The evenings are drawing in and the floors are getting colder. Here's how to stay warm at home this autumn and winter, without overthinking it.
CloudKicks Team
Streetwear comfort, done right
You know the moment. The first morning the kitchen floor is cold enough to have you walking on tiptoes, the first evening you reach for a jumper without thinking. That's slipper season, and it's arrived. This guide covers simple, common-sense ways to stay warm at home as autumn turns to winter: layers, rugs, draughts, warm drinks, an evening routine and, of course, what's on your feet.
How to stay warm at home: start with layers
Before you touch anything else, look at what you're wearing. Several thinner layers usually beat one thick jumper, because you can add or remove them as the day changes and the air between them helps hold warmth in.
- A base layer: a long-sleeve tee or thermal top.
- A mid layer: a jumper, sweatshirt or hoodie.
- An easy outer layer: a zip-up or cardigan you can shrug off when the oven's on.
- Thick socks, always.
- A dressing gown for the first and last hour of the day.
Keep a throw on the sofa and another on the bed. When you're sitting still for a while, a blanket over your legs is the easiest win going.
Put rugs on hard floors
Laminate, tiles and bare floorboards look great and feel freezing once the weather turns. A rug puts a soft layer between your feet and the floor, and on bare boards it covers the gaps that let draughts through, so it helps twice.
Put rugs where your feet actually land: beside the bed for that first step in the morning, in front of the sofa and under the desk if you work from home. In the kitchen or bathroom, a runner or bath mat does the same job on a smaller scale.
Renting a place with bare boards? A big rug is one of the easiest ways to make it feel warmer and more like yours, and it comes with you when you move.
Find and block the draughts
Draughts are sneaky. A room can feel chilly even with the heating on, and the culprit is often a gap you've never noticed. On a windy day, hold the back of your hand near the edges of doors and windows and you'll feel exactly where the cold is getting in.
- A draught excluder along the bottom of doors. A rolled-up towel works in a pinch.
- Curtains closed at dusk. Thick or lined curtains are best.
- Doors closed to rooms you're not using, so the warmth stays where you are.
- A letterbox brush or cover if your front door has one.
- Furniture moved away from radiators, so the sofa isn't soaking up heat meant for the room.
- Draught strips around windows and doors. Renting? Check with your landlord first and stick to removable options.
None of these need tools or a big spend, and most take minutes. Start with the room you use most in the evenings and work outwards from there.
Warm drinks and warm food
There's a reason every cold-weather ritual involves a mug. A warm drink in your hands is instant comfort, and making one is a small ceremony that slows the whole morning down.
Build yourself an autumn menu: tea, hot chocolate, something spiced, plus a flask on the desk if you work from home so you're not up and down to the kettle all day. Lean into warm food too. Porridge, soup and anything that's been in the oven long enough to steam up the windows all count.
Keep your feet warm
Cold feet can make a whole evening feel chilly, and on hard floors they're usually the first to notice the drop in temperature. Thick socks help. Thick socks plus proper slippers help more.
If you're shopping for winter slippers in the UK this year, think about how you actually spend time at home. You want something plush and cushioned that you'll happily keep on from the first coffee to the last episode. For a proper breakdown, read what actually makes a slipper comfortable.
Our pitch for slipper season is, unsurprisingly, CloudKicks: oversized plush sneaker-slippers with a cushioned interior and soft cloud cushioning, designed for home, lounging and nights in. They're £29.99, one size fits most (UK 3–11), and they look sharp enough that you won't mind someone popping round. Taking the bins out is still a job for your trainers, though, because CloudKicks are made for indoors.
“Honestly did not expect them to feel this good.”
A cosy evening routine for cold nights
Warmth is easier to keep than to win back, so build it into your evening before the cold creeps in. Here's a simple routine for slipper season:
- Close the curtains as soon as it gets dark.
- Big light off, lamps on. Warm light makes a room feel instantly cosier.
- Change into your soft layers and get your slippers on.
- Make a warm drink, and something warm to eat.
- Blanket on the sofa, draught excluder at the door.
- Before bed, add an extra blanket or switch to a thicker duvet for the season.
Evenings like this are what slipper season is for. For the full version, with snacks and a strict no-scrolling policy, see our cosy night in checklist.
Slipper season, sorted (and Drop 2 is coming)
Staying warm at home comes down to a handful of habits: layer up, cover cold floors, block the draughts, keep a warm drink going and don't let your feet get cold. None of it is complicated. All of it adds up.
If you want in on CloudKicks this season, shop the drop while stocks last. There's more on the way, too: Drop 2 is coming this Autumn, and our story promises bolder colourways, a refined shape and new silhouettes. Join the Cloud with your email for early access, and read why limited drops matter so you don't miss it.
