How to Stay Warm at Home: Heaters, Layers, Heated Wear and Safety Guide

Here's how to stay warm at home without simply cranking up the heating: keep the main living area at a sensible temperature, stop cold air getting in, dress in layers, keep your hands, feet and head covered, and heat yourself rather than the whole house when you're sitting still. A small heater in the room you're using, a heated shawl on the sofa, warm socks on cold floors and closed curtains at dusk do more than most people expect. Eat warm food, keep moving, and take extra care with older relatives, babies and anyone who's unwell.

We sell a range of winter warmers at Easy Life Markets, from a wall-mountable desk fan heater and a small plug-in wall heater to USB heated socks, heated gloves, a wearable heated shawl, fuzzy slipper socks and cosy clothes for babies and dogs. This guide explains what actually keeps a body warm, what the health and safety bodies say, and where each of our products fits. Where we rely on an outside fact, we link to the source so you can check it.

What This Guide Covers

• How to stay warm at home: the quick list
• What temperature should your home be?
• Stop the heat escaping first
• Dress for the room, not the season
• Warm feet, hands and head
• Heat yourself, not the whole house
• Small heaters: choosing and using one safely
• Room by room
• Babies, older people and pets
• The winter warmers we sell
• Frequently asked questions

How to Stay Warm at Home: The Quick List

1. Keep the room you use most at around 18 °C (64 °F) or warmer, and warmer still for older or unwell people and babies.
2. Close curtains at dusk and open south-facing ones on sunny days.
3. Block draughts under doors and around windows.
4. Shut doors to rooms you're not using and heat the one you're in.
5. Wear thin layers, not one bulky jumper.
6. Cover feet, hands and head: socks or slippers, fingerless or heated gloves, a hat if it's really cold.
7. Use personal heat when you're still: a heated shawl, heated socks or a blanket.
8. Use a small heater safely in the room you're in, never while you sleep.
9. Eat hot meals, have warm drinks and get up and move every so often.

Each point is covered below. If you only take one idea from this guide on how to stay warm at home, make it this: warm the person and the room they're in, rather than paying to heat empty space.

What Temperature Should Your Home Be?

This is the first question to settle, because being too cold indoors isn't just uncomfortable. It affects health.

The 18 °C Guideline

The World Health Organization's housing and health guidelines give a strong recommendation that indoor temperatures be high enough to protect people from the effects of cold, and name 18 °C as a safe, balanced indoor temperature for the general population in temperate and colder climates during the cold season. The same guidance notes that a higher minimum may be needed for older people, children and people with long-term illness, especially heart and lung conditions.

The UK's NHS gives similar advice. Leeds Teaching Hospitals' winter guidance, for example, says to heat your home to at least 18 °C (65 °F) if you're 65 or over, not very mobile, or have a health condition. In the US, the National Institute on Aging has said that some experts suggest older people keep their home at at least 68 °F (20 °C), because older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia.

What That Means in Practice

• Get a cheap room thermometer. Many homes are colder than people think, especially bedrooms and older rooms.
• Aim for the main room you sit in to reach at least 18 °C while you're in it.
• Bedrooms can be a little cooler for sleeping, but not cold. Warm bedding matters more than heat at night.
• If someone at home is older, frail, very young or unwell, keep their room warmer.

Knowing the number is the start of working out how to stay warm at home. The rest of this guide is about reaching it without wasting energy, and about keeping your body warm when the room isn't quite there.

Stop the Heat Escaping First

Every bit of warmth you keep in is warmth you don't have to pay for. This is the cheapest part of how to stay warm at home, and the part people most often skip.

Curtains and Blinds

The US Department of Energy suggests opening curtains on south-facing windows during the day to let sunlight warm the home, and closing them at night to cut the chill from cold glass. NHS guidance makes the same point: draw curtains at dusk. Thick, lined curtains that reach the floor or sill work best. If yours are thin, a cheap thermal lining clipped behind them helps.

