The smell of a wood fire. The crunch of twigs and leaves under your wellies. Hot chocolate (with cream and marshmallows, obviously). A glass of mulled wine that’s just a little too hot to hold. The joy of coming inside to a warm house and peeling off the layers…
It’s fair to say that I love winter. There’s something about the way nature starts to signal to us to stay at home and hunker down. That’s not to say that I don’t love the festive party season too! But I do enjoy those winter evenings in, curling up on the sofa with a warm drink watching a film.
Not many of us can afford to entirely change up our interiors and decorate for each season, but all of us can introduce small changes to our existing interiors that can make them feel more appropriate for the climate and the season.
For winter, a good starting point is texture. While important all year around, having a mix of comforting textures becomes increasingly important in winter. In fact, during these days when fuel is so expensive, it’s also practical to think about layers you can add to your interior which also provide warmth. Introducing a fur or velvet cushion cover with a wool knit blanket might mean you can wait that tiny bit longer before turning the heating on!
Next I would think about lighting. The easiest and arguably cheapest way to add a bit of winter glow to any room is the trusty plug-in sparkly string lights. They can be purchased online or in most supermarkets in the run up to Christmas and can transform a mantelpiece, bookshelf or even curled up in an empty glass vase. As those night draw in, try to avoid the harsh light of a central pendant, think about lamps and lots of them, preferably with a soft glow bulb.
Candles are another way to add atmospheric lighting but also a third key element of cosying up your interior – scent. Think about engaging all your senses as you winterise. Some of the high street winter scents can be a little sweet, I personally prefer something citrus based. Needless to say scent is very personal so it’s always best to buy them in person so you can find something that suits you.
Finally, colour plays a huge role in how we identify an interior as being “of” a particular season. However, it’s important not to equate a winter interior with what you might perceive as the colours of Christmas. Think about a broader winter palette when you are thinking about what new elements you can bring in. Warm autumn and winter colours like reds, oranges and browns certainly have their place, but whites and creams with some metallic touches can feel equally seasonal. It’s more about looking at your existing scheme and thinking about a few accents that you can add, rather than simply layering some Christmas decorations on top.
The important thing is to think about what makes you feel cosy and comforted as the days get ever shorter and the temperate starts to dip. My advice to you is to embrace the colder evenings, snuggle in and enjoy!
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