How to Make Your Bedroom Feel Warmer This Winter

Start with the bed

The bed is the heart of a warm bedroom, and layers are what make it feel snug. Rather than one very heavy cover, build up a few lighter ones: a fitted sheet, a flat sheet if you like one, your usual duvet or quilt, and a soft throw across the foot of the bed. Layers trap warm air between them, and you can add or remove one without remaking the whole bed.

Texture matters as much as weight. Flannel or brushed cotton sheets feel warmer to the touch on cold nights, and a plush throw adds an instant sense of comfort. The cream striped fuzzy plush throw in this edit has a soft, fuzzy ribbed texture that makes a neutral bed feel instantly cozy, and it is made for layering over the bed or curling up on slow evenings.

Put a rug down

Bare floors can feel cold underfoot, especially first thing in the morning. A rug beside the bed gives your feet somewhere warm to land and adds a soft layer between the room and the floor. It also softens sound, which makes a bedroom feel calmer.

If a large rug isn't practical, a smaller runner on each side of the bed works well. Choose something easy to clean, and add a non-slip underlay so it stays put.

Use curtains against drafts

Windows are often where warmth escapes and drafts creep in. Heavier or lined curtains, drawn as soon as it gets dark, help keep the room feeling warmer. Let them fall to the floor or just above it, and make them wide enough to cover the window frame on both sides.

Open the curtains during the day to let sunlight in, then close them in the late afternoon. Check for gaps around window frames and under the door, too. A simple draft stopper along the bottom of the door can make a noticeable difference.

Choose warm, low light

A bedroom feels warmer when the light is warm. Swap bright overhead light for a bedside lamp with a warm-toned bulb in the evening, and keep it on a low setting as bedtime gets closer. Soft light on the walls makes the room feel smaller and cozier in a good way.

Flameless candles are a gentle addition, especially near fabrics. The flickering LED flameless candles in this edit give a warm, flickering candlelit glow in smoky glass, with no open flame. They come with a remote and timer, so you can set them to switch off on their own after you fall asleep.

Keep a calm bedside

A cluttered nightstand can make a room feel restless. Keep only what you use at night within reach: a lamp, a book, a glass of water and perhaps a small dish for jewelry. Charge your phone across the room if you can, so it isn't the last thing you look at before sleep.

Add a little targeted warmth

On very cold evenings, a small heater can take the chill off the room while you get ready for bed. The Electactic portable ceramic space heater with thermostat is compact enough for a desk or nightstand, with an adjustable thermostat and tip-over protection, and it suits chilly mornings, bedrooms and dorms.

A short safety note for any portable heater: follow the manufacturer's instructions, keep it clear of fabrics, paper and curtains, and stand it on a stable surface where it can't be knocked over. Never leave it running unattended, and switch it off before you go to sleep. Warm the room a little before bed, then let your layered bedding do the rest overnight.

Bring it together

A warmer bedroom doesn't need a big change. Layer the bed, put something soft underfoot, close the curtains early, keep the light warm and low and let the bedside stay simple. Add a little targeted warmth when you need it, always with safety in mind. Prices and availability change, so check the current price at the retailer before you buy.