In the southern hemisphere, it's north-facing windows that catch the winter sun, so open those instead.

Draughts

• Feel around doors, windows, letterboxes, loft hatches and floorboards for cold air on a windy day.
• The US National Weather Service suggests stuffing fabric into the gaps at the bottom of doors. A rolled towel works in a pinch, and a proper draught excluder looks neater.
• Self-adhesive foam strips around window and door frames are cheap and easy to fit.
• Keep internal doors closed so heat stays in the room you're using.

Our bath towels, by the way, make excellent temporary draught stoppers rolled along a door. Our guide to choosing bath towels explains which are thickest.

Shut Off Rooms You Don't Use

The National Weather Service also advises closing off rooms you aren't using, so you aren't heating empty space. Spare rooms, a dining room you only use at weekends and a conservatory are all candidates. Keep them above freezing to protect pipes and avoid damp, but don't keep them as warm as your living room.

Floors

Bare wooden and tiled floors feel cold and lose heat downwards. A rug in the room you sit in makes a difference you can feel straight away. Our living room layout guide covers where a rug sits best.

Dress for the Room, Not the Season

Clothes are the most underrated answer to how to stay warm at home. You can't heat the whole house to T-shirt temperature for half the cost of a jumper.

Why Layers Work

Thin layers trap thin pockets of warm air between them, and that trapped air is what insulates you. NHS advice is to wear several thin layers rather than one thick one, in materials like cotton, wool or fleece, and the National Weather Service also says to dress in layers. Layers also let you peel one off when the room warms up, so you don't overheat and then get cold again.

A Simple Indoor Layering Plan

• Base: a close-fitting long-sleeved top, or a thermal vest on very cold days.
• Middle: a jumper, fleece or cardigan.
• Outer, when sitting still: a wrap, shawl, blanket or padded gilet.
• Legs: leggings or long johns under trousers.
• Feet: warm socks plus slippers.

If you head out for a walk or the school run, a proper outer layer matters too. Our men's padded winter jacket and fleece lined winter boots cover the trip from the front door. See more in our men's and women's clothing collections.

Warm Feet, Hands and Head

Your hands and feet are often the first parts to feel cold, and once they do, it's hard to feel comfortable anywhere. Looking after them is a big part of how to stay warm at home.

Feet

Cold floors pull heat out of your feet fast. Thick socks and proper slippers are the simplest fix.

• Fuzzy slipper socks: a thick fuzzy knit outside, plush sherpa lining inside and grip dots underneath, in packs of two pairs. They sit somewhere between a sock and a slipper.
• Plush slippers for women: closed-toe, fluffy house slippers with a TPR sole that grips better than fabric on tiles, in three designs and EU sizes 36 to 45.
• USB heated socks: short knitted socks with a heating element that runs from a USB charger or power bank, made for sitting at a desk or on the sofa.
• Kids' Christmas socks: six pairs of cotton crew socks in a gift box, for little feet that won't keep slippers on.

Grip matters as much as warmth on wooden floors and stairs, especially for older relatives and children. Both our slipper socks and plush slippers have non-slip soles.

Hands

Cold hands make typing, sewing and reading slow and uncomfortable. If you work from home in a chilly room, a pair of heated gloves is a small, cheap fix.

• USB heated gloves: run from a USB charger or power bank, with a choice of fixed heat or three heat levels.
• Touch screen winter gloves: fleece-lined with touch-sensitive fingertips, for the walk to the shops or bus stop.

Our home office setup guide has more ideas for keeping a cold desk comfortable.

Head

You don't need a hat indoors most of the time, but on a very cold evening, or in a bedroom that's chilly first thing, a soft beanie helps. Our fuzzy knit beanie comes in seven colours and fits heads of about 56 to 58 cm.

Heat Yourself, Not the Whole House

When you're sitting still, reading, watching TV or working at a desk, your body makes less heat and you feel the cold more. Personal heat is a smart answer to how to stay warm at home in those hours, because it puts warmth exactly where you need it.

