Brrr'illiant ways to stay toasty

The temperature has changed, salads have been swapped for soups and the waterproof boots are on. Staying warm and keeping ventilated in your accommodation during colder months will keep your environment cosy and help your overall wellbeing. Embrace some of these strategies to ensure your accommodation becomes a warm and welcoming space throughout the winter months.

Prep & ventilate your rooms: To contain warmth within your bedroom, keep doors and windows closed and use draft blockers to prevent heat from escaping. You should also draw curtains when dark to keep the heat in the room.

Despite this, ventilation is key to having a happy healthy winter season. Regularly and properly ventilating works to remove harmful particles (e.g. spores, dust and dirt) from making your room, kitchens and bathrooms, their home for the winter. Leaving your windows and bathroom doors constantly closed causes decreased airflow and increases mould, condensation and poor air quality.

Maximize your comfort at night: Your bed is your sanctuary. Layer it with extra blankets, cosy throws, weighted blankets and a higher tog duvet to keep warm at night. Thermal or flannel bedsheets can also make a significant difference in retaining body heat.

Invest in a hot bottle: Hot water bottles are a cheap and easy way to keep yourself warm. You can order one online or buy one from most large supermarkets. Fill the hot water bottle with hot water and place it in your bed before sleeping to retain the heat. Always use a cover on the hot water bottle and don't use boiling water straight from the kettle. Browse hot water bottles.

Layer up: Layering isn’t just for your bed. Opt for warm sweaters, thermal wear, and warm socks to keep yourself warm indoors. Take layers with you when you are out and about, and don't hesitate to wrap up, especially in the evenings. Wearing hats, gloves, scarves, and thermal socks keep extremities warm when travelling to and from lectures.

Cook together: Enjoy some communal cooking sessions. Using the kitchen not only provides warm meals but also generates heat. We love hearty soups, sausage casserole and chilli con carne. Cooking together can be a fun and easy way to socialise with your flatmates while keeping your communal space warm. 

Stay active: Engage in physical activity to generate body heat. Exercise, even if it's just a little, can help keep you warm.

Hot drinks as warmers: Stock up on hot beverages like tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Not only do they warm you up from the inside, but they also provide comfort during study sessions.

Understanding your heating: All heating is switched off overnight, but we aim to keep a minimum temperature within each room of 16 degrees centigrade and a maximum of 20 degrees centigrade during the hours of 7am to 11.59pm. The radiators may only be warm to the touch and could go off completely should the internal temperature reach 20 degrees.

Report any concerns: If you feel that your room temperature is below 16 degrees centigrade, please let us know and we will get the report of your room’s temperature from Campus Infrastructure to identify if there is a problem.

Report concerns about the temperature in your room.