We tried 10 cheap products to avoid putting the heating – a £12 Dunelm buy was a winner at keeping us warm all night
FEELING the chill? You don’t need to turn up the thermostat to keep warm this winter.
We tried and tested several products from big brands – UGG dupes from Sainsbury’s, to thermal curtains from Dunelm, and Primark’s iconic Velvet Plush Leggings in a bid to keep us toasty.
Associate Editor, Rebecca Miller, lives in an 1890’s Victorian house with no central heating, whereas Senior Features Writer, Kirsten Jones is nine months pregnant, and wants to spend her money on important items, and that doesn’t include blasting the heating.
Plum Plush Dressing Gown, £25, Asda
Kirsten: To pass my winter test, a dressing gown needs three things: plenty of length, space for layers and of course, pockets – and this Asda robe delivers all.
Entering my ninth month of pregnancy, I need all the comfort I can get. A size medium left plenty of room for my bump, while the super soft hood was a bonus to keep my ears warm while snoozing on the sofa.
Shrugged on top of a pair of long-sleeved cotton pyjamas, this dressing gown kept me cosy at all hours without the need for a hot water bottle. The only problem was, I didn’t want to take it off.
- Design 5/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5
Red Gingham Pyjamas, £20, Asda
Rebecca: Slipping into these gorgeously soft cotton PJs has become a highlight of my day. They are sumptuously warm and spacious, and brilliantly priced. But be warned, you won’t want to take them off.
I made the mistake of wearing them to bed one evening and woke up sweating, so they’re ideal for anyone sleeping under a lighter duvet or in a cooler room.
The only area for improvement? I’d like the waistband in the trousers to have a drawstring cord.
- Design 4/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5
Borg Heatable Hand Cosy, £12, Dunelm
Rebecca: I really grew to like this hand cosy from Dunelm, not only is it made from a gorgeously soft borg material, but it keeps your hands warm even before you heat the microwavable pack up.
It’s a generous size and I found it very comforting when sitting on the sofa watching TV in the evening. It’s also super handy at stopping you from mindlessly snacking after 9pm.
I love the removable machine washable cover – very convenient if you spill a drop of hot chocolate, and the price point was spot on.
- Design 5/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5
Teddy Bear Charcoal Long Hot Water Bottle, £12, Dunelm
Rebecca: Whether you’re taking part in cuffing season, or spending the run-up to Christmas single, there’s no need to get into bed shivering.
This long hot water bottle is incredible at keeping me warm throughout the night. The size means it can hold a lot of water, and the fluffy borg material helps trap the heat for hours.
After one night with this, I’ve swapped my regular rectangle hot water bottle for it – the shape and size make it extremely versatile, whether you’re sitting at your desk, working from home, or need something to snuggle up to on the sofa. A winner from Dunelm!
- Design 5/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5
Churchgate Swithland Herringbone Thermal Eyelet Door Curtain, £65, Dunelm
Rebecca: Don’t let the price of these curtains put you off because they perform a small miracle day and night.
Elegantly designed with a subtle grey herringbone textured fabric, the curtain has a thermal layer which helps regulate room temperature – in other words, keeps the warmth in and cold out.
Not only that, but I found the curtains helped reduce condensation. I had them hung in my study over an old pair of double doors with thin panes of glass, which would be covered in water droplets morning and night when the temperature fluctuated. But since drawing these curtains every evening, there is no condensation on the windows!
If there’s one item that we tried and tested, that I would recommend, it would be a pair of thermal curtains.
- Design 5/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5
Light Khaki Borg Fleece Quarter Zip Co-ord Pyjama Top and matching bottoms, £14 each, Sainsbury’s
Kirsten: A word of warning about this super soft, incredibly comfortable co-ord: once you slip it on, you’ll never want to take it off. Unlike many cheap and cheerful fleece pyjamas, this set washes like a dream without losing any of its plump plushness.
The top is roomy enough to pop a layer underneath on particularly chilly nights, while the bottoms boast a stretchy, elasticated waistband – ideal for lazy Sundays snacking on the sofa.
Just be mindful at bedtime. This set is so warm, wearing it to bed may end up an incredibly sweaty affair.
- Design 5/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5
Tan suede mini platform boots, £30, Sainsbury’s
Kirsten: Ugg boots are back in fashion but not all of us can afford to shell out over £100 a pair.
Of all the dupes on the high street, this supermarket pair comes closest to the real deal.
Suitable for dry days only – let’s not relive the peril of rain-soaked suede again – these slipper-like shoes are like two warm hugs for your tootsies.
A little tight at first, the fur-lined interior soon moulds to the shape of your foot, and there’s a surprising amount of grip on the platform soles.
Keep your winter walks to a minimum in these boots. There’s no support inside so those arches will start to smart. Super warm and stylish, in small doses.
- Design 4/5
- Performance 4/5
- Price 5/5
Naeo Heated Slippers, £20, B&M
Rebecca: Heated slippers sound like a great idea – toasty toes during the colder months – but in reality, this pair from B&M just didn’t cut it.
Not because of how warm they kept your toes, but because of the sheer discomfort when wearing them.
In terms of how the slippers heat up, they are powered by a couple of batteries that are slotted into the soles, but you end up feeling like you’re walking on planks of wood – furry ones at that.
In terms of heat, they did provide some warmth, but nothing revolutionary. And for £20, you could buy several packs of fluffy socks and layer up instead.
- Design – 3/5
- Performance – 4/5
- Price – 2/5
Other items we tried, and loved
Neck hot water bottle, £12, Dunelm
Small square olive heater, £30, Dunelm
Heated seat cushion, £20, B&M
Heated hand cushion, £12, B&M
Ladies Fleece Top, £14, B&M
Jacquard Flannel Green Duvet Set, Double, £20, B&M
Kirsten: Particularly chilly houses will benefit from this bulky duvet set. But be warned if you’re a warm sleeper, things can get sweaty very quickly.
I popped these emerald sheets in the spare bedroom one cold night in late October for the unsuspecting in-laws to enjoy, and received mixed reviews. At dawn, the bedroom window was wide open and apologies were shared for the ‘dampness’.
The duvet definitely kept them warm, but perhaps a little too warm. A set best saved for baltic conditions.
Be mindful of the material when doing the laundry – my machine was littered with little specks of green after their first wash. I’d recommend washing separately in case the colour bleeds, too.
- Design 3/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5
Velvet plush tights, £7, Primark
Kirsten: You need to be cold – and I mean, COLD, to cope with these beauties locked around your pins. These toasty tights are thick enough to be worn like leggings with an oversized hoodie or tee. They passed the squat test, so there’s no fear of pants on show in public.
Not for the claustrophobic among us, these tights feel like a tight and rather hairy hug around your legs and repel the nastiest of winter breezes.
They’re best worn on outdoor days. I was boiled alive on a visit to my local coffee shop, and sweaty legs are not a pleasant experience.
- Design 3/5
- Performance 5/5
- Price 5/5