Heated Wraps and Blankets

Our USB heated shawl is a soft plush wrap, 150 x 80 cm, that warms up when you plug it into a USB power source. Wear it over your shoulders while you work, or lay it over your legs on the sofa. It comes bagged, with a power bank, or in a gift box, in beige, green or red.

A few sensible habits with any heated textile:

• Don't sleep with it switched on.
• Don't fold it tightly or sit on the heating area while it's on.
• Check the cable for damage before each use.
• NHS advice is not to use a hot water bottle and an electric blanket together, and the same caution makes sense for any heated wrap.

Hot Food and Drink

NHS guidance suggests at least one hot meal a day and regular hot drinks, and the National Weather Service recommends hot meals and warm drinks several times a day. A flask of tea or soup at your desk saves trips to the kettle. Our TempGuard insulated bottle keeps a hot drink warm while you work.

Keep Moving

Sitting still for hours lets your body cool down. NHS advice is to avoid sitting for long periods and get up and move about. Stand up every hour, walk around the house, do a few stretches or climb the stairs. It warms you from the inside and is good for you anyway.

Small Heaters: Choosing and Using One Safely

A small electric heater in the room you're using is one of the most common answers to how to stay warm at home. Used well, it's efficient, because you're only warming one room. Used carelessly, it's dangerous.

The Risk Is Real

The US National Fire Protection Association found that space heaters accounted for 43% of US home heating fires and 85% of home heating fire deaths in 2011 to 2015. Most of those fires happen because something that can burn is too close to the heater.

Safety Rules That Matter

These come from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's tip sheet on reducing fire hazards from portable electric heaters and from NFPA:

• Keep the heater at least 3 feet (about 1 metre) from beds, sofas, curtains, papers, clothes and anything else that can burn, on every side.
• Plug it straight into a wall socket. CPSC says never to power a heater with an extension cord or power strip.
• Never leave it running unattended or while you sleep.
• Stand it on a stable, level surface where it won't be knocked over.
• Look for a safety certification mark, and ask the seller if you're not sure.
• Keep children and pets away from it.
• Never dry clothes or towels on a portable heater.

Check the Voltage

This catches people out with heaters bought online. Homes in most of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia use 220 to 240 volts. Homes in the US, Canada, Mexico and some other countries use 110 to 127 volts. A heater built for one won't work properly, and may not be safe, on the other, even with an adapter plug. Always check before you buy.

Our Two Heaters

Desk fan heater: a compact white and gold heater that stands on a desk or floor or mounts on a wall. The head swings through 90° to spread warm air across the room, and in summer it works as a cool fan. The supplier says it suits rooms of about 21 to 30 m². It's rated 220V, so if your home runs on 110 to 127V, contact us before ordering.

Plug-in wall heater: a small PTC ceramic heater that plugs straight into a wall socket, with no cable across the floor. It has an LED display, an adjustable thermostat, a remote control and a 12-hour timer, plus overheat and tip-over protection, according to the supplier. It suits small rooms up to about 10 m², like a bathroom, nursery, home office or hallway, and comes with AU, EU, UK or US plugs. The supplier lists its power as both 600W and "below 500W", so ask us if you need the exact figure.

Which One?

Neither is meant to heat a whole house. They're for warming the room you're in, which is exactly how to stay warm at home without heating empty space.

Save Energy While You Stay Warm

Staying warm and keeping bills under control aren't opposites. The trick is putting heat where people are.

• Zone your heating. Heat the room you're in and let unused rooms stay cooler, as long as they don't get damp or cold enough to risk frozen pipes.
• Use timers. Warm the house shortly before you get up and come home, not all day. The US Department of Energy says turning your thermostat back for part of the day can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling.
• Use personal heat for sitting still. A USB heated shawl or socks running from a power bank use very little electricity compared with heating a whole room.
• Use the sun. Open sunny-side curtains in the day, close all curtains at dusk.
• Keep the heat in with draught-proofing before you spend more on heating.

