Most of us will agree, once the holiday decorations are all carefully packed and labelled, ready to be stored away for another year, our homes feel pretty bare. The upside to this time of year is that winter interior decorating ideas give us the perfect opportunity to freshen up our spaces to suit the serenity of this sometimes harsh but very beautiful season.

How To Decorate For Winter

Let’s take a look at a few different approaches to adding comfort, warmth and style to our homes when all those pretty holiday lights and decorations have come down.

A Minimalist Decorating Reset

Stylish and practical, grabbing hold of the concept of warmth in a space is a great approach to embracing those plunging outdoor temperatures and creating a cozy home.

Let’s face it, the holidays are the symbol of excess in our culture. After weeks of extra gatherings, extra colours and glitter, and of course the extra special foods and treats, when it’s all over and done, I’m ready for some soothing relief. Nothing calms me more than a clean, uncluttered space that’s both mentally and visually refreshing.

Get this look by sticking to a neutral colour palette, which is part of my existing decor now, so not too difficult to work with for me. Build out the neutral whites, greys, and other muted tones of browns, soft greens, muted and navy blues.

Add textured throw blankets and toss cushions that will add visual interest, soft textures and something cozy to grab for on those chilly evenings. Maybe set out an elegant vase to the now more simplified styling of winter decor.

I’ve already mentioned accessories like chunky knit blankets and textured throw cushions. I also bring out my little sheepskin throws for the back of chairs or on my ottomans for some extra warmth. Visually they make me feel so cozy just looking at them.

Any of the natural materials like wood, stone, or wicker will instantly bring warmth and an organic feel to your home decor. These things help to create a calming interior retreat against the harsh winter scenes happening outside.

Nature Inspired Decor

If you’re at all familiar with my decorating process, I always specify nature inspired Biophillic elements in a space. (See my blog post on this topic here https://www.jillcartydesigns.com/new-blog/biophillic-decor-and-design). The simplest way to achieve this decor of nature elements is to add lots of plants to a room.

Winter is the season of some beautiful outdoor pieces that we can bring inside when green plants aren’t plentiful. I’ve so enjoyed the evergreen decorations I made this year, in particular the fresh pine boughs in my black jug vase that I kept in water since late November.

It’s time for them to go and I decided I would replace them with either fresh ones or maybe I’ll go for a nature walk with my clippers and grab some branches instead.

I also like to keep pinecones out for my winter decor. I set them out with my fall decorating and keep them right through until the end of winter. Put them in a vintage dish or corral some in a round wicker tray to add more warm elements.

natural pinecones in a green vintage ribbed porcelain dish and two pinecones outside the dish beside it — one of my favourite vintage dishes

blue dish beside bathroom sink holding blue glass candle and a single pinecone — THIS blue plate works year round in my bathroom decor

Adding fabrics that are made from natural materials is another way to get this look. Raw linens, rich wool, and if you’re looking for colour beyond a neutral backdrop, you won’t go wrong by adding in some deep greens and earth tones.

These little touches of nature inspired decor are proven to enhance our sense of well-being, reduce anxiety and stress, help us heal faster and stay in a good frame of mind.

Interior Lighting In Winter

Another way to add that warm element is with lighting. It’s so much nicer to enjoy soft, warm light from lamps, candles and those adorable twinkle lights.

At Christmas I strung some across the top of the headboard in our principal bedroom this year. I just couldn’t take them down yet. I love the warm lighting and quietness they set the room to.

Look for ways to increase the number of lights in your home over the winter. It can make life feel a little “lighter”, pun intended, and helps offset some of those grey skys at dusk.

Hanging mirrors will help a space look brighter any time of the year. They bounce the natural and artificial light around, maximizing reflections in the room.

Lighting With Candles

I know for many, candles present a safety hazard. There are some great flameless candles that look very real, come in a variety of sizes which is nice for groupings, and that have timers you can set and forget.

You might also consider a candle warmer for your scented favourites. They eliminate an open flame, and use a halogen bulb to melt the wax from the top down to release the candles scent. Opt for an adjustable one so you can set the light to your preferred brightness, change the height as needed and again, make use of the timer option.

