If you’ve started mentally planning picnics, eyeing off linen dresses and considering whether it’s acceptable to order an iced latte before 10am, I have some bad news: Winter isn’t finished with us just yet.

Sure, we’re through the worst of it. The days are stretching a little longer, the sun has remembered how to shine occasionally, and there are spring flowers popping up where there were once only muddy puddles. But if you’ve lived through enough Australian winters, you’ll know that September has a habit of delivering one last icy sting in the tail.

The Bureau of Meteorology notes that early spring can still bring cold fronts, sharp southerly changes and even late frosts across parts of the country. In other words: don’t pack away the heater quite yet.

As someone who spends most of winter operating like a Victorian era child standing too close to the fireplace, I’ve spent years refining my cold-weather essentials. Some are practical, some are slightly indulgent, but all have earned their place in my annual winter survival kit. Here’s my tried-and-true winter warming essentials to carry you through to brighter days. 

The Smart Heater that Actually Looks Good in Your Home: Kogan SmarterHome™ Premium Glass Panel Heater 

There’s no reason a heater should ruin your carefully curated living room. One of the biggest surprises in recent years has been just how much heating technology has improved. Gone are the days of bulky units that take up half a room and only warm the small patch of carpet directly in front of them. The Kogan SmarterHome™ 2400W Premium Glass Panel Heater has no business looking this chic and sleek.

The sleek glass-panel design blends into the background rather than dominating it, whether it’s wall-mounted or sitting on its castor wheels. It looks more like a contemporary appliance than a traditional heater, which is a welcome change for anyone who has invested time (and money) into making their humble abode feel stylish.

What impressed me most is how effectively it heats an entire room. Designed for spaces up to 25 square metres, it creates a more consistent temperature throughout the room rather than generating one tiny pocket of warmth. It also features dual power settings, allowing you to dial things up on particularly icy mornings or run it more efficiently during milder weather.

The smart-home functionality is where it really earns its place (much to the satisfaction of my Home Assistant obsessed partner). Being able to schedule heating, set temperature triggers and control it from your phone feels surprisingly luxurious once you’ve experienced it. There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping into a warm room before your feet hit the cold floorboards. Mine is programmed to switch on shortly before my alarm goes off, which has dramatically improved my relationship with winter mornings (and reduced the number of times I’ve considered calling in sick simply because getting out of bed felt too hard for a warm cosy girl).

For households trying to be more mindful about energy usage, the programmable timer and thermostat controls also help avoid the common winter habit of leaving the heater running far longer than necessary.

Purchase the Kogan SmarterHome™ 2400W Premium Glass Panel Heater for $99.99 here.

The Heated Throw That’s Become a Shared Household Staple: Dreamaker Eve Reversible Heated Throw

If winter had an official uniform, a heated throw would be part of it. Energy experts have long pointed out that heating the person rather than the entire room can often be a more efficient way to stay comfortable, particularly when you’re spending the evening on the couch reading, scrolling or binge-watching whatever everyone is currently pretending not to be obsessed with.

The Dreamaker Eve Reversible Sherpa and Coral Fleece Heated Throw delivers exactly what its name promises: maximum cosiness. The first thing you’ll notice is how gloriously soft and snuggle it is. The sherpa lining is plush without feeling heavy, while the coral fleece side adds another layer of comfort. It’s the sort of blanket friends immediately ask for the moment they sit down, speaking from experience.

The queen-sized dimensions are also worth mentioning because it’s super generous, and means no fighting for coverage. At 180cm x 200cm, it comfortably covers an entire couch, making it ideal for movie nights or sharing with a snuggle buddy. Although in my household, this blanket is usually occupied by a small dog who has developed an emotional attachment to it and now treats it as his personal property (despite contributing absolutely nothing towards the electricity bill).

Multiple heat settings allow you to customise the warmth depending on the temperature outside, while the automatic shut-off timer provides peace of mind if you’re prone to drifting off mid-Netflix episode. Unlike many seasonal purchases, it also works beautifully as a standard throw rug once unplugged, meaning it doesn’t spend most of the year hidden in storage.

The fact it can be machine washed before being packed away for next winter is another great practical touch that really makes it worth the spend. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that future-you never wants to deal with mystery winter blanket smells come May.

Purchase the Dreamaker Eve Reversible Sherpa and Coral Fleece Heated Throw for $129.95 here. 

