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The Winter House {10 Layers to Cozy Up Your Home}

by | Jan 5, 2015 | Decorating Inspiration, Seasonal Decorating & Entertaining, Winter Decorating

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The Winter House {10 Layers to Cozy Up Your Home}Atlanta Homes

It’s our first week back to the routine after the holidays! It’s both exciting and kind of sad, I enjoyed Christmas so much this year. But, the new year awaits so it’s good to look forward to what’s next!

This weekend I started taking down the crunchy greenery (it starts to drive me crazy if it’s all over the floor and staircase!), and then the Christmas decor and lastly, our tree made it’s way outside.

Since I decorate pretty simply for Christmas and I like to leave up any greenery that is still fresh and pretty, it really isn’t that much to put away! But it still always feels a little bare for the first day back to the non-Christmas state. Especially the corner where the tree was. At that point, I know it is time for a winter-refresh! I bet some of you are at that point too, or will be this week!

The Winter House {10 Layers to Cozy Up Your Home}Atlanta Homes

While I love how clean and decluttered it starts to feel, I definitely start looking for ways to fill the void without clutter :) and simply reset the house to warm it back up again. I’m kind of in love with the idea of a cozy winter house. Doesn’t that just sound like the most wonderful place to be right now?

Even as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is behind us and we have to dive into to the daily routine of winter, I’m dreaming of being curled up as often as I can right by the fire under a big soft blanket for the next few months. If only we had snow outside! We mostly just get rain, yay for living in Seattle, but it’s been really cold so in my mind there should be a soft covering of white snow outside.

When it’s really cold outside like it’s been around here (probably not as cold as where some of you live, but it feels COLD to me, hah!) and the Christmas tree and decor has left the house, my focus turns to adding more of the following elements to bring more layers of warmth.

The Winter House {10 Layers to Cozy Up Your Home}

Atlanta Homes

Here are 10 of my favorite layers to reset our home to winter! 

1. Layers of winter linens on the table
2. Fur and knit pillows on the sofa
3. Extra cozy throws and blankets on chairs and shelves
4. Textures like baskets and natural winter decor like sticks and pine cones
5. Curtains on windows and even interior doors
6. Warm area rugs in living spaces
7. Extra layers of blankets on beds
8. More winter books in stacks by the fireplace and beds
9. Groupings of candles on mantels, dressers and console tables
10. Additional table lamps for warm mood lighting

What are some elements you could add or gather around your house to cozy up your winter home? 

Related Posts:

Winter Bedrooms: Layers

Essentials for a Cozy Winter Home (my guide on eBay)

The Winter House

32 Comments

  1. Mary

    I have been reading your blog for awhile now, and check it daily for inspiration for my home. While I can’t say that I’m a real DIY’er, I love to garden, and care for my many houseplants. I also have taken several yard sale and flea market finds, such as small side tables, and painted them colorfully with chalk paint, which I love to do. So, just wanted to let you know that I love the inspired room and will keep reading.

    Reply
      • Jennie

        Mary – can you post some pics? I’m redoing my daughter’s room and I’d love to see how you’ve done the small tables!

        Reply
  2. Jann from Newton Custom Interiors

    I love your list of ways to cozy up a room. I recently bought two thick soft throws for our family room. We throw them over our legs while we watch TV. Unfortunately, I still don’t have drapes at the windows yet. Hoping that will be done soon. I took everything down at the windows before our renovation, and can’t wait to make new window treatments!

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Sounds like a fun project! I love those finishing layers after a renovation. Happy new year, Jann!

      Reply
  3. Donna @ More Than Hungry

    I took down Christmas yesterday. There is that adjustment time – getting used to a more neutral palette. I just added a basket/bowl full of balls of yarn to a table in the living room. It adds texture, color and warmth. Candles are my favorite but I love your idea of adding an accent lamp for more warmth too. I think I have just the thing I need too. Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Gina

    I love all of those ideas – especially the use of natural elements like pine cones. I usually leave up my faux evergreen and berry sprays and pine cones through January. Makes “un-decorating” from Christmas a little less crazy, ’cause what else am I going to put out? It’s still winter!

    Reply
    • Mac

      I decided this year to leave out the snowmen that go on display with the Christmas decorations. I stick with the ones that do not say Merry Christmas. They are so whimsical and I do love snow!

      Reply
  5. sandyc

    When one lives in “sunny” Sun City Wes/Phoenix, Arizona, one doesn’t tend to have many cozy winter home tips. This past December which is usually one of our best months of the “why we live here” season, I felt way too many days as though I was living in Portland, Oregon (where my late husband and I always spent much of December during our marriage). Way too many gloomy days and rain! Too many mornings I’ve looked out the front windows and seen my faux plants floating cattywampus at the top of my big pots because the pots filled up with water when it rained during the night. Not good for the soul of someone whose greatest pleasure of the day is to get up in the morning and walk through my little house with a smile on my face while I open up all the drapes on the way to the kitchen to make coffee and feed my cat people. And it’s all been intensified by the fact that December brings us the shortest day of the year. At 8 in the morning it’s only 36 degrees outside and I’m cooooooooooold! My cozy winter home tip is to turn up the heat and put on my fuzzy robe until it warms up. The cat people get all the fuzzy throws throughout the year.

    Reply
  6. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life

    Oh I love a warm cozy room too. I love to add more throws and pillows, plus tons of candles. This just seems warm to me.

