Century-Old Swedish Hot Water Trick Warms Nordic Bedrooms

Neutral bedroom with a minimalist headboard and bright white bedding set alongside a beige nightstand and pendant light — (Image credit: Parachute)

As New York and Connecticut battle a historic blizzard, millions of people will be left looking for ways to sleep warmly and peacefully. The answer lies across the Atlantic in a Nordic tradition that's been practiced in homes across Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway since the 17th century.

In this traditional practice, the key isn’t just having a hot water bottle – it’s knowing where to put it. The bottle is typically placed at the foot of the bed or between the top sheet and duvet, rather than pressed directly against the body, as many of us have become accustomed to in recent years.

This warms the air pocket under the covers evenly, preventing sweat and keeping the warmth circulating around your feet and legs. Some also place it briefly under the pillow before bed to gently warm the head area. The result is a cozy, evenly heated bed that retains warmth through even the coldest nights, without overheating any single spot. It's a time-honored way to keep warm while you sleep, and you only need a hot water bottle (like this one from Amazon) to follow the tradition.

Shop the Best Hot Water Bottles

Patterned surface

Dicever Hot Water Bottle With Soft Cover

Crafted from high-quality material, this hot water bottle is more durable than traditional rubber options. It comes with a soft, comfortable cloth cover and provides long-lasting insulation for maximum warmth.

Soft Texture

Fythao Covered Hot Water Bottle

Designed with a wide mouth, this hot water bottle lets you pour water safely and quickly without the risk of spills or burns. It's made from natural high-quality rubber, this bottle offers superior heat resistance, durability, and aging resistance compared to PVC alternatives.

High Quality PVC

Samply Hot Water Bottle with Knitted Cover

Made from high-quality PVC, this hot water bottle is durable and retains heat for hours, keeping you warm and cozy through the night. Its transparent body lets you easily monitor the water level, and the wide-mouth design ensures safe, convenient filling.

Pom Pom Details

Red Potrochi Hot Water Bottle

It's hard to find a hot water bottle in a hue that's chicer than this one. However, there's more to it than its good looks. Designed for ease and safety, it features a wide-mouth opening that lets you pour water quickly and securely without the risk of spills or burns.

Traditional Design

Sanger Classic Rubber Hot Water Bottle

No home should be without this classic hot water bottle, especially during this freezing weather. It's versatile and has many uses, from providing warmth to easing swelling. Place it in your bed the Scandi way to enjoy its full, timeless benefits.

Diamond Print

Green Foricom Hot Water Bottle

I love this hot water bottle for its special pattern design, and how it will keep you cozy all night without losing heat. Compared to the traditional rubber hot water bags, this one is more durable and longer lasting insulation.

In Nordic countries, where winters are long, dark, and historically fuel-scarce, bedrooms were traditionally kept unheated to conserve firewood, making bed-warming essential rather than indulgent. This hot water bottle method likely grew out of older practices from the 1600s onward, when people used heated stones, metal warmers, or wrapped bricks to warm their chilly bedding.

Over time, Scandinavians learned that placing the heat source to warm the air trapped under layers of wool and linen, rather than the body itself, kept beds warmer for longer and avoided sweat-induced chills. Now, as this cold chill hits, it feels as important as ever. Homes & Gardens’ sleep editor, Ottilie Blackhall, agrees.

‘Sleep research shows we rest best in cooler rooms, but with a warm microclimate around the body. This Scandinavian hot water bottle method does exactly that – it warms the bed, not the air, which makes it surprisingly relevant for how we sleep today,’ Ottilie comments.

‘With an East Coast blizzard continuing to drive temperatures down, it’s a reminder that, sometimes, the time-honored methods are the best. In extreme cold, focusing warmth where the body actually needs it can improve sleep quality while reducing energy use.’

Ultimately, it’s worth us all taking a page from centuries of Scandinavian wisdom, even if you’re not caught in a blizzard. A simple hot water bottle, placed thoughtfully between the top bed sheet, can transform a freezing bedroom into a warmer sanctuary. By letting the air around your feet and legs carry the heat, you can sleep comfortably, proving that even in the harshest winters, a little tradition goes a long way.

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Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.