Stylish Homeware That Will Help To Lower Your Energy Bills

With another hike in energy costs this month, I thought today I would share some beautiful new homeware items released for autumn that are practical as well as stylish. With a focus on placing a pause on cranking up the heating, each one of these pretty pieces will help keep you warm and/or stop drafts within your home.

matilda goad athro — *Image credit: Anthropologie*

First up, my pick of the best new rugs. Layering up floor rugs helps insulate your home (especially in older houses where there may be gaps between wooden flooring) and can aid the reduction of your energy bills by anywhere up to 10-15% (rugs trap heat and help it to stop escaping).

scallop rug — *Image credit: Oliver Bonas.*

One of the best products from the recent Matilda Goad x Anthropologie collection is the Tufted Plaid Rug that Matilda has designed for the collaboration. The scalloped edge is a desirable touch, but I also love the fact that it comes in a vibrant yellow and green colourway. Available in a wide variety of sizes, it’s really thick - making it perfect for conserving heat. Other great buys include the reddish-brown rug from Urban Outfitters in on-trend chequerboard, as well as the budget-friendly Cecily Woven Scalloped Yellow Wool & Cotton Rug from Oliver Bonas.

chequerboard rug — *Image Credit: Urban Outfitters*

I always remember the snake draft excluder that we had at the base of our front door when I was a child in the ’80s; luckily, they’ve got a lot more stylish since then and these velvet draft excluders from Graham & Green come with a handle at one end so that they can be picked up easily. Available in a wide range of colours, yellow would be my choice to beat the winter blues.

velvet draught excluder — *Image Credit: Graham & Green*

Air leakage through windows accounts for almost 18-40% of heat loss in the typical UK home. As window replacement and repair can be expensive, investing in thick, thermal curtains will provide a barrier to warmth escaping outside. Blinds 2 Go are currently offering free thermal interlining on a wide range of their roman blinds and curtains, including their collection with the V&A offering William Morris prints.

V&A William Morris Strawberry Thief Natural Curtains

William Morris Strawberry Thief Harissa Red Curtains. — *Image credits: Blinds 2 Go*

For those chilly evenings or days sat working from home at your desk, you can’t go wrong with a comfy throw to wrap around your shoulders or spread over your lap. I saw this Roros Tweed peach and pistachio throw recently at the Heal’s press show launching their new collection for AW22 and I just loved the combination of colours. For great value throws made from recycled materials, check out independent homeware brand Spicer & Wood - their mustard check cotton throw is a great buy and can be washed at the energy-saving low temperature of 30 C.

recycled cotton throw — *Image Credit: Spicer & Wood*

For a quick warm-through, enjoy a hot drink in one of these ‘look much more expensive than they are’ mugs. George Home are selling a lovely new range of reactive glazed mugs (buy 4 for £12), while John Lewis are offering these earthy-coloured stackable mugs at £24 for 4. if you are in the market for a new kettle, this pretty pastel blue kettle from Kenwood boils one litre of water in just over two minutes.

mugs h&m home — *A range of great-value and stylish mugs from* *H&M Home.*

Muge clockwise: Reactive glaze pack of 4 from Asda; Stackable Mugs from John Lewis; Kenwood Kettle, Scallop mug large from Origionals Studio.