What to Wear in a Cold House

At a loss for something to wear in a cold house? How to dress for warmth and comfort when the heating’s off—even without hi-tech fabrics.

Source: Pexels

So, the heating’s gone out and the house is cold. It’s happened to me several times. All you can do is wait until the landlord fixes it.

The first thing to do is calm down. As inconvenient and uncomfortable as it may seem, think of the Japanese; their homes are cold all winter long, even in this day and age.

They’re built with hot, humid summers in mind, thus prioritizing efficient ventilation. As a side effect, rooms are cold and drafty during winter. With central heating not being part of their architectural logic, indoor temperatures can drop as low as 10-12 °C.

Using space heaters and similar devices, they “heat the person and not the room” while relying on strategic dressing to maintain body temperature.

Because cold houses are normalcy, specialist fabrics, thermal garments, padded loungewear, and heat packs that attach to clothing are widely available. But even without any of this, it’s still possible to stay warm. In fact, the Japanese managed long before modern fabrics and gadgets existed.

In other words, if a heating outage takes you by surprise, you can utilize items you already have in your closet to preserve the heat your body is already producing. You do this with the “rule of three,” which refers to wearing at least three layers. The idea behind it is straightforward: several thin layers keep you warmer than a single thick one. It’s sometimes referred to as the “onion approach.”

Layering

Choosing clothes to wear in a cold house is not the same as dressing for the outdoors. You need to be able to relax, sit, stretch, and move freely. That means avoiding bulk wherever possible. Bear this in mind as we run through each layer.

1. Base Layer

The base layer is the one you wear next to the skin—your underwear. This would ideally be thermal, but there are alternatives.

The Torso

The core generates the most body heat. If it cools, it reduces blood flow to the extremities to protect internal organs.

This is why I’d opt for four layers here.

If at hand, a tank top is ideal to trap a layer of warm air. Wear it beneath a snug-fitting garment like a long-sleeved T-shirt or undershirt, or even a pajama top. You could leave out the tank top, but it does make a noticeable difference to overall warmth. 

Ideally, your first layer should be moisture-wicking. Most technical fabrics handle this well, and merino is excellent, but I’m assuming you don’t own these.

Regular synthetics like polyester and nylon wick moisture away from the skin and dry quickly. Cotton, on the other hand, absorbs and can feel clammy if you sweat. But if it’s all you have, it’s better than skipping a layer.

Legs

Legs don’t generate a lot of heat, but they lose it easily.

Ideally, you’d wear thermal bottoms or long johns, but most men don’t own these.

Use what you have: pajama bottoms, sweatpants, or even a pair of athletic tights if you have them from running or the gym. If the house is very cold, you can even wear two pairs. Pajama bottoms under jeans also work well.

Moisture isn’t as much of an issue on the legs as it is on the torso, but synthetics still feel warmer and dry faster.

Feet

Cold feet leave us feeling colder overall, regardless of how well the rest of the body is layered.

Best are wool or thermal socks, but only men working outdoors are likely to have them at hand.

If cotton socks are all you have, wear two pairs. But because they absorb moisture and cool down fast, they’re not a great choice. Synthetic blends are more effective since they stay warm even if your feet sweat—sport socks are ideal.

Wearing closed bedroom slippers or house shoes is essential to prevent cold floors from pulling heat from your feet—especially if you don’t have carpets. My slippers, by the way, are lined with sheepskin.

If you don’t have house shoes, wear the next best thing—for most of us, that would be sneakers.

Hands

Hands become cold easily because of their high surface-area-to-volume ratio—and because they don’t have much fatty tissue.

But there’s something about wearing gloves in a cold house that feels like a personal low point. Especially the fingerless type. It’s like crossing an invisible line from “a bit chilly” to “Dickensian hardship.”

But fingerless gloves are the most practical, allowing you to fulfill most tasks uninhibited.

I’ll admit that I don’t own a pair, but they are useful if you’re working from home—I find touch typing with cold hands practically impossible. Instead, I’ve used latex or nitrile gloves, which trap warmth and block cold air. The only disadvantage is clamminess during extended wear: a dusting of body or barber powder can delay this, as can cornstarch.

2. Mid Layer

The mid layer is your insulation.

The base layer keeps you dry and helps regulate temperature, while the mid layer traps warmth around the torso and arms.

Anything with a bit of bulk works: hoodies, sweaters, cardigans, fleece pullovers, or a flannel shirt. Fleece is usually the warmest. Or stack layers, like a hoodie or cardigan over a sweater, which is warmer than a single thick garment.

The mid layer should still be breathable enough to let moisture escape. You’ll otherwise feel clammy once you warm up. Most everyday clothes of this category are designed with this in mind.

3. Outer Layer

The outer layer keeps the warmth you’ve built from escaping.

Indoors you don’t need anything windproof or technical—just a final layer that slows down drafts and retains warmth in your mid layer.

A lightweight down jacket, a fleece zip‑up, a quilted overshirt, or even a puffer vest works well.

A fleece robe is one of the warmest options, especially because it extends to the knees. I wear one myself, and it’s incredibly effective when the house is cold. But worn over normal clothes it gives the odd impression of a man in a smoking jacket, which looks out of place nowadays. Still, if nobody’s around, it’s hard to beat for warmth and comfort.

Source: Pexels

Head and Neck

Covering your head and neck makes a noticeable difference to overall warmth. It’s not that these areas lose more heat than the rest of the body, but they are usually left uncovered.

If you’re bald or shave your head, you’ll notice the cold even more; a beanie or raising the hood of your hoodie fixes it. Indoors you don’t need anything bulky. Just keep the area covered so your body doesn’t have to work as hard to stay warm.

For the neck, a scarf is the obvious choice. For a less outdoorsy vibe, try a turtleneck as part of your mid layer or a fleece jacket with a high zip-up collar.

What to Wear in a Cold House While You Sleep

Most of us don’t need to dress heavily for bed, even in a cold house. Once you’re under the covers, your body heat warms the enclosed space quickly—I never run the heating while sleeping.

If the initial cold is too much to bear, lightweight layers work better than piling on thick garments. A long‑sleeved T‑shirt and pajama bottoms should be enough. Avoid anything bulky or restrictive; you want to be able to move freely so warm air can circulate under the covers.

Socks can help if you’re prone to cold feet, but you may find they become too warm, which can wake you up. A hot water bottle is a better idea. It keeps the whole bed cozy without overheating you, and it obviously cools over time.

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Since a heating outage is usually temporary, there’s no need to splash out on hi‑tech garments or reinvent your wardrobe. And you don’t have to look or feel like the Michelin Man. Comfortable layers from clothes you already have in your closet will keep you warm until things are fixed.

© 2026 J. Richardson