Are you looking to prepare your home for winter?
Needing some simple styling tips to make your home feel more cosy?
I have been feeling the chill in my home lately. There is no denying that it has been getting colder, and in all honesty my home is not ready to welcome winter with open arms.
I’ve updated my bedroom for winter by adding extra throws and plenty of different types of texture (here I have some linen, velvet and quilted fabrics on my bed, along with different timber tones in the room for that cosy, warm feel.
As it gets so cold in the Adelaide Hills, I’d even announced on a few occasions in Autumn that we are already in Winter (thankfully my kids have sorted me out on that confusion). Reminding myself that the chilly season lasts for around five months in this part of the world has got me needing to warm my place up, and in a hurry!
I sure do love getting outside in winter and enjoying that crisp air, but when I’m home I want to feel cocooned and warm. I’ve got months’ worth of firewood painstakingly stacked outside in preparation for this season because I have to feel toasty inside in order to feel happy (any other cold frogs out there relate?!)
So, I’m speaking to myself as much as to you with these simple updates to make our homes feel more cosy for winter. They’re easy to implement and will make a world of difference.
Warm Floors through Rugs.
There’s nothing worse than cold floors in winter. It’s a big contributor to feeling chilly in your home and easy to fix with rugs. Here’s some ideas on how to work with rugs in your home:
1. Layer rugs together to create more softness underfoot. Where you might only use one rug for most of the year, you can add extra warmth by layering two rugs on top of each other (the one on top slightly smaller than the other).
2. If you are purchasing a rug, look for one that is plush and soft while still durable. Also consider the size, as a rug that’s the right proportion for your space feels luxurious and grounding – perfect for the chilly season.
3. Don’t be afraid to move rugs around depending on the season. If you’d love a rug next to your bed, move a rug from one area of your home into your bedroom just for winter.
4. Remember to use rugs to create zones in your home. Zones make spaces feel more cosy and can help to enhance the feeling of warmth in your living spaces.
This textural jute rug brings a subtle warmth to my floors, which is so vital when you have a tiled floor as I do.
Layer your lighting.
Paying attention to your lighting and ensuring that you have warm light at different heights brings a beautiful warmth in winter. An overly bright, overhead light makes you feel like you’re in the spotlight, instead focus on creating soft glow lighting in a variety of locations in your home.
1. Keep ceiling lights off once your kitchen and cleaning tasks have been done for the day.
2. Focus on using floor and table lamps (with a warm globe) in numerous spots in your room.
3. Choose lighting with textural and warm tones for extra warm vibes.
Bring in textural throws.
Texture is a key to helping your home feel toasty. Throws and blankets in highly textured materials help the room feel more welcoming to you and guests on a cold day.
1. Swap out any light weight throws for thicker, heavier ones. Wash and store your thinner throws ready for when things warm up.
2. Choose materials such as velvet and wool for winter throws. Look for thick cable knit patterns, the thicker the better.
3. Use baskets to fill with throws in your living spaces, this allows guests to grab an extra blanket easily to stay warm.
4. Now’s the time to have a few throws draped across your sofa arms, and a blanket across the back of a sofa (especially a leather one) to help keep the chill off.
Cable knit throws are the best for added texture and warmth.
Update Bedding.
We all know the difference flannelette sheets can make, so now is the time to update your bedding with all the warm goodness you can. Even if your bedroom is on the cool side (mine certainly is), having soft textured bedding ensures that you stay warm when you sleep.
1. Replace cotton sheets with flannelette ones. Swap out your summer quilt for a heavier winter one and you will thank yourself.
2. Change your quilt cover if you have options for different times of the year. I have a darker toned quilt for winter, and a lighter one for the warmer months. Just doing this swap over is quite a nice ritual to welcome in winter.
3. Layer up your quilts. If you don’t have a quilt specifically for winter, you can layer two lighter quilts together which adds plushness and a cosy vibe for your bedroom.
Throws in different thicknesses make a bedroom winter ready. I’ve got a few options on the ready here.
Try Candles and Scents.
