Before turning up the thermostat this winter, homeowners are being urged to check whether the warmth they are already paying for is reaching the room – or disappearing up the wall and out through the windows.

Made-to-measure interiors brand Cut My has identified two simple upgrades that can help households make better use of their heating without taking on a costly renovation: fitting a shelf above the radiator and adding removable secondary acrylic glazing to draught-prone windows.

Warm air from a radiator naturally travels upwards. Positioned with sufficient clearance, a radiator shelf can help guide that warmth forwards into the room rather than allowing it to rise directly up the wall.

Cut My’s made-to-measure shelves are available in custom lengths of up to 1,200mm and come with brackets that slot behind a standard wall-mounted radiator, so there is no need to drill into the wall.

James Bryant, Founder of Cut My, said: “Most of us assume the warmth from a radiator travels straight out into the room, but much of the heated air initially rises towards the ceiling.

“A correctly positioned shelf helps direct that airflow forwards, allowing the warmth to circulate further into the room. It will not generate any extra heat, but it can help homeowners get more benefit from the heat their radiator is already producing.

“It is important not to place the shelf directly on the radiator or restrict the airflow around it. There needs to be sufficient clearance for warm air to rise and move freely.”

The shelf also transforms unused space above a radiator into a display surface for photographs and lightweight accessories, while helping to protect the wall from heat marks.

Windows are another area homeowners should examine before increasing their heating. According to the Energy Saving Trust, around 18% of the heat lost from an uninsulated property escapes through its windows.

For households not ready to meet the cost or disruption of replacing them, Cut My’s made-to-measure secondary acrylic glazing provides a more accessible alternative.

Each lightweight panel is cut to the exact dimensions of the window and fitted internally using magnetic strips. The pocket of still air between the existing glass and the acrylic provides an additional insulating barrier, helping to reduce draughts and slow the movement of heat to the outdoors.

The panels can also be removed when the warmer weather returns, leaving the original windows in place.

James added: “Older windows can make a room feel cold even when the heating is running. Draughts enter through gaps, the glass itself feels chilly and valuable warmth is continually being lost.

“Secondary acrylic glazing adds another barrier between the room and the outdoors without the upheaval of replacing the window. Because it is made to measure, it provides a close fit around the frame, while the air gap between the two surfaces supplies the insulation.

“It is a particularly useful winter upgrade for period properties where homeowners want to retain their original windows, as well as households looking for a less disruptive option.

“When heating costs are a concern, the first step should be making sure you are not wasting the warmth you have already paid for. Guiding radiator heat into the room and adding an insulating layer to cold windows are two relatively straightforward places to start.”

Cut My’s made-to-measure radiator shelves and secondary acrylic glazing are available now.