Don't cut back so far that the house becomes unhealthily cold, especially if someone at home is older, very young or unwell. Saving money is part of how to stay warm at home sensibly, but health comes first.

Room by Room

Different rooms need different answers when you're working out how to stay warm at home.

Living Room

This is usually the room to keep warmest, because it's where you sit still the longest. Close the curtains at dusk, put a rug down, keep a throw or heated shawl on the sofa, and use a heater if the main heating isn't enough. Pull the sofa away from cold outside walls and windows if you can. Our sofa buying guide covers fabrics that feel warmer to sit on, and a few Christmas pillow covers make the room feel cosy for the season.

Bedroom

Bedrooms can be a little cooler for sleep, but a freezing bedroom makes getting up miserable and isn't good for health. Warm bedding does more than heat at night: a thicker duvet, flannel or fleece sheets and an extra blanket. Run a heater before bed if needed, then switch it off before you sleep, as CPSC advises. Keep slippers by the bed for cold mornings. Browse our bedding and linens collection for winter layers.

Home Office

Working from home in a cold room is a common winter complaint. You're still for hours, your hands are out on the keyboard and your feet are on the floor. Heated gloves, heated socks and a heated shawl tackle all three, and a desk heater warms the space around you. See our home office setup guide for desk placement away from cold windows.

Bathroom

A cold bathroom is unpleasant and a slip risk if you're shivering. A small heater running for a few minutes before a shower helps, as long as it's suitable for a bathroom and kept well away from water. Our plug-in wall heater is listed as IPX2 splash resistant by the supplier. Check local wiring rules about sockets in bathrooms, which vary by country. Warm, thick towels help too.

Kitchen

Usually the warmest room when you're cooking. Make the most of it: cook something hot, leave the oven door open for a few minutes after you switch it off (only if there are no small children around), and sit in the kitchen for a while.

Babies, Older People and Pets

Some people feel the cold more and are more at risk from it. Taking care of them is the most important part of how to stay warm at home.

Older Relatives

The National Institute on Aging warns that older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia, because ageing, some illnesses and some medicines weaken the body's response to cold. Hypothermia can develop indoors after only mild cold. Practical steps:

• Keep their main room at least 18 °C, and warmer if they're frail or unwell.
• Check in on them during cold spells.
• Make sure they have warm, non-slip slippers. Our plush slippers have a grippy TPR sole.
• A heated shawl or blanket helps when they sit for long periods, as long as they can switch it off easily.
• Keep heaters well away from walking frames, blankets and furniture.

Babies

Babies can't tell you they're cold, and they can't move to warm up. Keep their room at a comfortable temperature and dress them in layers rather than piling on blankets. For walks and outings, our baby winter onesie covers them from hood to toes, and our winter baby swaddle blanket is padded for the pram or car seat on cold days. Follow your health service's safe sleep advice for babies, which usually means no loose blankets, hats or heated products in the cot.

Pets

Dogs and cats feel the cold too, especially small, short-haired, old or young ones. Give them a warm bed off the floor and away from draughts. On walks, short-coated dogs benefit from a coat. Our dog winter coat is fleece-lined with reflective strips for dark evenings, in sizes M to 3XL. Keep pets away from heaters, and see our pets collection for more.

Cosy Extras That Make Winter Nicer

Not everything about how to stay warm at home is practical. Feeling cosy matters too.

• Candles and warm light. Warm-white lighting makes a room feel warmer even when the thermometer says otherwise. Our scented candle gift set has 16 small soy candles. Never leave a candle burning unattended, and keep candles well away from curtains, wraps and heaters.
• Festive touches. A tree and fairy lights make long dark evenings feel shorter. Our guide to choosing an artificial Christmas tree covers sizes and safety.
• Cushions and throws. Soft textures on the sofa make you want to curl up.

