Winter guide · Warmth
The warmest room in the house at 3am should be your bed, not your boiler. With the right layers, it can be.
From 1 October 2026, Ofgem raised the energy price cap by 4%, taking a typical household's annual dual fuel bill to around £1,723. Many of us will be turning the thermostat down, or setting the heating to switch off overnight. That makes what is on your bed matter more than ever.
Heating a whole bedroom all night is expensive. Keeping the warmth your own body makes close to you, under the covers, costs nothing. That is the principle behind everything below.
In short
- Brushed cotton feels warm to the touch from the moment you get into bed.
- Several lighter layers keep you warmer, and more adaptable, than one heavy duvet.
- A higher-tog duvet in winter does a lot of the work your heating would.
- Small changes to the room, like closing curtains at dusk, protect the warmth you have.
Start with the fabric next to your skin
Cold sheets are what make the first minutes in bed so uncomfortable. Smooth, cool-feeling fabrics are wonderful in summer, but in a cold bedroom they take a while to warm up.
Bella Brushed Cotton is 100% brushed cotton flannelette. Brushing raises a soft, slightly fluffy surface on the fabric, which traps a thin layer of air and feels warm the moment you touch it. It is still cotton, so it breathes and you will not wake up clammy.
| Fabric | How it feels | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Brushed cotton (Bella) | Soft, warm, slightly napped | Cold bedrooms, people who always feel cold |
| Cotton sateen (Ella) | Smooth with a soft sheen | Year-round, layered up in winter |
| Bamboo and cotton sateen (Ackly) | Silky and cool | Warm sleepers, or as a base layer under heavier covers |
Unsure which suits you? Our guide to cotton versus brushed cotton goes into the detail.
Build your bed in layers
Layering is how hotels make a bed look inviting, and it is also the most efficient way to stay warm. Air trapped between layers insulates far better than a single thick one, and you can add or remove a layer as the night changes.
Mattress protector
A quilted mattress protector adds a soft, cushioned layer between you and the mattress, which can feel cold in an unheated room.
Fitted sheet
Choose brushed cotton for warmth. A deep pocket keeps it taut, so no cold air finds its way in at the corners.
Flat sheet
A flat sheet under the duvet is an extra layer of warmth that weighs almost nothing. Tuck it in at the foot of the bed.
Winter duvet
A higher tog in winter. Our guide to choosing the right duvet for each season explains how tog ratings work.
Throw or blanket
Laid across the bottom third of the bed, a throw keeps your feet warm and is easy to pull up on the coldest nights.
Layers, not heat. Your bed should do the work.
Small changes to the room
- Close the curtains at dusk. Heavy or lined curtains hold in the warmth the room gathered during the day.
- Move the bed away from an outside wall, if your room allows, and away from draughty windows.
- Stop draughts at the door with a simple draught excluder.
- Warm the bed before you get in. A hot water bottle placed in the bed half an hour earlier takes the chill off the sheets. Fill it with hot, not boiling, water and replace it if the rubber looks worn.
- Dress for bed, too. Warm socks and soft layers keep you comfortable without needing to overheat the room.
Bedding only keeps you warm when it is completely dry. In winter, bedding dried indoors can hold a little moisture and feel cold and slightly damp. Give it extra time, open a window nearby, and avoid putting it straight onto the bed while it still feels cool to the touch.
Warm, but not too warm
The goal is a bed that feels cosy when you get in and stays comfortable through the night. If you wake up hot, take away a layer rather than switching fabrics. That is the beauty of building a bed in layers: it adapts to you.
Sheet Story
Make your bed the warmest place in the house
Bella Brushed Cotton is soft, warm and OEKO-TEX certified, in deep-pocket fitted sheets and matching pillowcases. Free UK delivery on orders over £80.
Shop Bella Brushed Cotton →Questions we are often asked
What bedding is warmest for winter?
Brushed cotton (also called flannelette) is one of the warmest-feeling sheet fabrics, because its brushed surface traps air and feels warm straight away. Pair it with a flat sheet and a higher-tog duvet.
Is it cheaper to heat a bedroom or use warmer bedding?
Warmer bedding costs nothing to run once you own it, while heating a room all night uses energy every hour it is on. Most households find layering the bed lets them turn the heating down or off overnight.
Does a flat sheet make a bed warmer?
Yes. It adds a light extra layer between you and the duvet, and the air trapped between layers helps keep warmth in.
Will brushed cotton make me too hot?
Brushed cotton is still cotton, so it breathes. If you do overheat, remove a top layer such as a throw rather than changing your sheets.
Every bed tells a Sheet Story
