During the last few months of the year, many homes are decorated to the hilt for the holidays. But once January rolls around and your Christmas tree is on the curb, you can turn your attention to decorating your cherished space for the rest of the season.
Decorating your home for the winter doesn’t mean leaning into a classic winter aesthetic, but rather the simple additions of cozy touches and warm notes to make your home feel even more welcoming.
From embracing simplicity to using a neutral colour palette, let’s look at some decorating ideas that can transform your home and brighten it during the last few dreary months until spring arrives.
Take a Minimalist Approach
Decorating your home for the winter is a great time to remove a lot of the clutter and apply a more minimalist approach. You can save your decor embellishments for the summer and fall. In fact, one of the pleasures of decorating in the winter is that you don’t have to worry about all the extra flourishes that often come with home decorating.
Try to minimize the amount of “stuff” on your walls and mantles. Remove some art and items and only keep a few of your more stunning or beloved pieces. You should also consider adding an understated centrepiece to your dining room table.
Choose a Colour Palette That’s Winter Appropriate
Create a chic interior by choosing a colour palette that reflects the season. These colours usually include shades of white or grey or an Earth tone. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with a neutral colour. You can apply this colour palette to an accent wall or items such as candles, vases or art.
Changing the colour palette for one or more rooms can freshen a home, giving it a new personality and vibe. Don’t feel hemmed into colours that scream winter. It’s about keeping it neutral and using what works best for the space.
Brighten Your Winter With Plants
Spruce up your home during the cold winter months with some plants. A few great options include herbs, which can fill a room with wonderful aromas, or faux plants if you’re concerned about care and upkeep. Plants can change the aesthetic of a room and make it feel homier and more relaxing.
Consider placing white pine, balsam or cedar around your living room and bathrooms as they look and smell amazing.
Throw Blankets and Pillows Can Make Any Room Feel Cozier
Wherever there is a sofa or chair, you can place a throw blanket or pillow on top of it. Throw blankets and pillows are smaller than the ones we sleep with and serve a different purpose. While they can keep us warm and comfy as we watch TV in the winter, they can also accessorize a room, adding a pop of colour or an extra layer of texture to furniture.
Arrange your throw blankets and pillows in a way so that they don’t look messy. Give thought to furniture in parts of rooms that could use more colour or that you want to draw attention to. Be careful not to overdo it, as the last thing you want is to sloppily pile a blanket and several pillows on a chair. You can also have fun with these accessories, playing with colours, shapes and proportions.
More Tips for Decorating Your Home for the Winter
There are lots of other fun and inventive ways to decorate your home this winter. Use these tips as inspiration to get started.
- Change your bedding: Why not go with Mohair? It’s perfect for the winter and adds some texture to your bed.
- Avoid holiday decorations: There’s a time and place for garland and after the holiday season is not it.
- Go antique shopping: Antiques give a room a certain timeless aesthetic, perfect for the winter.
- Accessorize a fireplace: Pile logs in a pyramid shape right next to the fire to give it a chalet feel.
- Fill a bookshelf with leather bound books: Dedicate a bookshelf in your living room or office to leatherbound books, which are always eye-catching and look classy.
You can’t go too wrong with any of these suggestions. It’s about finding the ones that appeal most to you and then tailoring them to match your tastes and personality.
Decorate Before You Hibernate
It’s tempting to just let the winter months go by as we count the days to spring. By spending some time decorating our homes, we can create a space where we want to spend time and that feels warm and inviting. Decorating for the winter can also inspire you to host friends and family more often, which is always nice during those long January nights.
Whatever direction you choose for decorating this winter, it will allow you to enjoy your home in new ways.
Rob Shapiro | Contributing Writer