The Winter Warmers We Sell

Here's our winter range with key figures from each listing. Prices, options and stock are on each product page. If you're still working out how to stay warm at home with our range, start with the "best for" column.

USB Heated Shawl

A soft plush wrap you wear over your shoulders or lay over your lap. It runs from a USB charger, laptop or power bank, so you can use it at your desk, on the sofa, on a train or in the stands at a match.

Short spec: 150 x 80 cm (59 x 31.5 in); plush fabric; USB powered; beige, green or red; bagged, with power bank, or in a gift box. Power bank capacity not stated; ask us if you need it.

Desk Fan Heater

A compact heater that looks smart on show, with a swinging head to spread warmth and a cool-air mode for summer.

Short spec: heating wire element; 90° swing; tilting head; desk, floor or wall mounting; room size about 21 to 30 m² (supplier); 220V; no timer; white with gold trim; EU or US plug; heater and manual in the box.

Plug-In Wall Heater

A tiny heater that takes up no floor space at all, with the controls you'd expect on a bigger one.

Short spec: PTC ceramic element; LED display and thermostat; remote control; 12-hour timer; overheat and tip-over protection; IPX2 splash resistant (supplier); room size up to about 10 m²; 36 to 45 dB; black, pink or white; AU, EU, UK or US plug.

USB Heated Socks

Short knitted socks with a heating element, for warming your feet while you sit at a desk or on the sofa. Not made for walking around outside.

Short spec: acrylic jacquard knit; USB powered; one size (runs small); seven colours. Heat levels and cable length not listed; your own USB charger or power bank needed.

Slipper Socks

Thick, fuzzy socks with a sherpa lining and grip dots, so they're warm and safe on smooth floors.

Short spec: polyester and acrylic blend, brushed; sherpa lining; anti-slip grip dots; V-cut cuff; EU 35 to 39 or 40 to 42; two pairs per pack.

Browse everything in our Winter Collection. Not sure what suits your home? Send us a message with the room you're trying to warm and who'll be using it, and we'll help you choose.

A Warm Winter Day at Home, Hour by Hour

Advice is easier to follow when you can picture it. Here's what a normal winter day looks like when you put all of this together. Treat it as a sketch of how to stay warm at home, not a rulebook.

Morning

• Set the heating timer so the house starts warming shortly before you get up, rather than running all night.
• Slippers or slipper socks go on before your feet touch the floor.
• Open the curtains on the sunny side of the house as soon as it's light.
• Have something hot for breakfast: porridge, eggs, tea or coffee.

Working Hours

• Work in one room and keep its door shut. Warm that room with a small heater if the main heating isn't enough.
• Wear a jumper and a wrap or heated shawl while you sit. Heated gloves help if your hands go stiff on the keyboard.
• Keep a flask of something hot on the desk.
• Stand up every hour. Walk to the kitchen, climb the stairs, stretch.

Getting Out

A short walk in daylight warms you up and lifts the mood on dark days. Wrap up properly: a padded jacket, boots, a hat and gloves. If you're heading somewhere really cold, like a football match, a ski slope or a long wait at a bus stop, our battery heated socks and heated ski gloves run without a cable.

Evening

• Close every curtain at dusk.
• Cook something hot and eat it in the warm kitchen.
• Move to the living room, close its door and settle under a throw or heated shawl.
• Switch off heaters and heated textiles before bed, and let warm bedding do the work overnight.

Signs You're Getting Too Cold

Part of how to stay warm at home is noticing when you're not. Cold creeps up, especially if you're sitting still or you're older.

• Shivering, cold hands and feet that don't warm up, or stiff fingers.
• Feeling tired, slow or clumsy for no clear reason.
• Pale, cold skin.
• In older people, confusion or drowsiness can be a warning sign. The National Institute on Aging notes that hypothermia can develop after only mild cold exposure in older adults.

If you notice these, warm the room, add layers, have a warm drink and move around. If someone seems confused, very drowsy or isn't warming up, get medical help straight away. Hypothermia is an emergency.

