Exact date to alter your cover to remain heat and get monetary savings this winter
As we sway between the chill and warmth of the changing seasons, we’ll soon no doubt be bracing ourselves for a proper cold snap complete with snow, ice, and a deluge of rain. And when it comes, it’ll be high time to consider a seasonal switch-up at home.
Chloe Barrow, an interior whizz from Laura James, has crunched the last five years of weather stats to pinpoint the ideal date for swapping to your snug winter duvet. Chloe says: “There has been an average temperature drop of 3.5 degrees Celsius from September to October over the last five years. However, we can see that as temperatures on average have been rising, this drop has kept the average temperature above 12 degrees over the past three years. It’s only when we look at the October to November numbers that we see consistent drops to under 10 degrees Celsius.”
With the mercury set to dip, the guru advises it’s time to think about upgrading to a more substantial duvet not just for cosiness but also to ease the sting of heating bills. Barrow marks the calendar, stating: “According to the data and our predictions, this is set to be later than ever before in 2024. This year, I would recommend swapping your duvet tog from your summer to winter one on Monday, October 14.”
The expert has shared her top tips for staying snug as a bug in bed when the weather turns chilly, advising: “It’s worth noting that this will differ from home to home. Important things to consider include the insulation of your house. For example, if you only have single glazed windows you may want to change your tog sooner than those that live in properties with double glazing, as you’ll likely feel the cold more.”
She suggests for well-insulated homes a duvet with a tog between nine and 10.5 will suffice initially, but “otherwise, I would opt for a 13.5 tog for extra warmth and comfort overnight”, she goes on to advise.
For those lacking central heating, snatch up a 15 tog duvet, which is apparently the toastiest option commonly found. Wrapping it up, she emphasises personal comfort: “Although I have given suggestions here, it’s important to choose what works best for you and allows you to have a good night’s sleep. If you have an ottoman bed, this can be really helpful for storing multiple duvets so you can swap them out as needed throughout the seasons.”
