When used safely (plugged into an outlet-not an extension cord-and kept at least 3 feet away from drapes, bedding, and furniture), a space heater lets you keep a small area toasty without having to make the rest of the house feel like a sauna.
Brrr! It's been unusually cold in the Bay Area: I had to scrape actual ice off my car last week. (Isn't that why I left the East Coast in the first place?) We've been cranking the space heaters all night at my house, lest we turn into icicles in our sleep.