How to Keep Warm on Cold Winter Nights

If you’re like many people, cold winter temperatures that seem bearable in the daytime can send you into shivering fits come nightfall.

Without the distractions of seasonal winter fun to get your mind off of the frigid chill, it can be much harder to calm your thoughts and fall asleep!

Worse, with winters across the country getting colder all the time, it’s more important than ever to know how to warm up on cold winter nights.

Want to stop slipping into ice-cold sheets at the end of each day? Here are a few tactics to help you keep warm when it matters most.

Layer Up

First things first: it’s time to layer up! Having the right layers, both in terms of winter bedding and your own clothing, can mean the difference between a cozy winter rest and a long, freezing night.

Bedding

The more layers of blankets and pillows you have, the easier it is to trap heat as you rest. Of course, the right layers make a difference as well.

Flannel bed sheets are a tried-and-true tradition in the winter months, as the material is a great insulator in cold weather. Alternatively, textiles like cotton fleece as well as wool and other natural fibers can help you conserve heat as well.

Be sure to layer top sheets, blankets, and a warm comforter or duvet filling for the best results. In addition, a heavy weighted blanket can help trap heat and enhance your sleep on freezing nights.

Clothing

In a similar vein, having multiple layers of clothing can help you trap heat close to your skin, allowing you to stay comfortable even as the temperature dips. Flannels are once more a great option, although silk, wool, and fleece are solid alternatives. If you own a set of quality thermals, keep in mind that they aren’t just for ski trips—they’re designed to keep you cool in any setting!

Don’t forget the finishing touch: a knit cap. There’s a reason we have a long history of wearing nightcaps to bed, as these garments can help us maintain our body temperatures even in chilly weather.

Last, but not least, you can also pre-warm your clothes on cold nights by putting them next to a radiator, for example, or even on top of or in your dryer.

Switch to a Foam Mattress

If you want to invest in your long-term comfort, switching to a foam mattress can go a long way. Not only can foam mattresses better support your body, but the material itself can keep your bed warm. Because foam is a porous material, it helps to trap your body heat against you, making you less likely to feel the cold temperatures.

If you’re worried about your mattress’s performance in the summer months, you can still reap the benefits of foam: try using a removeable foam mattress topper or a flippable mattress like our Alexander Signature Flippable.

Heat Your Bedroom

Heating your home may be your first thought when the nights get cold, but whole-house heating can be a pretty expensive prospect. Instead, consider heating just your bedroom and the area where you sleep with a few simple tips.

Use a Space Heater

The right space heater can be an effective and more affordable way to heat small areas of your home, in certain situations. You’ll want to consider your usage, wattage, and the size of your room, of course, but these compact machines can be a great way to warm up overnight. Make sure to look for energy-efficient models for the most cost savings.

Heat Your Bedding

If you’re looking for an even more affordable option, warming your bedding can be a great choice, and there are several different methods to try. From heated blankets and mattress pads to hot water bottles and bed-warming fans, you can experiment to see which option helps you reach your preferred temperature.

Insulate Your Bedroom

Once you’ve spent time and money heating up your space, the last thing you want to do is lose that heat. Insulating your bedroom can be a great choice—and it’s often more affordable than you’d think. Here are some quick ways to keep the warmth where it belongs:

• Caulk up any gaps in your windows
• Use a draft excluder under your door
• Add thick curtains to your windows
• Install insulation film on your windows

Of course, you’ll also want to remember to keep the windows and doors of your room closed as much as possible. If you feel that the room gets stuffy at night, cracking a window can be a last resort.

Use Traditional Tips to Keep Warm

There’s a reason you’ll hear the same common pieces of advice for staying warm, year in and year out: they work!

The first traditional tactic is to eat or drink something hot before bed. Often, the slight increase in your body temperature—both because of the food’s temperature and our body’s digestion—can help you stay warm as you fall asleep. Great foods to try include ginger tea and oatmeal.
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Next, consider taking a hot shower before bed, as this can also raise your body temperature.

Last, don't hesitate to snuggle up with a partner or a furry friend! Having multiple warm bodies in the same bed is an easy way to increase the heat on a cold night.

Make the Most of Cold Winter Nights

With the right approach, those dreaded cold winter nights can be a great excuse to snuggle into a cozy bed—instead of a sleepless experience that gets you shivering. Using some or even all of the tips above can help you make the most of chilly temperatures and warm your bed when you need it most.

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