How to keep a bedroom warm without heating |

Bedroom with wooden floor, rattan rug, double bed below vaulted ceiling.

(Image credit: Adam Carter)

published 28 December 2022

If you are trying to avoid excessive heating bills but stay warm and comfortable at home, then keeping a bedroom warm without heating may be at the top of your wish list.

Although some experts claim sleeping in a cold bedroom can help improve the quality of sleep, a freezing cold space can be uncomfortable, to say the least. Luckily, there are a few ways to make a bedroom cozy and keep precious heat in.

Here, we look at eight ways to keep a bedroom warm without heating so that you can continue to sleep in comfort all winter long.

How to keep a bedroom warm without heating

Do you want to avoid a sky-high heating bill this winter? Here's how to successfully warm up a bedroom with ease.

1. Pick fleece and flannel bedding to keep warm and comfortable

Grey bedroom with orange curtains and blue bed linen

One of the biggest bedding mistakes people make is choosing aesthetics over function. Thin cotton or linen sheets may look luxurious and keep you comfortable in the summer, but winter often requires more luxe, heavy-duty fabrics such as fleece, flannel, or even wool. Thicker fabrics will help to retain the heat created by your body, ultimately keeping you warmer in bed for longer.

Our top tip is to invest in the best bed sheets you can afford in order to stay warm and cozy throughout the winter months and keep your bedroom looking its best. L.L. Bean (opens in new tab) is our go-to for all things flannel thanks to its high quality and relatively affordable prices available in several versatile designs. For something a little indulgent, our e-commerce editor, Jaclyn snuggled down with Brooklinen's Heathered Cashmere sheet set (opens in new tab)during the latest cold blast, and according to her, they were perfect.

2. Use draft excluders and thermal curtains around windows

window seat in Penny Kennedy's Highland cottage from Period Living

Draft excluders are not just for the bottom of the front door. In fact, they can make all the difference around windows to keep a bedroom warm without a heater. When paired with thick bedroom curtains, window dressings can not only help to retain heat but keep cold air out too. Thermal curtains are considered the best for this, as they are specially designed to trap air between the layers of fabric, creating a barrier between hot and cold temperatures to keep a room warm.

You don't necessarily need to buy brand new thermal curtains — Amazon sells thermal curtain liners (opens in new tab) that fix simply to the back of existing curtains to provide an extra layer of insulation, not just from cold, but from light, too.

'For bedrooms using luxury textures in fabrics for curtain finishes and bed linen goes a long way,' says Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord (opens in new tab).

3. Invest in a good mattress — or topper — to regulate body temperature

When choosing a mattress, opting for the best mattress for temperature regulation doesn't just cover you in the summer, but the winter months too.

'Your mattress material plays a vital role in heat regulation during the night, and the 100% natural fillings in our mattresses will breathe with your body, regulating your temperature and wicking away moisture while you sleep,' says Adam Black, Button & Sprung (opens in new tab)'s co-founder. 'Wool in particular is a great heat regulator and ensures you feel cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.'

Failing that, invest in a heated throw blanket. Amazon's most highly-rated throw blanket (opens in new tab) will keep you snug. You can find out how much it costs to run an electric blanket in our guide.

4. Rearrange your bedroom to keep beds away from windows

Yellow velvet bed, white bedding, stone wall

'There is more to a good bedroom layout than finding good flow,' says Lucy Searle, editor-in-chief at Homes & Gardens. 'While it is obviously important to be able to move around your space easily, moving a bed away from drafty windows and doors can help to keep the bed area feeling warmer and cozier – especially in winter and fall.'

5. Add a thick area rug, even over carpet, to add extra insulation

Even a carpeted bedroom can benefit from a thick bedroom rug in the winter to help retain heat and make the bedroom look and feel warmer. Rugs made from natural fibers such as wool will be naturally warmer and more insulating than most synthetic fibers.

When picking a rug, 'always focus on the size of your bed,' says the experts at Ruggable (opens in new tab). 'For a king-sized, for example, choose a 96 x 120in rug that covers both the bed and bedside tables, with 35 inches of rug on either side of the bed.'

6. Reverse a ceiling fan to draw cold air away

An all white bedroom with a light wood ceiling fan

Although it may seem counterintuitive to use a ceiling fan in the cooler months, changing the fan to run clockwise can push warm air gathered around the fan down into the room to help warm the space with little to no use of heating systems.

When positioned strategically, a ceiling fan running clockwise can even draw warm air from the ceiling of one room into another, cooler room without needing to heat them both.

7. Add wall coverings to bolster insulation

four poster bed and tapestry in a Georgian home

Although a less conventional method of insulating a home, adding large, thick wall coverings such as canvases, curtains, and tapestries can help to bolster the insulation in walls and keep a room warm.

Thick hangings can be easily taken down in the summer and contain any heat generated within the room itself, preventing it from escaping through plasterboard or brick.

Just ensure to leave a small gap for some air flow, or invest in a dehumidifier, to make sure moisture isn't trapped against walls that can form mold unnoticed.

What is the cheapest way to heat a room without central heating?

If you do not have central heating, or would prefer to avoid turning it on, then using a small electric heater then helps to quickly bring a room up to temperature. While electric heaters are not the most efficient alternative heating option on the market, they are a good alternative for the quick heating of single rooms.

Is it unhealthy to sleep in a cold room?

While sleeping in a cold room has been shown to help boost metabolic rates and lower heart rates, sleeping in a freezing room can cause more damage than good. After sleeping in a freezing room the chances of muscle cramps and chilblains are greatly increased, as is the chance of mild hypothermia. As a result, you should aim to keep a bedroom above 64ºF for optimal sleep and health.

Best places to buy bedroom furnishings

Our eCommerce editor Jaclyn has scouted out the best places to buy bedding and other furnishings, including

Anthropologie (opens in new tab)
Bloomingdale's (opens in new tab)
Wayfair (opens in new tab)
Target (opens in new tab)
Nordstrom (opens in new tab)
The White Company (opens in new tab)

Chiana is a junior writer for Homes & Gardens having joined Future plc as a new graduate in 2022 after achieving a 1st class degree in Literature at university. She first became interested in design as a child after spending her summers helping her parents redecorate her childhood home. As a long-time reader of Future’s homes titles, Chiana is constantly finding new inspiration at work as she focuses on emerging trends, how-to’s, and news pieces.

7 ways to keep a bedroom warm in winter – without using heating