During the winter months we love feeling cocooned from the cold in a room that’s cosy and welcoming. It’s surprisingly simple to kick the winter chill using your décor, so stoke the fire, snuggle up, and read our favourite ways to warm up your home for winter.

Work with warm colours

It may sound obvious, but warm hues go a long way in creating a sense of comfort. You don’t need to redecorate your entire room for winter though – bring in warm and wealthy colours using decorative pieces, accessories and throws for an inviting, snug environment. Neutral colours with accents of other warm colours work well, and shades of brown in particular invoke a natural, earthy sense of security. Mix with pumpkin orange, moss green, slate grey or even plum purple, as well as shades such as burgundy, mustard yellow, blue-grey and khaki. Be careful to use strong colours sparingly though, otherwise your space could feel more dark and dingy than warm and welcoming.

Layer textures

The words ‘winter fabrics’ probably conjure up images of chunky knits, soft cashmere and faux fur – and with good reason. These textiles are practically synonymous with cosiness and create instant winter warmth, especially when contrasted against ‘colder’ fabrics such as linens, leathers and silks. Accent a cool leather sofa with knitted cushions, inject immediate snugness to your linen bedding with a cashmere throw, and add a plush rug to a hardwood floor. Remember textures aren’t limited just to fabric, a textured wallcovering like iLiv’s Imperio wallpaper will create a multi-dimensional look and is a great option for those people who don’t like to overload on accessories.

Get the perfect glow

Clever use of atmospheric lighting can create a cosy feel in such a subtle way that you aren’t even aware of it, especially as the nights draw in and natural light is in short supply. Layering is crucial to effective illumination, so create pools of light by complementing your overhead lighting with table lamps, wall sconces and even floor lights. For a warmer look, make sure you choose bulbs which give off a softer, golden light rather than stark white, and invest in dimmer switches to really control the mood. Finally, there’s no better way to create that inviting winter glow than through firelight. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a real fire then fill your fireplace with a few pillar candles and vintage candelabras, and position glass hurricane lanterns around the room – like these from NotOnTheHighStreet.com. 

Stimulate the senses

Hands up who loves the smell of a pumpkin spiced latte in the crisp wintery air? You can use scents in your home to create the same sensation for the senses. Choose air fresheners, scented candles and burners which have notes of spice, fir, ginger, orange, cinnamon and nutmeg (we love The White Company’s Winter Collection.) Even better, you could make your own home fragrance by popping herbs, spices, fruit and essential oils into a pan of warm water and heat on a low setting for a few hours. The end result will be a house which smells divinely wintery and welcoming. You could also collect pinecones and berries and arrange them in a vase for a natural, seasonal look.