Working from home: the 7 warmest (and coldest) rooms for remote workers to save on heating - ranked
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Brits working from home are turning to the warmest corners of their houses to keep heating costs down ❄️
- Ofgem’s latest price cap will nudge the average household energy bill slightly higher from January
- The increase comes as the UK faces a severe cold snap, with temperatures dropping well below freezing
- Many remote workers are looking for cheap ways to stay warm while working from home this winter
- Some rooms naturally retain heat better than others, helping reduce reliance on central heating
- Choosing the right room to work in can make a noticeable difference to both comfort and energy costs
Household energy bills are set to rise again from January 1, after Ofgem confirmed a small uplift to its next price cap in England, Scotland and Wales.
The regulator has said typical gas and electricity bills will increase by around 0.2%, the equivalent of 28p a month, for the average dual-fuel household.
While the rise is marginal, it lands at the same time the UK is battling a sharp cold snap. Overnight temperatures have plunged to minus 11C in the Scottish Highlands, with much of the country dipping well below freezing.
As homes work harder to stay warm, many remote workers are looking for ways to cut costs without shivering through the day.
One simple way to save: choose the warmest room in your home to work from. Some spaces retain heat naturally, thanks to appliances, layout or size, meaning you spend less on heating while staying comfortable.
But others leak warmth fast and force the boiler to work overtime. Here are the UK’s rooms ranked from warmest to coldest for working from home, and how each one can help (or hurt) your energy bills this winter.
1. Kitchen — warmest
For most households, the kitchen is consistently the warmest room. Ovens, hobs, kettles and even the fridge generate ambient heat throughout the day.
If you already spend time cooking or boiling the kettle, that heat lingers, especially in smaller or modern, well-insulated kitchens.
Working from the kitchen table can feel cosy without needing to turn the thermostat up. Just be mindful of distractions, especially if you share your home.
2. Small bedroom or box room
Compact rooms win in winter. Their smaller footprints mean they’re far quicker and cheaper to heat, and once warm, they stay warm.
Soft furnishings like carpets, duvets, curtains and cushions trap heat, making them naturally snug spaces for the working day.
If you’ve got a spare bedroom or a small room you rarely use, now is the time to turn it into a winter office.
3. Living room
Most living rooms rank high for warmth, especially those with thick carpets, curtains and plenty of soft furnishings.
If yours has a radiator, fireplace or south-facing windows, it may naturally hold heat through the day.
Living rooms are also designed for comfort, which helps reduce the temptation to crank up the heating. The only drawback: larger rooms take longer to warm up, so this one depends on layout and size.
4. Home office or study
Purpose-built offices are often medium-sized, neutral-decorated rooms with limited soft furnishings.
They can warm up well but may lose heat faster than a living room or bedroom. Adding a rug, curtain liner or draught excluder can make a big difference.
5. Hallway or landing
Hallways are transition spaces, often draughty and less insulated. They’re rarely ideal for long working days, especially in an older property.
The upside: if your hallway gets sun through a front door or stairwell window, you might get brief warmth in the early afternoon.
6. Conservatory or garden room
Conservatories are notorious heat-losers once the temperature drops. With outdoor-level glazing and minimal insulation, most become icy in winter and require heavy heating to stay comfortable.
7. Bathroom — coldest
Bathrooms may seem small and steamy, but once that steam evaporates, they become some of the coldest rooms in the house.
Tiled floors, minimal soft furnishings and extractor fans all contribute to rapid heat loss.
Working from a bathroom desk might be a fun joke, but in reality, it’s the worst choice for comfort and energy efficiency.
Staying warm doesn’t always have to cost more. Sometimes, it’s simply a case of choosing the right corner of the house. Though, you could always just think and act like a cat.
With household expenses continuing to rise and energy bills still higher than pre-crisis levels, more people are turning to Utility Warehouse (UW) to save money. UW lets you bundle services like broadband, mobile, energy and insurance into one streamlined account—reducing hassle while unlocking multi-service discounts. The more you bundle, the more you save.
Customers benefit from a single monthly bill, up to £400 towards early exit fees, and access to cashback on everyday spending. UW also offers the UK’s cheapest variable energy tariff when bundled, helping shield households from further price hikes.