Your bed feels cold because bedding materials (like sheets and mattresses) are highly effective at drawing heat away from your skin, or because cold air is circulating under your mattress. When you first lie down, your body acts like a heat source, and cold, thin fabrics transfer that warmth away from you quickly.
Use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to preheat your bed. Layer blankets or use a higher-tog duvet. Keep your bedroom free of draughts and maintain warmth. Use rugs if your floors are cold.
Layer blankets or duvets to trap heat, and consider investing in a heated mattress pad. Seal any drafts in your bedroom, dress in warm sleepwear, and adjust your thermostat to create a cozy winter sleep space that helps combat the colder temperatures.
So why can one room in your home be colder than others? Blocked or Covered Vents: One of the most common reasons for a cold room is blocked or covered vents. Heavy furniture or objects placed in front of vents can obstruct the flow of warm or cool air.
While some research supports sleeping in a cold bedroom, other research supports a slightly warmer sleep environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum temperature of 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), and the European standard recommends 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).
Koalas are thickset arboreal marsupials with a thick grey fur. Found only living in Australia, they mainly live in the eucalyptus trees and spend around 22 hours of their time sleeping (90%). They spend the other 10% of their day eating and sitting around.
Japanese sleeping techniques combine minimalist bedding, mindful breathing, and short restorative naps to improve sleep quality. The three most popular practices include the Shikibuton floor-sleeping system, the 4-7-8 breathing method, and the art of daytime power-napping, known as Inemuri.
Circulatory problems, diabetes, arthritis and mental health issues can be made worse by living in a cold home. And people with respiratory conditions like asthma are also at risk, particularly if their home is damp and mouldy, which is often the case in under-heated, poorly ventilated homes.
Quick solutions to keep an old, drafty house warm today
The average home will stay warm for 8-12 hours after the power goes out. After the first 8-12 hours, most homes will experience a gradual cooling over the course of the next couple of days.
Layer your bedding properly, warm the bed with a heated mattress pad or hot water bottle, and block drafts in your room. A warm drink and a few minutes of light movement before bed can also help your body feel naturally warmer.
Body Oil Transfer
Sebum naturally produced by your skin transfers to sheets every night. As these oils oxidize, they leave yellow stains and tinting, especially on cotton materials.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference, what you're used to, and how often you're willing to wash your bedding—some find it easier to just toss their entire sheet set into the wash rather than having to re-stuff their duvet back into its cover.
Your bed feels cold because bedding materials (like sheets and mattresses) are highly effective at drawing heat away from your skin, or because cold air is circulating under your mattress. When you first lie down, your body acts like a heat source, and cold, thin fabrics transfer that warmth away from you quickly.
Experts advise against making your bed first thing in the morning because it traps body heat and sweat. This creates a warm, humid microclimate where millions of dust mites—which trigger allergies, congestion, and asthma—can easily thrive and multiply. Leaving the bed unmade allows the sheets to dry out.
Bedding & body heat
Hot water bottles/heated packs: Fill with hot water (heated on a safe stove if available) and place in your bed or under clothing.
Because they do not use standard grid electricity or conventional electric and gas furnaces, the Amish heat their homes using off-grid, self-reliant methods. The most common systems include wood- or coal-burning stoves, propane and kerosene heaters, and natural airflow home designs.
It takes time for your home to warm up and cool down. If you're not sure how long it takes, try turning the heating on about 30 minutes before you need it. You should turn it off 30 minutes before you'll stop needing it.
How quickly do pipes freeze? Pipes can freeze in as little as six to eight hours, meaning they can freeze overnight. If the outside temperature is below 32F degrees and your pipes are unprotected, your chances for a frozen pipe increase.
Amish communities stay warm in winter through energy independence, architectural design, and traditional methods, rather than relying on the modern electrical grid.
Warming up your bedroom without a heater is absolutely doable, and often it's more about trapping and maximising existing heat rather than generating new warmth. Layer your bedding, block those draughts, invest in some thermal curtains, and use targeted heat sources like hot water bottles or heated throws.
Sleeping in a cold room isn't bad—in fact, experts recommend it. Maintaining a bedroom temperature between 60°F and 67°F (15°C to 19°C) helps lower your core body temperature, which signals your brain to sleep, boosts melatonin production, and results in deeper, more restorative rest.
Extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer, causing more fatalities each year globally and in the United States than all other extreme weather events—such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods—combined.
An unsafe temperature depends on whether you are worried about human health or protecting your property from damage.
❄️ Stay safe and prepared by remembering the 4 P's of winter weather: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants. ✅ People – Check on loved ones, especially the elderly and those in need. 🐶 Pets – Bring them inside or provide warm shelter. 🚰 Pipes – Insulate and drip faucets to prevent freezing.