Decorating: 10 Cosy Ways To Add Winter Warmth to Your Home
Embrace the chillier days with natural textures, cosy colours and flickering firelight
Winter offers the perfect excuse to make a hot chocolate, huddle under a blanket and hibernate indoors. Here’s how to give your home the snug factor this season, from knitted throws and flickering fires to moody lighting and wood-panelled walls.
Go for a stove
There’s nothing as comforting as sitting around a roaring fire when temperatures plummet outside. If your space lacks this natural focal point, why not install your own? A hanging stove like this is more eye-catching and stylish than a conventional reproduction fireplace – and makes a fantastic conversation piece.
Find out how to choose the right fire for your home
There’s nothing as comforting as sitting around a roaring fire when temperatures plummet outside. If your space lacks this natural focal point, why not install your own? A hanging stove like this is more eye-catching and stylish than a conventional reproduction fireplace – and makes a fantastic conversation piece.
Find out how to choose the right fire for your home
Accessorise wisely
A tall stack of freshly cut logs, a hide rug and a luxurious faux-fur throw are easy ways to warm up a contemporary barn conversion. The sleek, modern fireplace in an otherwise plain wall adds further winter wow factor.
A tall stack of freshly cut logs, a hide rug and a luxurious faux-fur throw are easy ways to warm up a contemporary barn conversion. The sleek, modern fireplace in an otherwise plain wall adds further winter wow factor.
Make your fireplace a feature
Few things beat a real open fire on a cold winter’s night. For the full-on Dickensian effect, echo flickering flames by burning candles in simple glass holders and candelabras.
If you don’t have an ornate traditional fireplace in place, pick up a vintage surround from a local salvage firm, and investigate whether your chimney can be opened up and used with coal or firewood. Alternatively, have a gas fire installed by a professional.
Few things beat a real open fire on a cold winter’s night. For the full-on Dickensian effect, echo flickering flames by burning candles in simple glass holders and candelabras.
If you don’t have an ornate traditional fireplace in place, pick up a vintage surround from a local salvage firm, and investigate whether your chimney can be opened up and used with coal or firewood. Alternatively, have a gas fire installed by a professional.
Design a cosy corner
Even in the tiniest of homes, you can create a quiet spot in which to curl up with a good novel and cup of tea. Invest in a comfy armchair in a timeless fabric that will age beautifully, such as tweed, wool or leather. Here, the walls have been painted in a soft heritage shade, while an alcove filled with family photographs adds to the comforting feeling.
Even in the tiniest of homes, you can create a quiet spot in which to curl up with a good novel and cup of tea. Invest in a comfy armchair in a timeless fabric that will age beautifully, such as tweed, wool or leather. Here, the walls have been painted in a soft heritage shade, while an alcove filled with family photographs adds to the comforting feeling.
Pick warm shades
The café-style banquettes covered in burnt-orange leather give this wooden kitchen-diner a cosy atmosphere, and are a cool alternative to the usual freestanding table and chairs. Having a fireplace installed in the kitchen, if you have the room, is a great way to guarantee a snug feel in wintry weather.
The café-style banquettes covered in burnt-orange leather give this wooden kitchen-diner a cosy atmosphere, and are a cool alternative to the usual freestanding table and chairs. Having a fireplace installed in the kitchen, if you have the room, is a great way to guarantee a snug feel in wintry weather.
Choose dark colours
Rather than being gloomy, a bold, dark colour scheme instantly transforms an ordinary room into an intimate and glamorous winter’s retreat. Here, deep grey paintwork, a dark sofa and knitted pouffe contrast with points of light – a mirror, wall lights, a candelabra – for a boutique hotel look. It’s the perfect place to settle back with a warming tumbler of whisky or pot of fresh coffee.
Rather than being gloomy, a bold, dark colour scheme instantly transforms an ordinary room into an intimate and glamorous winter’s retreat. Here, deep grey paintwork, a dark sofa and knitted pouffe contrast with points of light – a mirror, wall lights, a candelabra – for a boutique hotel look. It’s the perfect place to settle back with a warming tumbler of whisky or pot of fresh coffee.
Bathe in luxury
Bathrooms can be cosy, too, with a little clever planning. Here, a metal freestanding tub, raw brickwork, logs by the fireplace and, crucially, a large rug to warm up the floor, turn what could be a functional space into a steamy haven for indulgent soaks on sub-zero nights.
Bathrooms can be cosy, too, with a little clever planning. Here, a metal freestanding tub, raw brickwork, logs by the fireplace and, crucially, a large rug to warm up the floor, turn what could be a functional space into a steamy haven for indulgent soaks on sub-zero nights.
Opt for rich red
A rich red colour scheme is a short-cut to creating an inviting snug or den. The red rug, sofa, chair, artwork and lampshade in this scheme might sound too much, but they actually work brilliantly together thanks to pale, neutral walls and curtains. A wooden wall of cabinets is broken up by orange lighting that adds a gentle glow.
A rich red colour scheme is a short-cut to creating an inviting snug or den. The red rug, sofa, chair, artwork and lampshade in this scheme might sound too much, but they actually work brilliantly together thanks to pale, neutral walls and curtains. A wooden wall of cabinets is broken up by orange lighting that adds a gentle glow.
Concentrate on the details
A few smart design details help this lounging area pull off both modern and cosy. The logs and wicker basket stop the wall of black tiles feeling too monolithic. Antlers are a modern classic, and a great way to add personality to walls. A flash of colour from the orange lampshade prevents things looking too monochrome. And a metal chest is a quirky alternative to a coffee table.
TELL US…
Have you created a cosy corner or room in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
A few smart design details help this lounging area pull off both modern and cosy. The logs and wicker basket stop the wall of black tiles feeling too monolithic. Antlers are a modern classic, and a great way to add personality to walls. A flash of colour from the orange lampshade prevents things looking too monochrome. And a metal chest is a quirky alternative to a coffee table.
TELL US…
Have you created a cosy corner or room in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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In love with the idea of log-cabin chic? Try panelling your bedroom walls in wonderful wood for a year-round rustic retreat. Here, matching wooden ceilings and floors complete the romantic look. Choose woollen throws and furry cushions in natural shades of taupe, grey and brown to cosy things up further.
To follow the theme through, source a hefty chunk of natural wood as a bedside table. Then, on dark, chilly evenings, simply head to bed early for an indulgent, long snooze…
See wonderful ways with wooden wall panelling