Decorating
Decorating: 10 Ways to Welcome the Winter With Light and Warmth
This winter, transform your home into a real haven with these ideas for a warm, light and cosy space
I am the first to admit I’m not a winter person. But where I live, in New England, snowy winters are a fact of life. And if living with winter has taught me anything, it’s to savour the warm and cosy aspects of this season. Candles, fairy lights and a roaring fire can do wonders to boost light on short, dark days and (even more important) bolster the spirits. So pour yourself a mug of hot chocolate and get cosy around the fire. Here are 10 ideas for boosting light and creating a magical ambience around the house.
Line your hall with lanterns
If you have a long hallway, why not line it with a row of sturdy hurricanes filled with pillar candles? I imagine this would make just walking from one room to the next a far more romantic experience.
If you have a long hallway, why not line it with a row of sturdy hurricanes filled with pillar candles? I imagine this would make just walking from one room to the next a far more romantic experience.
Have your fireplace ready and waiting
If you have a working fireplace or wood burner, stock up and get ready with everything you need to light a fire at a moment’s notice. Chop and stack wood, prepare kindling and get your tools in order. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to have your chimney professionally cleaned. Knowing everything is ready to go may nudge you into having a cosy fire more often.
If you have a working fireplace or wood burner, stock up and get ready with everything you need to light a fire at a moment’s notice. Chop and stack wood, prepare kindling and get your tools in order. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to have your chimney professionally cleaned. Knowing everything is ready to go may nudge you into having a cosy fire more often.
Keep a candle and fresh blooms beside your bed
Lighting a candle in the evening beside your bed is such a pleasant way to relax while reading those last few pages of a good book. Fresh flowers in a cup are a mood booster in their own right, but a candle-flower duo is best of all.
See ideas on how to display flowers
Lighting a candle in the evening beside your bed is such a pleasant way to relax while reading those last few pages of a good book. Fresh flowers in a cup are a mood booster in their own right, but a candle-flower duo is best of all.
See ideas on how to display flowers
Use fairy lights in the bedroom
Whether you choose plain white lights or mini paper lanterns on a string, fairy lights bring a magical touch to the winter bedroom. Drape them from the headboard, hang them vertically from a curtain rod or drape them across the top of the wardrobe. Before bed put out all lights but the twinkle lights and candle, and revel in the ambience.
Whether you choose plain white lights or mini paper lanterns on a string, fairy lights bring a magical touch to the winter bedroom. Drape them from the headboard, hang them vertically from a curtain rod or drape them across the top of the wardrobe. Before bed put out all lights but the twinkle lights and candle, and revel in the ambience.
Enhance the kitchen with candles
Kitchen lighting can be a bit sterile - it gets the job done but doesn’t add anything to the mood. Supplement the overhead lighting with a smattering of tea lights or votive candles on the counters, and I think you’ll find even chopping vegetables or washing up to be a more pleasant undertaking.
Check out more ways to keep your home cosy in winter
Kitchen lighting can be a bit sterile - it gets the job done but doesn’t add anything to the mood. Supplement the overhead lighting with a smattering of tea lights or votive candles on the counters, and I think you’ll find even chopping vegetables or washing up to be a more pleasant undertaking.
Check out more ways to keep your home cosy in winter
Light candles at breakfast
Winter mornings can be so dark. Why reserve candles for the dinner table only, when you can benefit from them at all times of day? I find candles have an especially calming effect on children; they’re great for soothing frazzled nerves before a busy school day.
Winter mornings can be so dark. Why reserve candles for the dinner table only, when you can benefit from them at all times of day? I find candles have an especially calming effect on children; they’re great for soothing frazzled nerves before a busy school day.
Do we need to tell you to put candles around the bath?
If you don’t normally soak in the bath tub, make an exception for winter. Bring in a few candles and place them around the bath, turn down the lights and relax. Repeat at least once a week.
If you don’t normally soak in the bath tub, make an exception for winter. Bring in a few candles and place them around the bath, turn down the lights and relax. Repeat at least once a week.
Start your Christmas decorating early (but keep it simple)
I’m not one for going overboard on Christmas decor (especially not way in advance of the holiday), but a few simple, natural pieces can bring a welcome festive air to the home. How about making your own tree branch star, like the one shown here, and wrapping it in fairy lights?
I’m not one for going overboard on Christmas decor (especially not way in advance of the holiday), but a few simple, natural pieces can bring a welcome festive air to the home. How about making your own tree branch star, like the one shown here, and wrapping it in fairy lights?
Or place a few luminaries on the mantelpiece and sideboard. Setting out small, special candleholders, string lights and lanterns is a good way to ease into holiday decorating.
When all else fails, treat yourself to colour
I am a firm believer in the power of colour to uplift the spirits. So if all of the tea lights, fairy lights and cosy nights around the fire aren’t helping you get your groove back, allow me to suggest splurging on something bright and bold instead, a raspberry mohair throw for example.
TELL US…
What do you do to help boost your spirits in winter? Let us know in the Comments below.
I am a firm believer in the power of colour to uplift the spirits. So if all of the tea lights, fairy lights and cosy nights around the fire aren’t helping you get your groove back, allow me to suggest splurging on something bright and bold instead, a raspberry mohair throw for example.
TELL US…
What do you do to help boost your spirits in winter? Let us know in the Comments below.
You may be surprised at how much more light comes in through crystal-clear windows. Even if it’s too cold out to get to the exterior side of the windows, cleaning even inside can boost light. And while there’s something to be said for the insulating effects of heavy window treatments, they do nothing when it comes to letting in maximum light on dim winter days - so open the blinds and pull open those curtains!