As the winter winds
start to howl, we automatically turn inward to home and hearth. It’s time to warm up the interior of your
house and get cozy. Here are some
suggestions for making your home a welcoming retreat from the weather.
Pile on the pillows everywhere,
including the floor. Accent chairs,
couches, beds, and ottomans with comfy throws.
Pay attention to different textures and colors for visual variety, and
use quilts, nubby wool, and soft knit fabrics.
Introduce new color tones into your
decorating. Accent tans, oatmeals, and
creams with warm reds and oranges. If
you are feeling especially daring, paint an entire wall a dark red.
It will make the room feel welcoming and
cheerful. Even just adding red accents
will warm the space.
Dress your rooms in layers. Place area rugs over carpet or in twos and
threes for a splash of color and plushness on the floor.
Take down your sheer summer curtains or
valances and add lined drapes on your windows. Allow them to flow all the way to the floor.
Light your fireplace for ambiance
and warmth. If you don’t have a built-in
fireplace, there are many lovely electric models that can just be plugged
in. You can find mantels in a variety of
styles at an antique store for a built-in look.
Add candles around the room, and use table lamps instead of the harsher
overhead room light. You could also
install a dimmer switch for overhead lights if table lamps aren’t an option.
Strategically group your furniture
to foster conversation. Move your
couches and chairs out from the walls into the center of the room or in front
of the fireplace. Keep traffic flow in
mind as you arrange; placing a throw rug on the floor in the middle of the
furniture will help set a visual boundary for the new setting.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the
scent of your home. Baking makes us all
want to settle in and nest, but you could also place potpourri in bowls around
the house, or simmer potpourri on your stove top. Scented candles will have the same effect.
Leave a basket of slippers by the
front door for guests. If you have a
variety of sizes on hand, they will be more apt to slip out of wet, messy shoes
and sink into comfort as they enter your home.
Create a nook to curl up in. A chair placed by a window with a throw, or
pillows on a window seat invite your family to stop and daydream.
In the bedrooms, switch the bedding
to winter colors and add down comforters to dream under. Layer throws and pillows here as well, and
keep plush robes handy for chilly mornings.
Lastly, for a space to feel cozy, it
needs to feel lived in. Stack books on
tables and by chairs. Display family
photos, unique collections, and children’s art.
Keep a sweater or two handy for the coldest days. A welcoming home doesn’t have to look
“magazine perfect”; the idea is to create a space where family and guests will
want to linger. It will only take an
hour or two and a few simple changes to convert your home into a cozy nest
where you can retreat during the winter months.
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