The Benefits of Rugs and Blankets in Winter

The Benefits of Rugs and Blankets in Winter

The benefits of using rugs and blankets to cut down your costs this winter

With winter on the way and the cost of living rising, we're all looking for new ways to keep warm, save money and reduce our use of fossil fuels to heat our homes. However, maybe we don't have to find new solutions at all. Throughout history our ancestors have relied on good old-fashioned methods to stay warm in the cold months including popping down a rug and wrapping up in a cosy woollen blanket.

We've been doing some interesting research into the perks of using homewares to keep the heat in. We're sharing our findings with you below in the hope you can all stay warm this winter without the costs racking up!

Warm up your floor and decor with a beautiful rug

It often seems to be forgotten that rugs can serve as more than just lovely decoration for a room. For centuries in places where winters are freezing, rugs have remained one of the most trusted ways to keep a room warm.

In the UK we’re now having to face the reality of much hotter summers. Whilst hard floors are definitely the way to go to keep a home cool in the heatwaves, in the colder seasons they will sadly do nothing but make the room feel colder - especially if you're someone who likes to walk around barefoot. Placing a few rugs down in the chilliest spots will make sure you keep out cool air, trapping the heat in the room. They also feel fantastic under your feet!

If it’s good enough for sheep...

For the greatest insulating results, woollen rugs like this lovely kazak kilim wool rug from Namaste are the most recommended. Wool is one of nature's best insulators - just think of how cosy sheep are in the middle of winter! The natural fibres in wool are generally far more durable and warming than synthetic materials.

Obviously thick rugs will naturally provide much more insulation than a thinner rug. However that does not mean you can't use a thinner rug instead if you already have one. Simply find an insulated rug pad online which you can lay underneath your rug to help keep heat in and if you get one with a non-slip backing it will stop your rug sliding around.

Size does matter!

Lastly, surface area does matter! If you have a larger room, a smaller rug just isn't going to cut it. The majority of heat is lost through uncovered flooring and so you're going to need a rug that covers a decent amount of the floor space before any real change to the room temperature actually occurs. However, as large rugs can be rather expensive, you can also use and layer a selection of smaller rugs to get the same effect.

Rugs also look great

Using rugs also lends the benefit of being a less permanent and more flexible alternative to having carpet. Rugs can come in so many brilliant colours, shapes and sizes so you have plenty of freedom to match the rug to the interior. As opposed to carpeting a room, you can easily roll up the rug when the summer arrives again - you can even hang it on the wall as a decorative art piece.

We have a fantastic selection of handmade rugs here at iapetus by Fair Trade specialists, Namaste. The collection showcases their amazing artwork for your floor by talented artisans from across the globe. Not only beautiful, every piece from Namaste’s rug collection is fairly traded. That means the work is created in safe environments, providing a fair price and secure work for makers in underprivileged and marginalised areas.

To see our range of rugs, you can take a look here...

Wrap up warm in a woollen blanket or throw

In the cold winter months there is no better companion than a snuggly blanket to keep you nice and toasty as you relax on the sofa or curl up in bed. There's a misconception that blankets generate warmth to keep us cosy. They are actually just a fantastic barrier that traps your natural body heat close to you - a blanket also proves incredibly beneficial for good sleep because of this!

It has been proven that we sleep better when covered in a blanket as our bodies struggle to regulate heat at this time. Having a thick throw layered over your bed, like this picnic lambswool throw from John Hanly, will make sure that you stay snug and therefore sleeping peacefully.

Wonderful wool

For maximum warmth though, just like we mentioned previously about rugs, a wool blanket is the best option. Here are some interesting facts about wool which may tempt you into getting a wool blanket yourself.

1. Wool is a super strong, hardwearing, and flexible material so it can go through a lot (even enough to last you a life time).

2. It's a very breathable material. Meaning that air can pass through it and help keep you cool in summer as well as warm in winter.

3. Unlike man-made fibres, wool dries very quickly when damp and is resistant to mildew. Wool is naturally antibacterial which keeps sheep's skin safe. That also ensures the blanket doesn’t mould and acquire a bad odour over time. It won't often need cleaning and is great for anybody with a sensitive nose. Who wouldn't want a blanket that takes care of itself.

4. Wool doesn't always come from sheep. While yes, the term 'wool' is primarily for sheep, there are other animals that also create their own natural fibres. For example, well-known wools like Mohair and Cashmere is actually natural fibre from goats!

Investing in a wool blanket is a great way of keeping warm but some other advice you can combine with this is layer up your clothing and fill up a hot water bottle - both can work wonders and help reduce the need to whack up the thermostat.

You can wrap up warm under our collection of super soft, high quality, woven throws and blankets. Each are a great way to add a new lease of life to your furniture and cuddle under for cosy nights in. Our collection includes stunning Irish woollen throws by John Hanly & Co plus affordable and quirky fair trade cotton blankets by Namaste and Shared Earth.

To see our range of blankets and throws, you can take a look here...