    Reply
  7. Ms Maggie

    Our Seattle home gets the “gentleman’s library” feel by the addition of darker reds and other colors; books are all over too since that is what we do in our PNW winters. The second coastal home on Harstine Island at the Pointe gets the faux fur on the leather couches and more deeper colored wool rugs on the floor; we had to add more furry blankets since no wanted to be left out. We have various animal designs per chair or couch and it somehow works. Tables for jigsaw puzzles are added in some of the rooms. A deep red heavy blankets in the Master or other colors in other rooms are added at the foot of each bed. Runners in brown patterns contain the damp and pine needle displays in the mud room…

    Reply
    • Cynthia @herlovelynest

      Ms Maggie this all sounds so wonderful! I especially love the books and jigsaw puzzle ideas. and the pine needle display…fantastic!

      Reply
  8. Suzanne

    These homes look wonderful! I hope I can get my home to look this nice soon.
    Thank you for sharing this, I’m going to pin it to my Pinterest board to keep track of!

    Reply
  9. PamS

    I love these ideas and I have been looking a winter decorating ideas already! QUESTION: what do you consider “winter linens”? Ideas/examples photos etc would be so appreciated. Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Cynthia @herlovelynest

    great list, I love it! in our house I’m not allowed to take down all the Christmas decorations till after Epiphany, but I confess that I’ve slowly been putting away a piece here and a piece there…replacing it all with soft cozy blankets, candles, baskets filled greenery and pinecones…the works!

    even though I was out of town for the first 1/2 of December so my Christmas decorating never got into full swing, I’m still oddly anxious to be rid of it and back to a clean slate. I think that is our mind’s way of letting us let go of the season when the time comes :-)

    Reply
  11. Liz

    I’m slow to put out the decorations since I grew up in a household that the tree did not go up until the kids were in bed on Christmas Eve. It made for a long night for Mom and Dad, but it made for a magical morning. And, our tree and lights stayed up until Twelfth Night. So, I still have a few days to go.

    Reply
  12. Melissa

    Yes! I just bought another plaid throw from Target yesterday. It’s funny how something so cheap and simple really adds to the layers of the room.

    Reply
  13. Barbara (WA)

    I normally use deep red pillows & throws this time of year. I also use a few snowmen that aren’t specifically Christmas. And candles, yes. Not sure when I’ll be able to put away Christmas, however. The back injury sure limits my movements, darn. Just when I was able to use my left hand more & more.

    Reply
  14. Natalie

    Love the blog! Also love the light fixture in first picture. Could you tell me the source? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Thank you Natalie! That photo is from Atlanta Homes Magazine so I’m not sure the exact source for the light, sorry about that!

      Reply
  15. Ashley

    I love some of these ideas! I have to go buy a fur pillow now. I had never really thought about putting curtains on interior doors before, but I think it would really help make your home feel extra cozy in winter. Thanks for giving me some inspiration!

    Reply
  16. Monica

    I love these ideas and have already started my bag a day technique.

    Reply
  17. Laura

    This is exactly how I’ve been feeling since we took down Christmas decor. I want to add things to my home to make it feel cozy and comfortable while it’s snowing outside. I love reading your blog. I appreciate your ‘real’ness.

    Reply
  18. Karen on Bainbridge Island

    I take out the rush seated bench that sits in front of the fireplace, and in it’s place I put our two plaid upholstered chairs. It gives us a cozy place to sit when the fire is lit.

    This past year I have been buying anything I can lay my hands on that is brass. I have put a brass lamp in the library, and brass candlesticks around the great room…the mellow golden color really warms up the room

    Reply
  19. Daniela

    dear melissa,
    thank you for your declutter motivation
    German hausholds also needs declutterin not only when moving.
    I started immediately after reading your “one bag a day “story with my wardrobe and continue with the whole bedroom
    I’m so excited and hope follow your routine through the year. Love you blog
    Best wishes for you and your family hugs from Munich
    Daniela

    Reply
  20. shawny

    To cozy up my home I put flannel sheets and an electric blanket on the bed.I make a hot drink station in my kitchen with hot tea,coffe,hot chocolate,and hot cider.It has all kinds of yummy flavors and creamers. I make the doggy beds more cozy with extra cushioning and blankets.I use my scentsy warmers with cozy warm smells.In the bathroom I put out stuff for hot baths in baskets.I definately use candles and have the fireplace going. I also put out instant hot cereals (not the cheap kind) with all the needed fixings so my family will have a good warm breakfast. I have a basket filled and ready to go with snacks for movie nights. For fun I have a place to have all the stuff for the fun outdoor activities (sleds,snowball makers,snowmen accessories,snow shoes etc…) I also bring out the bin of extra hats,gloves and scarves etcc for those who need it. I love making my home cozy ,warm and inviting!

    Reply
  21. Rose Marie

    The wood and iron stools in the Winter House entry are amazing . Do you have any idea where they are from?? Love your blog. It always inspires.

    Reply
  22. Gretchen

    I have just seen your blog for the first time, and I feel like I am home! The pictures in this post remind me so much of the style of my home growing up. But they also remind me of the home I filled with family pieces and love in Georgia. The items may not be exactly alike, but the feeling is.
    My husband and I downsized by about 2/3 to be able to retire and live our daughter and son-in-law’s life with them and their children in the military! We have lived near Savannah and now near DC and love the adventure and family togetherness. But there are times when I see pictures like these when I feel that tug of missing ‘My home.” You’ve given me inspiration, and I am going to work harder at pulling my favorite pieces I brought with us into our everyday lives a little better.
    Thank you! We will be in a new state and different home this summer, and I am already thinking of how I can have our own little piece of “My Home” there as well.

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Hi Gretchen! It’s so nice to meet you, I’m glad you are here! It’s always nice to connect with kindred spirits. I love your idea of creating a little piece of home where you are. Thanks for sharing and commenting! :-)

      Reply
  23. ash

    Does anyone know where the rug in the living room came from? I love it!

    Reply

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