Rather than turning all your lights on in an attempt to beat the darker, colder days embrace this season with the beauty of candles. Even lighting a few candles while you eat dinner, or as you chat in the evenings, brings a considered quality into your home.
1. Group smaller candles together on a table as a centrepiece for real impact.
2. Place a few candles at different heights, such as on top of a console or ledge, as well as on a dining table/coffee table to really create a welcoming space.
3. Use scented candles with lavender, pine needles or anything that reminds you of winter to tickle all the senses.
4. If safety is a concern with young children, use a scent diffusor instead of candles for a similar effect.
Grouping candles together on a table (like I have here on the chest of drawers), always makes more of a statement than just a single candle alone.
Consider a Warm Palette.
Whilst you can always use whatever colour palatte brings you joy in your home; it is helpful to remember that warmer tones do make your space feel cosier for winter.
1. Swap out artworks that don’t seem to suit the season. Artworks of a beach scene in the height of summer, whilst a great distraction from the cold will seem out of place in your home during winter.
2. Choose more subdued, simple artwork that echos the season (line drawings and winter nature prints would work well).
3. Replace bright, cool tone coloured cushions with warmer alternatives. Tones such as gold, mustard, burgundy, cream, beige and taupe work a treat to warm up a space. These colours compliment beautifully a room with other cooler tones (such as wall paint colour, or furniture choices that can’t be updated as easily).
I love these tones of taupes, greys, blacks against the texture of this chunky basket and plywood wall. This mix of colours encourages a hunkering down and an embracing of winter. Rather than fight against the sort of colours you see in the winter landscape try bringing them inside for a cohesive look.
Plants and Foliage.
We all know the benefits of having plants in our home. When helping our homes feel cosy in winter our plants are key, as when it’s raining and difficult to get outside, we still can benefit from nature in our homes.
1. Some of your indoor plants may need more sunlight in winter, so consider moving them for maximum light. Some plants are prone to drying out from the heating systems in our home, so research their watering requirements. We need our plants looking their best!
2. Do some foraging outside for foliage. I often bring in some small branches from my deciduous trees, and even if the leaves fall after a few days the beauty of the bare branches bring depth and interest. Hardy natives and wattles look lively and interesting inside too.
3. If you don’t have a big garden, reach out to a friend or neighbour for some greenery.
4. Don’t underestimate a small arrangement of foliage in your bathroom or second toilet. These little touches make us smile and help our homes feel cared for when all is dreary outside.
A reached out to a friend for this beautiful blue gum eucalyptus. Any foliage on mass helps to bring the outdoors inside - this is particularly helpful when it can be harder to venture outside in the colder months.
Create some Winter Nooks.
The way we live in summer and winter is different. In winter, the aim in our homes is to feel warm, cosy and secure. Creating little nooks and areas in our home that promote stillness, conversation and selfcare will go a long way in the winter months. Being open to changing up the layout in your home may make all the difference to how well your home embraces all things winter.
1. Are there corners of your home you could could create a reading nook? All you need is a comfortable chair, something soft underfoot, a small side table and a lamp. You may find yourself relaxing and using your home in a different way that is just right for winter.
2. Consider bringing your living room furniture closer to create a more intimate zone that can easily be cocooning with candles and soft lamps.
3. A sure way to create that elusive cosy factor is to move your furniture closer to your heating source. If your split system is at the opposite end of your living space for example, think about swapping zones around so you are closer to the heat when you appreciate it most.
4. If you have a combustion fire this is one of the best ‘cosiness’ features and you want to soak it in at every opportunity. Set up a conversation zoom near the fire, you’ll never regret you did.
A combustion fire is always the winner in warming up your space for winter. This is why my wood pile is bigger than Ben Hur!
So there you have it…
Follow all these steps, or just pick a few that you think you could pull off to help create a home that can beat the winter blues. I’d love to hear what tips you implemented, or if you have some tips of your own that you can recommend. Leave a comment below or connect with me at bec@designrelease.com.au and let me know your winter busting strategies!
In the meantime, just know that I’ll be hunkering down next to the fire with my cup of tea – my happy place when it’s like the Artic outside. Until next time!