When the rest of the household leaves in the morning for work, the heating timer goes off.
It’s a fact of life I’ve come to accept; I don’t pay the heating bill, I don’t get heating for my ‘home office’. However, I will live! With a few snuggly additions and home comforts, even a winter office can be appealing.
This list has ideas that are designed to help you deal with the cold weather, the dark mornings and the miserable light levels that tend to linger around this time of year, because we firmly believe environment is a huge factor in motivation!
Take a look.
Honeywell Retro Fan Heater
Don’t ruin your office aesthetic with an ugly white plastic heater, instead get this cute retro style heater from Honeywell with chrome details. It’s the perfect size for warming your feet or placing on your desk. It’s not got a designer price tag either at just £39.99
Cuddly Winter Throws
Splurge, save, or buy both; we love this faux fur throw from Laura Ashley, and can imagine tucking our legs up under it, under the desk! However, at £160, it’s a bit of an indulgence. Maybe it’s made with real faux polar bears.
This tartan throw from George at Asda is just as festive, and won’t break the bank at £10. Snuggle under it, pour yourself a hot chocolate, and get to work!
iKettle
Are you familiar with that ‘I have an insatiable craving for tea but I don’t want to move from the warm’ feeling? Then perhaps this kettle is the answer. Save precious business minutes by using your smartphone to remotely set the kettle in your kitchen to boil, and voilà! A hot cuppa is waiting for you and ready to go as soon as you are. Also great for when you get dragged out to cold meetings and want tea waiting for you when you get in!
Speaking of tea…
Loose Leaf Tea from LEAF
Image from LEAF
We’re lucky to have an artisan loose leaf tea blender like LEAF not too far from us in Liverpool, so take advantage and pick up a few of their teas next time you’re in the city. Alternatively, you can also order online from their website.
Some of us are tea traditionalists and like our classic cuppa Yorkshire brew, but if you want a refreshing, bright tea with abundant health benefits, it’s a good idea to switch to loose leaf! Pick a green tea blend for cup brimming with antioxidants (we like the Cherry Blossom tea), or go for something more decadent and mellow, that’ll leave you feeling all cosy and content, like LEAF’s Champagne Cassis Tea.
Cosy Candles
We love these scented candles from UK handmade producer Fable Candles; the smell of toasty, rich hot chocolate would be perfect for creating a cosy atmosphere in your office as winter sets in. Other scents in the range for wintery days include candy cane, vanilla bean, fresh ground coffee, freshly fallen leaves and Christmas cookie.
Psst… You also definitely need these super cute matches right? They’re from LEIF and are $10.
Mug Cakes
Do you ever crave something chocolatey and warm, but you don’t have time to bake cakes and cookies? Then you have to learn about Mug cakes! It’s a magical concept. You throw a few ingredients in a mug, pop it in the microwave for a few minutes, and before you know it, you’re indulging in cake-y goodness (possibly with lashings of ice cream right?). It’s the perfect indulgence for anyone who works in an office or at home. Get the ultimate guide to mug cakes in this book from Urban Outfitters.
A Cosy Sweater
Your mother always told you to layer up instead of putting the heating on, so heed her advice and invest in a cosy but quirky jumper instead. Working from home, you can be as ostentatious with your sweaters as you like; there ain’t no management there to judge you and your love of unicorns or bears.
We love these jumpers from small, indie businesses. The unicorn design is from MLShopss London, and the unisex bear jumper is from Don’t Feed the Bears, who are Sheffield-based.
What do you think? What are your winter office essentials?
Pep 