Decorating to make your house winter warm and to avoid the winter blahs

Years ago, the natural solution to beating a cold winter day at home was to light the fireplace. Today, the common reaction is to simply turn the dial on the heating switch. Both actions achieve their mission of providing instant warmth, but do they add style to the home? Not exactly...but it is possible to simultaneously add warmth and fashion to your home décor by incorporating some smart decorating tips.

To begin decorating for the winter months, start by addressing accessories and fabrics. These are usually the most inexpensive changes or additions to make and will help you decide how far you want to venture with your home’s winter makeover.

Lighting is a great accessory that can be used to diminish winter’s darkness and dampened moods. Simply adding lighting fixtures or lamps in dark corners will assist you in brightening your home. Look for spaces that receive natural sunlight during other seasos, but are darker during winter. Table lamps are a quick and easy solution and can add an elegant touch. Light fixtures are cost-effective and can be placed anywhere from the base of large plants to behind that choice painting you’d love to highlight. For a different kind of lighting, try pillar candles in varying heights and colours or bring decorating back to basics by using light bulbs with increased wattage.

Once you have shed some light on the lighting situation, you can add warmth to gathering areas, such as the living room or den. This is easily accomplished by adding layers to sofas and chairs by way of throws. Try draping faux-fur, cashmere or even plaid. Summer cushions should be replaced with their winter mates, preferably made of warmth-inspired textiles. The addition of an area rug heats up a cold area, especially if the room is tiled with hardwood floors. To make the living room even more intimate, stack coffee table books and magazines throughout the room and leave outa tray filled with liqueur glasses and a bottle of your preferred winter warmer.

Even in the kitchen, there are an assortment of accessories that can be used to add warmth. An area that features items such as glass canisters filled with fresh coffee beans, chocolate shavings, raw sugar and cinnamon sticks is perfect for the winter months. At the same time, replace summer smells with those of winter. Cinnamon, orange, sage and cedar are fabulous scents that pass off a snug and homely sense.

As you move from accessories and fabrics to more pronounced changes, remember that you can still do it without breaking the bank. New furniture is not necessary; instead simply arrange existing furniture so it’s farther away from walls and closer to other pieces. This will make the room cosier and more inviting. If you have a fireplace, rearranging the furniture to focus on the fireplace has the same warming effect.

Painting is a more time-consuming endeavour, but can quickly make one forgt about the blustery winter weather if hues such as red and orange, two of this year’s most popular colours, are used.

Whether you decide to incorporate one or many of these suggestions, you’ll find that these tips are a sure-fire way to help improve the warmth in your home and rid yourself of the winter blahs.

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