Cold Student House? Here’s How To Warm It On A Budget

Winter is on the way and we’re feeling the cold already.

Can’t get out of bed because it’s sooo cold? Student houses are notoriously freezing, and you’re probably going to find yourself in a situation where one housemate is happy with turning on the heating but is outvoted by the others.

If you’re trying to keep your bills low and don’t want to switch up the heating here are the most inventive ways we can think of to warm up your house while on a strict budget.

1. Get a hot water bottle

A hot water bottle is going to be your best friend. Not only are they cheap (it’s time to raid your local Primark) but it will take you from being freezing to cosy warm within a few minutes.

Whether you’re perching it on your lap while watching Netflix or sleeping with it to help warm you up, a hot water bottle is one of the least affordable ways to make your house a bit warmer. Not to mention, who’s to say you can only have one?

2. Dressing gown

ASOS Design Dressing Gown, £28

Likewise, a dressing gown is a student essential. Whether you’re splashing out £30 on a more expensive one (which is a really good investment) or grabbing one for a tenner from Primark, once you start wearing a dressing gown around your house you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.

3. Double duvet

During winter it can be hard to fall asleep if your body temperature isn’t right. If your regular duvet just isn’t cutting it, buying another cheap one from Amazon or your local supermarket can really make a huge difference. You could also invest in a heated blanket to warm it up before you hop in at night — just remember to switch it off before you go to sleep!

4. Hang blankets on the walls

Argos Home Super Soft Fleece Throw, £8

This is a hack that can actually impact the temperature of your house, not just your body temperature. If your walls aren’t properly insulated it can make it feel 10 times colder inside, so hanging blankets to the walls can help to act as extra insulation and prevent heat loss. Nice wall hangings will do the same thing, so it’s a good excuse to decorate your uni room or house.

5. Buy a rug

There’s nothing worse than standing on a freezing cold floor, and like hanging blankets to your walls, adding a rug to the floor can help to insulate your room. Plus, it will also make your room look nicer too so that’s an added bonus.

6. Candles

Ok, this could be a bit harder as some landlords have rules about lighting candles in student rentals (but yes, the fact that they’re a potential fire hazard probably is a valid reason for them to ban them).

However, if your landlord doesn’t mind, lighting candles can help add a bit of warmth to your room the old fashioned way as well as making it smell fab. Some autumn and Christmassy scents could really help your house get into the winter spirit and enjoy the cold weather too. Just remember to keep an eye on them and blow them out before you leave the house.

7. Put cling film on the windows

This one might sound crazy, but it actually works. This can help to trap a small layer of air and act as extra glazing to the windows, making it slightly warmer inside and stopping the heat from escaping. Got old sash windows? Stuff the gaps with newspaper to ensure there’s no gaps that the heat can escape through.

8. Make hot drinks

There’s nothing a cup of tea won’t fix. If you’re gearing up for a particularly long and cold winter in your student house, you’ll probably be putting the kettle on a lot as drinking hot drinks is one of the quickest ways to help to warm you up.

9. Keep doors, windows and curtains closed

Closing doors and windows will keep the heat in, so as antisocial as it might seem, make sure your bedroom doors are firmly shut. Keeping your curtains closed also acts as another layer of insulation on the windows, where most of the heat will escape, so keeping them closed will help keep the heat in.

10. Get out of the house

As much as staying in your house to revise might be tempting, your university won’t be trying to cut back on bills like you are. The library and on-campus study areas will have central heating which will probably be turned on nice and high, so if you’re really struggling with your house it might be smart to set up camp elsewhere for the day.

Coffee shops will also most definitely be warmer than your house, so could be a smart place to study or even to watch a bit of Netflix. If all else fails, you could just head to the pub in the evenings instead as we’re sure being packed in tight with other people is likely to be much warmer than sitting in your student house alone.

So, hopefully taking these tips on board you won’t freeze to death this year in your student house.