How to warm up cold room

[lovelygreenleaves]

Following on from a similar thread, I have a room that is exposed on three sides, has a flat roof and never gets the sun. Does anyone have any tips on what I can do this winter to help it hold the heat longer, without any building work (I can't do anything until next year)

[Green Aura]

Got me a bit stumped there lgl.

You don't say how big your room is or where you live, so it's difficult to determine sensible suggestions. Of course, the insulate and draught-proof advice, is standard, no matter where. And thick-lined curtains and rugs too.

If there's no direct sunlight - is the room quite dark? If so you won't want dark colours to absorb heat.

If it's a small room you could pin blankets to the walls and then drape the walls with some cheap fabric - harem-like. It could be quite costly though.

Make sure radiators, if you have them, don't have any cold spots. Plug any draughts round the windows.

For my mother's room, because she's elderly and needs a little more heat than the rest of us, we bought a small electric panel heater, which is really cheap to run, so she can have it on 24/7. It just raises the temp by a couple of degrees, but really makes a difference for her. I don't know if something like that might be useful - I don't feel particularly comfortable advising electric heaters, but sometimes it's one of few options.

[Helsbells]

When I was at uni I had a very cold room with exposed walls. I bought some polystyrene ceiling tiles and stuck them to the lower half of the walls, they were mostly hidden behind the bed and stuff. It did make a differance. I just stuck them on with double sided sticky tape.
Also dont forget if you have radiators you can stick that silvery foil foamsy stuff behind the radiators to reflect the heat back into the room.
If you have any doors stop draughts with a draught excluder.
Also if the windows are draughty you could buy some foamy stuff to put between the window and the frame to close any gaps.

[MuddyWitch]

What do you use the room for? (If at all)

If you don't need to use it, open the window a crack for ventilation, shut the door to the rest of the house tight & forget it 'till Spring, but if it's your kitchen that is not an option, obviously!

MW

[lovelygreenleaves]

Sorry I'm North UK. All these tips are great, thank you! I don't use the room in winter, but I'd like to be able to! Anyone know how to make your own foil thing for behind the radiator?

[Thomzo]

Ha ha. When I click on this thread, the google ads start advertising cold stores. Don't think they've quite got the idea

Zoe

[Green Aura]

Some heavy duty aluminium foil will do the trick. Just paste it to the wall behind the radiator.

Should we mention a cup of tea?

[healer]

Its advertising boarding in Coniston Cold now - perhaps that's the answer, go on holiday somewhere really cold then you will appreciate the UK mild winters! I think cups of tea would help - well to quote a famous film - "well sir it can't do any 'arm can it sir" (yes - probably not accurate quote!)

Anyway back to the room. LGL - you haven't said what you want to do in there. If you wish to sit still and work that's a lot different to physically working of any sort. And the other very important part is - is it damp and cold or dry and cold?

You can us lots of carpets and rugs on the floor and stable up (old!) quilt covers on the walls or carpet and .... or tapestries! Double curtains. Staple drapes on the ceiling. The "soft and warm" approach.

Or you could also look at increasing the thermal mass of the room eg books on tall book cases.

Over the long term look at the "wind chill" effect on the building, can you protect it more? And if the roof can take it what about creating a green roof?

Small rooms can be made snug so don't give up!

[mrsflibble]

I can highly recommend the book case approach, our extension is exposed on three sides and has really old double glazing which doesn't afford us much heat protection. we've arranged the room sdifferently from last winter to maximise the area of radiator space, done the foil thing, got double lined curtains and a rug on top of the carpet. it's quite cosy in there now lol!!

[snapdragon]

Is the floor suspended or solid? if suspended try to fill in between the boards where there are gaps and round the edges too. either way an extra layer on the floor will help (newspapers under carpet/lino, a rug on top) bubblewrap on the window/s (looks like net curtains from the outside)