Combat the winter blahs and banish the stark, bare feeling in your home with my simple winter decorating recipe to keep your space warm and inviting all season.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING THIS WREATH!
After the holiday decorations come down many homes feel a little empty and cold. I know I do—my creative energy tends to be used up during the holiday rush, and early winter often leaves me lacking inspiration. To avoid a bare, unwelcoming space while I recharge, I developed a straightforward approach I call my winter decorating recipe.
This recipe is a short list of reliable, easy-to-use elements I keep on hand. With these ingredients I can quickly refresh rooms so they feel cozy, layered and seasonally appropriate without spending hours planning or reinventing the wheel.
When I planned this list I looked outside for inspiration. Nature provides a great starting point—evergreens, bare branches and wood tones, frosted elements when weather allows, and muted, gray skies. Your local winter landscape may differ, but you can use the same approach: translate what you see outside into texture, color and shape inside.
PATTERN, PATTERN EVERYWHERE
Mixing patterns is one of the quickest ways to add visual interest and warmth. A balanced combination of plaids, subtle geometrics and textural prints brings a room to life. Stick to a cohesive color palette—neutrals with a few soft accent hues—and vary the scale of the patterns so they complement rather than compete with one another.
WOOD TONES AND BARE BRANCHES
Wood tones and bare branches bring warmth and an organic feel to winter decor. Use reclaimed wood accents, woven baskets and natural pinecones to echo the outdoors. I once styled my fireplace with tall bare branches tucked into white containers and a basket full of oversized pinecones—simple items that layer texture and bring the outside in.
CANDLESTICKS AND LANTERNS
Candles and lanterns add immediate warmth and a soft glow that makes any room feel cozy. Think beyond tabletops—display candlesticks on shelves, mantelpieces or vintage ledges. Hanging lanterns are another great option for ambient light; they work year-round and fit seamlessly into a winter palette.
COZY BLANKETS AND PILLOWS
Soft throws and layered pillows are essential. They invite you to sit, snuggle and stay a while. Choose warm flannels, faux fur throws and textured pillows in complementary patterns. Create a reading nook with a comfortable chair, a warm blanket and a plush pillow—perfect for hot cocoa and a good book.
WHITE CANDLES AND EVERGREENS
White candles paired with evergreen clippings create a clean, peaceful centerpiece. Evergreen—real or faux—can be tucked into bowls, arranged along mantels or tied into small bunches for vases. Combining greenery with pillar candles or taper candles brings both color and calm to the table in minutes.
METAL CONTAINERS
Galvanized metal trays, buckets and canisters introduce a cool, gray tone that echoes winter skies and pairs well with wood and greenery. Use metal containers on shelves or as bases for small arrangements to add contrast and a slightly industrial edge to otherwise soft decor.
Using this simple winter recipe—patterns, wood, branches, candles, cozy textiles, evergreens and metal accents—lets you quickly transform your home into a warm, inviting space without a lot of fuss. Keep these ingredients on hand and mix them together in different ways to refresh each room throughout the season.
