sort those out and you can stay comfortable without heating the whole house. If you need a few extra layers, take a look at our winter range.