Emma Ledger – Contributing Editor
Switch on hibernation mode and keep cosy without breaking the bank
When a cold snap bites, next-level layering is the secret to weather-proofing your wardrobe. But there are also smart ways to stay snug (and a little smug) while at your desk this winter, and they don’t involve cranking the heating up. Here’s how:
1. Embrace blankets
On a work call no one sees your bottom half, so drape a blanket or wool throw across your lap, embrace the impeccable piece of design that is the hot-water bottle, and don’t forget fur-lined slippers.
2. Comfort eat
This season, nature is telling you to slow down. Extend that idea to the kitchen with some winter warmers, slow-cooked in casserole dishes. Set a cosy dish going at breakfast time and it’ll be dreamy by lunchtime.
3. Time for a brew
The humble kettle is crucial to successful home-working. If you’re a prolific tea/coffee drinker consider investing in a kettle with a stay-warm function – it’s far more energy efficient than reboiling.
4. Plug in a portable heater
Obvious but easy to forget; a small heater that you can keep near your desk will keep you toasty without having to heat the whole house. Oil-filled radiators are cheap to run and super effective.
5. Keep the cold out
Reduce the amount of arctic air getting into your home by blocking unwanted gaps with draught excluders or thermal-lined curtains – as an added bonus, these can add a little heartwarming colour or pattern into unadorned corners.
