When your bedroom is cold, it makes it harder to relax, to sleep well and feel comfortable throughout the night, especially when heat escapes faster than it should.
Small gaps, overlooked problem areas and poor heat retention can make your bedroom feel colder than the temperature on your thermostat.
Why Bedrooms Lose Heat So Easily
Your bedroom might seem like it is cozy, but it can lose heat faster than the other rooms in your house, due to how it is designed and used.
You usually have at least one exterior wall, which increases the heat loss through gaps in the insulation materials and any poorly insulated corners. Bedroom are usually located above unheated space, or below roof voids, with thin insulation that can let warmth quickly escape.
Bedroom doors are often kept closed, which restricts the air circulation and traps cold air near floors and windows. If you window seals are old, or they are poorly fitted, cold edges and glass surfaces end up pulling heat away from the room, even if the window is shut.
Radiators or vents under windows can create strong temperature differences, which push the warm air outside faster. Plus, structural elements, like concrete slabs or steel framing can act as a thermal bridge, conducting heat outside, and making your bedroom feel colder.
How To Spot The Main Sources Of Drafts
Start with the doors and check the door seal – if you see light under/around the frame, cold air is slipping in. Next, you need to inspect your windows. Run your hand along the window frame, and feel for window gaps or use a lit incense stick to spot if there is any moving air.
Don’t ignore your walls, as drafts often sneak through an electrical outlet and switches on your exterior walls. If they feel cold to touch, or you can feel some air movement, they’re likely leaking.
Poor attic insulation directly above your bedroom can make cold spots and noticeable air currents, as the warm air escapes.
Role Of Curtains In Keeping Heat In
Simple curtains can add extra warmth to your bedroom, as they act like an extra barrier between the cold window surface and the rest of your bedroom.
Well-chosen window treatments can slow down the heat loss, cut drafts and improve your overall energy efficiency. If you use thicker fabric, it’ll trap more air, so choosing lined curtains or thermal curtains will help to cut down on drafts.
Hang your curtains so they fully cover the frame, and reach the windowsill or the floor, limiting the gaps where the cold air can leak through. The best materials for curtains, for warmth, are tightly woven cotton, wool blends, or insulated layers, which block heat transfer better than sheerer fabrics.
Making Better Use Of Radiator Heat
The placement of your radiators is very important. You need to keep the furniture pieces, long curtains and bulky objects away from your radiators so the heat distribution isn’t blocked.
You need the warm air to circulate freely across the room, and not get trapped behind your bed or a wardrobe.
You can improve your bedroom’s energy efficiency by placing reflective insulation material on the wall directly behind the radiator – it kinda looks like a sheet of tin foil, but it pushes more heat back into the room, rather than escaping through the wall.
How To Insulate Around Skirting Boards
Skirting boards look solid, but they often hide small gaps, which is where cold air sneaks in and warm air escapes.
To improve your skirting board insulation, run your hand along the boards on a cold day, and feel for any drafts, especially near the corners and under your windows.
For any small gaps, use flexible decorators caulk, and for larger gaps, use low-expansion foam or backer rod plus caulk.
If any of your skirting boards are loose, remove them and refit them with sealant behind them, or you can add foam tape at the back edge.