Common Mistakes

Most of the mistakes people make when working out how to stay warm at home are easy to avoid.

• Heating the whole house to stay warm in one room. Heat the room you're in.
• One thick jumper instead of layers. Thin layers trap more warm air.
• Ignoring draughts. A rolled towel under a door costs nothing.
• Leaving curtains open after dark. Cold glass pulls heat out of a room.
• Using an extension lead for a heater. Plug it straight into the wall.
• Sleeping with a heater or heated textile switched on. Switch off before you sleep.
• Not checking voltage. A 220V heater isn't for a 110V home.
• Forgetting older relatives. Check in during cold spells.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cheapest way to stay warm at home?

Keep the heat in first: close curtains at dusk, block draughts under doors and shut doors to unused rooms. Then wear thin layers and warm socks, and use personal heat like a heated shawl when you're sitting still. These cost little compared with heating the whole house.

What temperature should my home be in winter?

The World Health Organization names 18 °C as a safe indoor temperature for most people in the cold season, and says older people, children and people with long-term illness may need it warmer.

How do I stay warm at home without heating?

Layer up, cover your feet, hands and head, keep moving, eat hot food and drink warm drinks, close curtains and stop draughts. USB heated wraps, socks and gloves add warmth using very little power. If the house gets very cold, get help: it isn't safe for older or unwell people.

Are small electric heaters safe?

They can be, if used properly. Keep them at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, plug them straight into a wall socket, never leave them on while you sleep or go out, and choose one with tip-over and overheat protection.

Can I sleep with heated socks or a heated shawl on?

No. Switch heated textiles off before you sleep. Use warm bedding, regular socks and a warm-up before bed instead.

Why are my feet always cold indoors?

Cold floors draw heat from your feet, and sitting still reduces circulation. Thick socks, slippers with a proper sole, a rug and getting up to move regularly all help. If cold feet come with numbness, pain or colour changes, see a doctor.

How can I keep my home office warm?

Move your desk away from cold windows, put a rug under your chair, use a small heater in the room, and use heated gloves, socks or a shawl while you work. Get up every hour to move around.

How do I keep an elderly relative warm at home?

Keep their main room at least 18 °C, check in during cold weather, make sure they have warm non-slip slippers and layers, and help them use heaters safely. Older adults are more vulnerable to hypothermia, even indoors.

Will the desk fan heater work in my country?

It's rated 220V. It suits homes on 220 to 240V mains, which covers most of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. If your home uses 110 to 127V, contact us before ordering.

Do you sell winter warmers?

Yes. Easy Life Markets sells heaters, USB heated shawls, socks and gloves, slipper socks, plush slippers, winter clothing, baby winter wear and dog coats. Browse our Winter Collection, check delivery on our shipping policy page, and read our return and refund policy and FAQ.

The Bottom Line on How to Stay Warm at Home

Keep the room you use at a healthy temperature, stop heat escaping, dress in thin layers, look after your feet and hands, and warm yourself directly when you're sitting still. Use small heaters carefully, and keep a closer eye on older relatives, babies and pets. That's how to stay warm at home without wasting money, and without spending the winter shivering.

When you're ready, have a look at the USB heated shawl, the desk fan heater, the plug-in wall heater, the USB heated socks and the fuzzy slipper socks, or browse everything in our Winter Collection. Looking for gifts too? Our kids' Christmas socks gift box and scented candle set are easy wins.

Sources and References

• World Health Organization: Housing and Health Guidelines, Low indoor temperatures and insulation
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust: Keeping your home warm
• US National Institutes of Health: Cold weather safety tips for older adults
• US National Weather Service: Staying safe during cold weather
• US Consumer Product Safety Commission: Reducing fire hazards for portable electric heaters
• Occupational Health and Safety: NFPA report on home fires involving heating equipment
• US Department of Energy: Fall and winter energy-saving tips