FIGHT THE WINTER BLUES

BRIGHTEN YOUR COLOURS - BRIGHTEN YOUR SPIRITS

A little colour psychology therapy goes a long way in the fight against the winter blahs of grey everything as the season presses on. Certain colours are known to boost our mood, like pinks, oranges, and yellows. Try adding little hits of these in small accessories or artwork.

I like to change up existing artwork by putting a new print in an existing frame for the Christmas season. Then I keep a winter scene or two out as part of my winter decor.

winter scene artwork stays for a while yet

A quick hit of colour is as easy as a run out to your local grocery store to treat yourself to a pretty little blooming indoor plant. If you’re lucky enough to find them, bring home a bouquet of tulips that always carry the promise of spring.

WINTER ORGANIZATION FOR INDOOR FUNCTION

We all know about the carefree days of summer. I wonder if winter isn’t just the complete opposite. We have so much more to prepare and do to get through a typical winters day.

We need practical thinking for getting dressed to go out, checking the weather report, peeking through the curtains to see if it snowed again and do we need to shovel the porch, walkway and driveway. Will the vehicles need scraping if you don’t have the privilege of garage parking, do I have at least half a tank of gas in my car at all times?

We’re likely to be cooking more hearty meals which means more thoughtful shopping, prep work and kitchen time. It’s all a bit more demanding.

However, there is always a good side to things if we look for it. I love the slower pace of winter in general. Consider some functional decor with what you have on hand.

Create A Winter Reading Nook

It’s the best time of year to cozy up with a good book. Can you eke out a space in your home to create a designated reading nook? Drag over a little table for a cup of hot cocoa, add a good reading or book light, a chunky rattan basket beside you for your favourite throw blanket, and you’re all set for a great escape from the blizzard blowing outside.

Set Up A Jigsaw Puzzle

I’ve just switched out a space to add one of my stand-up desks from my studio to our TV room. I love doing jigsaw puzzles over the winter months.

This will be the perfect spot to cozy up with the gas fireplace on, while catching a favourite show with Jim. By the way, my stand up desk is adjustable - it has a crank handle that moves it up and down to the perfect work level for your task. I certainly won’t be standing doing puzzles.

Entry Closet Organization Ideas

And lastly in this topic, I’m always at my best in a well organized space. It doesn’t always happen in my world, but it is something that’s important to me. I know all the extra boots, scarves and mitts have to go somewhere. Sometimes our front closet is groaning with all the things we squeeze in there.

Some winter practicality here that takes about half an hour. I will take out all the footwear and the little rug that fits wall to wall inside our closet. Then give it all a good clean, put the vacuumed mat back down, and line up the boots and shoes that need to be there. I looked the other day and noticed two pairs of flip-flops! Clearly, I’ve got a job waiting for me.

I also put my favourite woven African basket - a gift from a dear friend - inside to the right, that we fill up with hats, mitts, and scarves. Heavier scarves, wind pants, purses and other random household items that don’t fit anywhere else, live in containers on the shelves above. We purposed to have two upper shelves in this closet to maximize the space that is of a premium in our downsized home.

It feels so great when that closet is in order and everything is easy to find. Maybe I’ll get that done today and leave the doors open for a while to enjoy it. Ha!

Winter Interior Decorating Ideas Quick Tips:

there are some great shopping opportunities at this time of year
stock up on year round gifts for birthdays and even next Christmas
January is the best time to purchase linens and bedding
add extra layers to your beds to keep warm and toasty
invest in no-flame candles and set them on timers when you need a little boost

Try some of these winter decor ideas in your space. My hope is that they will help you get through these colder months feeling warm, cozy and a little more relaxed.

Having said that, don’t forget to get outside for some winter fun on those nice sunny days. We did a family trail walk a few weeks ago and it felt great to be in the fresh air and enjoy some good chats.

You might not know this about me, but every year I make a snow angel. I have the promise of Jim’s continual help to get me up, and eventually get down too, until I’m too old to do it. And that will be a long, long, winter from now!