Who's Right?Thermostat wars: what temperature should a couple set?
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In short
There is no perfect temperature: around 19 °C in living areas is a common benchmark, a little less in bedrooms. For a couple, the right setting is one where nobody shivers while the other worries about the bill.
Both sides
In the evening on the sofa, I'm genuinely cold at 19 °C, even in a jumper. I'm not asking for a sauna, just to read without a blanket over my knees. Every time I turn the thermostat up, Julien quietly turns it back down. It feels like my comfort comes second to the meter.
For me, 19 °C is plenty, and we sleep better when it's cooler. Last winter's heating bill really hurt, and every extra degree costs money. I'd rather we put on a jumper than heat the whole house to 22 °C. And yes, I turn it down, because we've never actually talked it through.
The verdict
Julien has a point on substance: keeping the temperature reasonable genuinely lowers the bill, and 19 °C in living areas is a widely shared benchmark. Wanting to protect the shared budget isn't petty.
But Yasmine is right about something important: people don't feel the cold the same way. Telling her to put on a jumper doesn't fix it if she's still cold. And silently turning the thermostat down turns a practical issue into a quiet cold war.
So the real problem isn't 19 versus 22 °C, it's the lack of a shared rule. Julien has the stronger financial argument, but Yasmine is right that her comfort has to count too.
The compromise
Agree on 19 °C as the default, 20 to 21 °C in the living room in the evening when you're both there, and cooler at night in the bedroom. Nobody touches the thermostat without the other, and a heated throw or hot water bottle for Yasmine can do the rest without pushing up the bill.
Who do you think is right?
Pick a side.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should the bedroom be?
A bedroom is often recommended to be a bit cooler than the living room, around 16 to 18 °C. Many people sleep better in a cool room with a good duvet.
Why is one person cold and the other not at the same temperature?
How we feel the cold varies from person to person, depending on body type, circulation or activity level. It's neither a whim nor bad faith.
Does turning the heating down at night really save money?
Yes, lowering it by a few degrees at night or when the house is empty cuts energy use. A programmable thermostat saves you from thinking about it every day.
How do we stop arguing about the thermostat?
Agree once on time slots and temperatures, then program them. The thermostat becomes a shared rule instead of a button you fight over.
Guide Couple disputes: the guide
Written with the help of AI, reviewed by the Who's Right team · This is not legal advice. How Who's Right decides
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