Many barn conversions feature high ceilings and open plan living areas. While they are beautiful, these homes come with unique heating challenges. Without the right approach, heating a barn conversion can be difficult and expensive. Here’s how to keep your barn conversion cosy without watching your heating bills soar.
Why is it harder to heat rooms with high ceilings?
Rooms with high ceilings have more air volume, which requires more energy (and money) to heat. Also, hot air rises. So the bottom of your room, where you are, tends to feel colder.
Effective heating solutions for barn conversions
Heat pumps
This is one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat a barn conversion. With a heat pump, you can source heat from the ground or the air outside. Heat pumps are capable of moving heat from place to place, depending on where it is needed the most. If you have an air conditioner at home, a heat pump works in largely the same way – but instead of cooling, its job is to heat.
Heat pumps work best when combined with quality insulation in a barn conversion. They also allow for precise zone control, so you can heat just the areas you’re actually using instead of your whole home. Overall, this is one of the best options available if you’re building an eco-friendly barn conversion.
Underfloor heating
Another energy-efficient way to heat your home. With underfloor heating, there’s no need to install clunky radiators that your children might burn themselves on accidentally. Underfloor heating also heats your rooms evenly (no cold spots)! A well-insulated floor is important to keep heat from escaping.
There are two main types of underfloor heating. ‘Dry’ underfloor heating systems are best for small spaces and use mats placed within or under your flooring. A dry system is easy to fit and can also be used on upper floors of your home. They are a fairly economical choice when compared to traditional heating methods.
‘Wet’ underfloor heating is linked to your central heating system. A network of pipes is installed beneath your floor with warm water running through them. A wet system is more expensive to set up, but overall it is cheaper to run than a dry system and will save you more money on your energy bills in the long term.
Water underfloor heating or a ‘wet’ system pairs very well with a heat pump, because both are capable of running at low temperatures and are therefore more energy-efficient.
Whatever type of underfloor heating you choose, it should work with many types of flooring: slate, stone, ceramic, carpet, wood, vinyl, laminate, and terracotta. However, tile and stone flooring are some of the best options because they have high thermal conductivity, meaning they are good at transferring and retaining heat.
Ceiling fans
Usually we associate these with keeping cool in the summer, but they can help you stay warmer in winter too. You just need to make sure your ceiling fan is spinning in the correct direction. Running your ceiling fan clockwise at a low speed during winter gently pushes warm air (which has risen to the ceiling) back down to living level without creating drafts. The key here is low speed; you’re aiming for gentle recirculation and not a cold breeze.
Smart programming
Modern thermostats and smart home systems let you create heating zones and schedules tailored to how you actually use your space. You can program lower temperatures in rarely-used areas, or turn the whole system off when you’re away and warm things up before you return. This targeted approach is particularly valuable in barn conversions, where heating the entire house continuously might be very expensive.
Natural solutions: sunlight and thermal mass
Many barn conversions feature large windows and plenty of natural light. Make those large windows work for you by maximising solar gain in winter. Keep your curtains open during sunny days to warm your space naturally. Then close your curtains or insulating blinds as evening approaches to trap the heat inside.
Consider materials with high thermal mass (like stone floors or exposed brick) that absorb heat during the day and release it slowly as temperatures drop.
Some more unusual solutions to consider when heating your barn conversion
Infrared heating panels
These can be mounted on walls or ceilings and provide targeted, instant warmth without heating the entire air volume. They’re particularly good for areas you use intermittently or where you want to create a warm zone within a larger space.
Radiant ceiling panels
Since heat rises, radiant ceiling panels might seem counterintuitive at first. They work by emitting infrared radiation that heats objects and people directly rather than heating the air. This can be effective in some high-ceiling spaces where conventional heating struggles.
Trombe walls
If your barn has thick walls that face south, you could consider installing a glass layer outside to create a Trombe wall that captures solar energy and slowly releases heat throughout the night.
Bonus tips: other ways to keep your barn conversion feeling warm
- Layer thick rugs over your floors for additional insulation and comfort underfoot. Try to choose natural materials with insulating properties like wool.
- Install heavy curtains or thermal blinds to keep heat from escaping through your windows.
- Keep doors closed between rooms to maintain temperature zones.
- Consider creating lower-ceiling areas within your open plan for cosy spaces that require less heating.
With these strategies, your barn conversion can be as comfortable as it is beautiful. The right combination of modern technology and simple physics can keep even the most challenging spaces warm all year long.