The slippers you’ll wear far beyond the front door: UGG Tazz II

Few products have achieved the cultural dominance of the UGG Tazz II. Originally acquired as a practical winter slipper, they’ve quietly become one of the most versatile shoes in my wardrobe. The open-back silhouette makes them easy to slip on when you’re rushing out the door, while the elevated platform sole gives them enough structure to function as an actual shoe rather than something reserved exclusively for indoors.

If you’re someone whose feet are perpetually cold (hello, it’s me), you’ll understand the difference a well-insulated slipper can make. The plush sheepskin lining traps warmth remarkably well, while the suede upper gives them a more polished appearance than traditional fluffy slippers.

What has made them such a viral hit many years running is their ability to bridge the gap between comfort and style. They’re equally at home paired with activewear on a coffee run, thrown on for the school drop-off, or worn around the house on a work-from-home day.

The colour range is extensive, from understated neutrals to playful statement shades and prints—hello leopard print! They’ve even become my go-to footwear for reformer Pilates. Grip socks on, slippers off at the studio door, slippers back on the second class finishes. It’s a system down to a fine art. They’ve also become dangerously convenient for those “quick” trips to the supermarket that somehow end with a trolley full of snacks and a candle I absolutely didn’t need. Don’t judge, it happens to the best of us…at least my feet are warm.

Purchase the UGG Tazz II for $199.99 here.

The WFH Essential That Makes Winter More Bearable: The Stoov Big Hug³ XL

One of the unavoidable realities of WFH in your spare room or office is how incredibly cold you become when sitting still all day. When we’re sedentary, our bodies produce less heat than when we’re moving around, which is why many people find themselves reaching for an extra little jumper midway through the arvo despite the heater already being on.

Enter the solution: The Stoov Big Hug³ XL Heated Pad. Designed to be slung over your office chair, it delivers warmth directly to your back and shoulders, helping maintain comfort without needing to heat an entire room (see above for efficiency). It can also be used flat on a couch, armchair or bed, making it one of the more versatile heated products currently available. We love a multitasking queen. 

The rechargeable battery is a major advantage. It has several hours of cordless use and multiple heat settings reaching up to 58 degrees Celsius, there’s no need to remain tethered to the powerpoint or navigate a tangle of cables underneath your desk.

The design is another plus. Heated products have historically leaned heavily into practicality rather than aesthetics, but Stoov’s woolly bouclé finish feels like a bougie cushion for your office. It looks more like a high-end homewares piece than a piece of tech, which is particularly appealing for anyone whose home office doubles as a living space.

I’ve found it particularly useful on those days where the house feels just a little too cold to concentrate, but not quite cold enough to justify heating an entire room. It’s also a game-changer for anyone who suffers from lower back or chronic pain: it’s an investment that has benefits that far outweigh the cost.

Purchase the Stoov Big Hug³ XL Heated Pad for $239.00 here. 

The Wellness Tracker Helping Me Survive Winter: Ultrahuman Ring Air 

Nope, sorry, the Ultrahuman Ring Air won’t physically warm you up. What it will do is help you understand why you’re feeling sluggish, tired or lacking motivation during the colder months, and hopefully motivate you to get moving again!

The lightweight smart ring tracks a range of health metrics including sleep quality, movement, recovery, heart rate variability and skin temperature trends. Unlike a smartwatch, it does this so much more discreetly, blending in like a piece of jewellery than a chunky fitness device.

What makes the temperature tracking particularly interesting is the way it highlights changes and patterns over time. Combined with sleep and activity insights, it provides a broader picture of how your body is responding to factors like stress, illness, recovery and seasonal changes. Sure, this can feel a little judgy at times, but overall helps you see the bigger picture. 

The app experience is sleek and surprisingly comprehensive, with additional features including cycle tracking, meditation tools, recovery recommendations and GLP-1 integrations. The absence of a monthly subscription fee also makes the long-term value more appealing than many competitors (looking at you, rhymes with Nora) in the wearable technology space.

Aesthetically, it’s also one of the better-looking smart rings available, in my humble opinion. Mine is the brushed rose gold finish, which is seriously mesmerising in the light, and receives regular compliments from people who have absolutely no idea it’s tracking half my biological functions in the background.

Purchase the Ultrahuman Ring Air from $599.00 here.