IF you’re spending all day in your dressing gown in a bid to keep warm but still shivering yourself to sleep at night, then you may just want to listen up!
That’s because Martin Wong, Founder and Home Interior Expert atBringnox Blinds, a motorised blinds retailer, has shared five cheap and cheerful hacks that’ll keep your home warm this winter.
From the £3 bubble wrap trick for single-glazed windows to the £2 bargain buy that’ll prevent cold air flowing through window gaps, these tips and tricks could just save you hundreds on your heating bill.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Martin explains: “The beauty of these hacks is that they work immediately.
“No waiting for contractors and no big expenses. It’s just clever timing and strategic use of materials you probably already have.
“With energy bills surging, these simple changes can help you keep your heating bills manageable in the winter.”
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Bubble wrap on single-glazed windows (starting from £3 per roll)
Martin’s value-for-money solution costs as little as £3, but could save you a small fortune on your heating bill.
He explains: “Spray water on clean windows, press the bubble side against the glass, and it sticks naturally.”
“It’s practically invisible from a distance and provides an instant double-glazing effect.
“Crucially, it’s completely removable with no damage; perfect for renters!”
He goes on to note that a single roll can cover 2-3 average-sized windows.
“For less than the price of a supermarket meal deal, you could cut your window heat loss and save hundreds of pounds over time,” he adds.
Pool noodles for window gaps (£2-£5)
Martin suggests that if you have gaps around your window frames where you can feel chilly air coming through, cut up cheap foam pool noodles to a size that fills the gaps and wedge them into the gaps.
“Foam compresses to fill irregular spaces, creating an effective seal,” he explains. “This works particularly well for sash windows or older frames with visible gaps.
“At under £5 per window, it’s one of the cheapest draught-proofing solutions available and takes just minutes to DIY.”
Hang thick blankets or quilts over windows at night (using items you own)
For single-glazed or particularly draughty windows that will be expensive to fix, Martin suggests hanging heavy blankets, old duvets, or quilts over the window frame at night using a tension rod, which costs around £4-£6.
“This creates an extra insulating layer, in addition to your existing window dressings, trapping warmer air inside and blocking out the cold,” the home interior expert explains.
“Remember to remove these during sunny daylight hours to let the warming natural light in, then rehang at dusk.”
While it’s not the most stylish solution out there, he notes it’s “incredibly effective” and costs close to nothing if you’re using bedding you already own.
Close curtains or blinds early
According to Martin, a really underrated hack is opening and closing your blinds to trap heat from the sun.
“Opening blinds during peak daylight hours (10 am to 2 pm) to capture free solar heat, then closing them at dusk, ideally before the temperature drops, creates free insulation,” he explains.
Cheap gadgets to help you stay warm
MARTIN Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert shared six gadgets that can help you keep the heating off but stay warm.
Heating “the human not the home” means you warm yourself instead of turning on the heating and heating the whole house.
This can save money on your heating bill and means you don’t have to sit in the cold.
- USB gloves – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Heated insoles – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- USB hand warmers – initial cost £15, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Electric gilet – initial cost £50 (including battery pack), cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Microwaveable wheat bag – initial cost £4, cost to run less than 1p per hours
- Reusable hand warmers – initial cost £5 for a pair, cost to run less than 1p per hour
“This works great for those on a budget, yet loads of Brits will wait till they go to bed to do this, wasting hours of heat retention, day after day.”
The home interior whizz goes on to say that if you get home later, you could consider installingmotorised blinds that you can programme to close automatically at sunset and open at sunrise.
“You’re essentially automating your home’s thermal efficiency without lifting a finger,” he adds.
Change your furniture placement
Most people don’t realise that something as simple as furniture placement can make a big difference in reducing heating bills.
But according to Martin, a bed or sofa placed right next to an exterior wall can make you feel colder.
“Moving furniture just a little further inward helps you stay warmer without ever touching the thermostat,” he says.
“Small adjustments can drastically reduce your heating needs, which is crucial when the average UK household is spending around £143 monthly on energy.”