You do have to be careful and use common sense if you use a space heater, especially on the floor. I have a "U" shaped desk and the heater is in a spot my feet cannot reach but has good ventilation. I also have a tiled floor so there are no fibers or threads that can get close to it. If you are careful space heaters can help a lot. In my living room, I have a large heater that looks like a fireplace, and it really cut down on my heating bills.