Brr-illiant Tips for Keeping Warm this Winter

When it comes to winter weather, the UK can be pretty bitter. From high winds and heavy snowfall to treacherous ice and freezing rain, it’s important to be prepared for anything as we enter the final months of the year.

Here at B&M HQ, we've been thinking of ways to keep warm in winter both inside and outside our homes.

Wrap up Warm

Of course, wearing the correct clothing is one of the easiest means of keeping warm in winter. The smartest approach is to use layers so that you can easily add or remove clothing depending on the temperature.

Start with thermals, then add a base layer of clothing and a thick jumper on top. If it’s particularly cold outside, you might choose to wear a thinner sweater under your jumper. Finish off the outfit with a coat and a hat, scarf and gloves if needed.

Young children and older people are particularly vulnerable to health problems associated with the cold winter weather the UK often experiences. For this reason, it’s important to make sure you check that your whole family has the right clothing.

Don’t risk your health for the sake of fashion - winter clothes and accessories aren’t just practical - they can also be very stylish too!

Maintain the Temperature in Your Home

Keep your home warm - particularly when the house is occupied. The ideal room temperature in winter is between 18 and 21 degrees for any main living space.

If you’re wondering how to keep your house warm without the heating on all the time, why not use the timer on your boiler? This way you can set the heating to turn on only when there will be people in the house.

Leaving the central heating on at night is a good idea - as, while you may feel warm enough in the daytime, the temperature tends to drop dramatically during winter nights.

Using a plug in heater can help to boost the temperature of colder rooms. This will also help at times when the heating is off.

B&M Top Tip: failing to properly heat your house in winter can result in condensation - which may lead to expensive damp problems.

Use Hot Water Bottles

Hot water bottles are a great way of keeping warm in winter. They’re handy, simple to use, far cheaper than turning the heating up - and ours look lovely too!

Many people also use knitted microwavable heat packs. These handy items can also help to soothe aches and pains that could be exacerbated by the cold. Some are scented with lavender too, which has been used for centuries as an aid for relaxation and sleep.

Eat the Right Foods

It’s tempting to comfort-eat in winter to get through the chilly, short days in a good mood - but this means we often neglect our nutrition.

Eating at least one warm meal a day is a great way to stave off the cold, but try to make sure you’re getting as many vitamins and minerals as you can at the same time. 

Make little changes like adding bananas and raisins to your nice hot bowl of morning porridge and make sure all of your lunches and evening meals are full of fruit and veg. This will help your immune system no end, so you can fight off any nasty winter bugs.

Why not look through our selection of seasonal recipes for some gorgeous and healthy winter warmers? We highly recommend Chikumo’s hearty soup, Laura’s delicious vegan shepherd’s pie and Chloe’s festive sloe gin and venison ragu.

Scatter Blankets Throughout Your Home

Blankets are wonderfully practical items to distribute around your home to help you warm up whenever required - and they make for very attractive accessories too. 

Place blankets and throws strategically - on or by a sofa, for example, or near your front door - so you can quickly wrap one around yourself. 

Choose cosy material that also looks great, such as thick faux fur or a soft woollen knit. Natural colours always look great within winter interior design, as do deep, rich shades. 

Wear Warm Clothing Inside

If you’re struggling to work out how to keep warm this winter for cheap, never fear! One of the simplest methods is to wrap up inside your house as well as outside.

Keep thick clothing, soft fluffy dressing gowns, woolly socks, cosy slippers and snuggly jumpers to hand, and you may just be able to save money on your heating! There’s always a variety of stylish options to choose from too.

Upgrade Your Bedding 

If you’re concerned about feeling cold during the night but you don’t want to keep turning up the heating, why not treat yourself to some new bedding? You may wish to put your thinner summer quilt into storage and replace it with a thick winter duvet.

If you’d rather not do this, you can layer up with throws or simply swap out your existing duvet cover for one that is cosy and fleecy.

Fight off the winter chill and stay healthy by dressing warmly both inside and outside the house, keeping your house heated, stashing blankets and hot water bottles in the right places, eating well and investing in the right bedding.

B&M’s Home & Furniture and Clothing ranges feature a variety of seasonal items to help you keep warm throughout winter.

B&M Top Tip: if you have a fire or stove, take a look at B&M’s selection of affordable winter fuel to keep it running all winter without breaking the bank.

Is your home a snuggly winter wonderland? Share pics, tips and tricks with the B&M Community via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!