Now that winter is here, it’s time to swap your lightweight summer sheets for something thicker and warmer. There is nothing worse than popping into a cold bed on a chilly night. For the best sleep this winter, this article by the UK Bed Store will guide you through everything you need to know about winter bedding.
Electric Blanket
If you enjoy jumping into a warm toasty bed, an electric blanket will be your best friend. Instead of turning on the heating in the bedroom, an electric blanket is designed to heat up your bedding before you head to bed. An electric blanket generates heat directly under you, which is much more energy efficient than heating the whole room.
Electric blankets are placed under your fitted sheet and contain small heating pads with an insulated wire that starts to heat up when plugged in. For your safety, it’s not recommended to leave an electric blanket turned on overnight. Instead, we suggest you switch it on 30 minutes to an hour before you head to bed and unplug before you fall asleep.
Bed Sheets
Our body temperature can drop by 1 to 2 degrees closer to bedtime. Because of this, we recommend changing your bed linens to 100% cotton bed sheets. Cotton is a very popular material not just used for bedding. Cotton bedsheets are an ideal choice for winter because of their ability to regulate temperatures while you sleep. Their performance, longevity, quality, breathability, and their affordability is second to none, especially when compared to other fabrics. For an extra layer of warmth, add a cotton flat sheet to act as a barrier between you and your duvet.
Duvet
A warm duvet is a winter essential. Duvet thickness is measured in tog ratings. This means the higher the tog rating, the better its ability to retain heat during the night. The most common tog rating used is 10.5, which is perfect for all year round. However, it is sometimes appropriate to switch their tog rating depending on the season, bed sizes, and the age of the person in question. If you feel the cold more or sweat during the night, you can select a higher or lower tog rating to suit your sleeping requirements.
Duvet tog ratings vary, with the following ratings for a different level of warmth:
- 1-4.5 is great for summer and warmer days.
- 7-10.5 is suitable for autumn and spring when temperature can differ.
- 12-15 is best for chilly nights and winter.
Winter Throws
Finish off by laying a winter throw or blanket of your choice over your duvet. This will prevent heat from escaping. Alternatively, placing the throw or blanket at the foot of the bed will keep your toes toasty and warm during the night. If you tend to feel too hot during the night, you can skip this step altogether. Throw overs are not only useful for extra warmth, but it will give your bedroom a stylish and cosy appearance.
High-Quality Winter Bedding
At the UK Bed Store, we want you to stay comfortable and warm while you sleep during winter. So, we supply high-quality bedding products to our customers including beds, mattresses, duvets, and more! For further information, feel free to visit us in-store or get in touch with us.