Getting ready for winter in student accommodation

Written by: Helene Ausserwöger, 15.10.2026

As temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, you can feel winter settling in at the student residence. Instead of flip-flops, you’ll want to wear cosy socks, your bed becomes your favorite place to curl up, and instead of salads or sandwiches, you’ll find yourself enjoying delicious, hot soups more often. To make sure you feel comfortable in your room during the colder season and stay healthy throughout the winter, a few simple preparations can make all the difference. In this blog post, we will show you how to get your room ready for winter and how to make it through the cold months feeling your best.

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Why it’s important to get winter-ready in student accommodation

Winter in Central Europe brings different challenges than summer, both outdoors and indoors. While summer is all about keeping things as pleasantly cool as possible, winter is the time to make your space warm and cosy. With a little preparation, you can enjoy the colder months in a much more relaxed way. Even with minimal effort, you can make your room feel comfy, keep the warmth inside more effectively, and avoid wasting energy on heating.

But your student accommodation isn’t the only thing you should get ready for winter: you should also look after yourself. Especially during the winter months, getting enough sleep and having small self-care routines are important for staying fit and productive. This is particularly true when lectures, study periods, and exams fall during the colder season. It’s important to pay attention to your own needs and avoid falling into the typical winter slump.

In the following sections, you’ll find out how to prepare your student accommodation for winter and what you can do to support your own well-being during the colder months.

How to make your room in student accommodation winter-ready

It doesn’t take much to keep your room warm, cosy, and comfortable throughout the winter. With a few simple habits, you can easily get your room ready for the colder months.

Heat & Ventilate Properly (Prevent Mold)

Proper heating and ventilation are especially important in winter to keep your room warm and prevent mold building up in your bedroom. Instead of leaving the window tilted open all the time, it’s better to air your room thoroughly three to four times a day. Turn off the heating briefly while you do so and open the window for around 5 to 10 minutes. This lets fresh air into the room without unnecessarily losing heat.

When it comes to heating and ventilation, it’s all about finding the right balance. Don’t let your room get completely cold, and make sure the temperature doesn’t drop below 16 °C (61 °F). Heating up a room that has completely cooled down can use more energy than keeping the heating on at a low setting. Also, make sure that furniture or a clothes-drying rack isn’t placed directly in front of the radiator, so that warm air can circulate more freely throughout the room.

Seal Windows & Doors

If there’s a draft coming through your windows or under the door, your room can quickly become uncomfortably cold and heat can escape. If your windows aren’t properly sealed, it’s best to contact the residence management or maintenance team. Until the issue is fixed, a draft stopper, or, as a last resort, a rolled-up towel placed in front of the gap under the door, can help. For window frames, self-adhesive weatherstripping is a simple, renter-friendly temporary solution.

Save Energy & Reduce Heating Costs

In winter, energy consumption in student accommodation can quickly increase, especially because of heating and lighting. Still, a few small changes to your daily routine can help you save energy. Don’t leave electronic devices on standby unnecessarily, and use power strips with on/off switches to disconnect them completely from the power supply. If you cook together with your flatmates or in a shared kitchen, you can also make better use of the heat from the oven and save energy in the process. You can find even more simple tips in our energy-saving tips.

Stay Cosy Without Turning Up the Heat

When it gets cold outside, you don’t necessarily need to turn up the heating to keep your room cosy. A rug on a cold floor and a pair of fluffy socks can help keep your feet warm, while blankets, cushions, pillows, and thick curtains can add extra warmth. Houseplants can also help create a more pleasant and inviting atmosphere in your room.

Report Maintenance Issues Properly

Not every winter-related problem can be solved on your own. If you notice drafts, possible mold, or problems with the heating, you should report the issue as soon as possible. This can help prevent more serious damage and unnecessary heating costs.

Depending on your student accommodation, you can contact the residence management or the responsible maintenance technician.

Here you can find even more tips about life in student housing.

How to get yourself winter-ready

Sharing rooms, apartments, and common areas with others is simply part of life in student accommodation. Especially in winter, when the first colds start going around, it’s important to take care of yourself, too. With a few simple habits, you can support your well-being and stay healthy throughout the colder months.

Prevent Colds in Shared Spaces

When you share a kitchen and bathroom with others, it’s impossible to avoid contact with other people completely. That makes good hygiene even more important. Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds after using shared spaces. Used dishes shouldn’t be left sitting around for too long either, wash them as soon as possible, as germs can multiply quickly, especially in damp pots and pans.

Support Your Immune System

Especially during winter, getting enough sleep and being physically active regularly can help boosting your immune system. Both can help you feel fit and make it easier to get through stressful periods of studying and exams.

Your diet can also play a role in supporting your body. Ginger, garlic, and onions contain natural plant compounds that are believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They can be a useful addition to a varied and balanced diet.

If you do get sick during exam season despite your best efforts, we have a few tips for what to do if you happen to fall ill on the day of an exam.

Get Some Daylight

In winter, the days are shorter, and especially during intense study periods, it’s easy to spend many hours indoors. That makes it more important to get outside and make the most of the daylight whenever you can. Taking a short walk during your lunch break or walking to university are both great ways to do this. It also gets your circulation going, adds some movement to your day, and gives you a short break from studying.

If you’d like to learn more about how to cope with the darker months, you’ll find helpful tips in our blog post How to Cope with the Winter Blues.

Low-budget winter essentials

You can make your student room feel snug and comfortable in winter, even on a small budget. Many of the things that help keep you warm in everyday life are affordable, take up little space, and are perfect for student accommodation.

Winter EssentialWhy It’s Useful
Thick socksKeep your feet warm, especially on cold floors.
SlippersKeep your feet warm and are especially practical when you’re often moving between your room, the kitchen, and shared spaces in the residence.
Hot-water bottleProvides quick, comforting warmth, especially in bed in the evening or while studying at your desk.
ThermosKeeps tea, coffee, or other hot drinks warm for longer, including on your way to university.
Quick, warming mealsSoups, stews, and other simple dishes warm you from the inside and can be prepared quickly.

Winter-ready in student accommodation: a summary

With just a few simple, easy-to-follow tips, you can enjoy winter in your student accommodation while also taking care of your own well-being. Proper heating and ventilation, enough sleep, regular exercise, and a balanced diet can help you stay fit even on cold days, during stressful study periods and busy weeks at university.

Try out a few of these tips and see what works best for you in your everyday life. That way, you can make your student room especially cosy during the colder months and feel comfortable all winter long.

Not keen on spending the whole winter in your room? Then check out our tips for things to do in Vienna in winter.

FAQs: Frequently asked questions about winter in student accommodation

Keep your room at a moderate temperature instead of letting it cool down completely. Avoid blocking radiators with furniture or drying racks, and use blankets, thick socks, and rugs to stay warm without turning up the heat too much.

Ventilate your room 3–4 times a day by opening the window for 5–10 minutes. Turn off the heating while airing the room and avoid letting the temperature drop below 16°C. If you notice dampness or mold, report it to the residence management.

Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet can help support your immune system. Foods such as ginger, garlic, and onions can also be a healthy addition to your diet.

In winter, we spend more time indoors and often have closer contact with others in shared spaces. This makes it easier for colds and other infections to spread.

Thick socks, slippers, blankets, rugs, and curtains can help keep you warm and make your room feel cosier. A hot-water bottle and warm meals or drinks are also simple ways to stay comfortable.

Questions?

We are happy to help!

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