Don't touch the thermostat! 5 easy ways to stay warm at night without turning the heat up

A woman with dark brown hair and wearing a red jumper turns up the heating via her smart thermostat just before going to bed, which is a big nighttime routine mistake — (Image credit: Getty Images)

As the weather takes a turn towards the cold you've probably noticed your hand itching for the thermostat. Particularly at night, as you brace yourself to climb into an ice cold bed.

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The perfect temperature for sleep is around 68°F. “High temperatures in your bedroom can interfere with your body’s natural cooling process, which is essential for falling and staying asleep,” explained Dr. Hana Patel, NHS GP and resident sleep expert at Time4Sleep, when she advised us to switch our heating off before bed.

But a 68°F mattress can feel chilly, so how do we keep our bedrooms snug, our electricity costs down and maintain a healthy sleep schedule?

My Tom's Guide team has put all the coziest tips and tricks to the test — from weighted blankets to socks in bed to high-tech mattress covers — and below we've rounded up the best to try.

Now is the time to invest in your sleep. Could saving on a weighted blanket help you cut down on your bills?

5 ways to cozy up at night without turning the heat up

1. Layer up

"The key to great sleep during fall is to layer up your bed," says our bedding expert Becky George. To reset your bed for fall, she recommends switching to cozy-but-breathable layers — and lots of them.

More layers allow more warm air to get trapped, creating a cozier feel. And if you start to overheat, simply throw off a sheet and allow things to cool down.

I'm a big fan of layers; my current sleep set up combines fitted sheet, flat sheet, duvet and blanket. And it's a trick often used by hotels to make their beds look more inviting (don't you just want to pull back all those sheets and dive in?)

2. Close your curtains early

Sunset is getting earlier and earlier (especially since the clock change) and when the sun sets, it takes a lot of warmth with it.

When this happens, your windows become heat sucks, draining the lingering warmth from your bedroom.

A woman with long brown hair opens the curtains in her bedroom to let in natural light straight after waking up — (Image credit: Getty Images)

To prevent this sudden loss of warmth, shut the curtains or blind as soon as the sun is down. This will provide extra insulation for your bedroom, keeping you warmer into the night.

I've noticed on the days I'm in the office (and my curtains aren't closed until gone 7pm) my bedroom is chiller than the days I'm at home (and can shut the curtains before 5pm.)

But make sure to open the curtains first thing in the morning — this gold star sleep rule is key to feeling energized in winter.

3. Switch to breathable bedding

I've recently upgraded all my bedding to 100% cotton percale sheets from Spin & Yarn. Percale sheets have an airy weave, allowing moisture and warmth to circulate so you stay at the right temperature all night long.

That's particularly helpful during transitional seasons — when temperatures fluctuate — and for those who go to bed cold and wake up sweating. (If you're experiencing temperature swings, check out our guide to when to turning the heat on overnight for better sleep.)

Breathable bedding also dries quicker, as it's better equipped at wicking moisture. So even if you don't have a clothes dryer, you won't need to crank up the heating.

4. Get cozy in the evening

A warm shower before bed temporarily raises your internal temperature before helping it drop, in-sync with your circadian rhythms. Recently I've been trying 'dark showering' — switching off the lights, lighting a candle and relaxing under the spray.

A tub of Moonbrew Magnesium Vanilla Latte and a mug, filled with Moonbrew Vanilla Latte, on a (slightly messy) kitchen counter — (Image credit: Future)

I follow this with a warm drink (as does Becky, who considers a warm drink before bed the ideal way to "soothe [her] nerves and relax.")

By the time I climb into bed I'm feeling warm on the metaphorical inside — and the perfect temperature on the literal inside.

5. Cuddle up with a weighted blanket

When our bedding specialist Becky tried a weighted blanket for the first time she achieved "cozy, restful" sleep that kept her "warm without a heater."

And our sleep writer Frances Daniels had a similar experience, finding a weighted blanket "saves [her] from cranking up the heating" when creating her fall bedtime routine.

The best weighted blankets are filled with small beads, designed to exert comforting pressure on the body (similar to a bear hug.) This heavy, close-fitting cuddle makes weighted blankets warmer than your normal blanket.

Want a long term solution? Try this

If you spent all summer sweating in your sleep and the first weeks of fall fighting your chattering teeth, it might be worth investing in a smart bed.

Our smart bed expert Eve Davies used the Eight Sleep Pod 4, a mattress cover with integrated cooling and heating, to warm her bed on cold evenings. And while an investment upfront (the cheapest option is $2,449), Eight Sleep claims using the Pod can help you save on your energy bills in the long run.

Many of the best smart beds and mattresses feature temperature controls so you can nail the cozy factor but although this is the most effective solution, it's also the most expensive...

Eight Sleep Pod 5: full was $2,849 now $2,649 at Eight Sleep
Eight Sleep's Pod mattress cover uses a water based system to provide heating and cooling, with integrated sleep trackers ensuring you maintain the perfect temperature overnight (plus working with AI to provide sleep advice when you wake up.) This is just a mattress cover (no mattress included) but it can be used with your existing bed (or head to our best mattress in a box guide for a replacement) and prices are high, with a queen Pod 5 $2,849 in the Black Friday sale (was $3,049) — but for hands-on control, there's nothing like it.

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Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

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