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Design 101
How To Decorate Your Home for Winter
When you hear “winter decorations,” you might immediately picture sparkling Christmas trees and festive stockings. But not everyone celebrates Christmas, and winter lasts much longer than the holiday season.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the chilliest season of the year without focusing solely on holiday traditions. This guide will teach you how to decorate for winter and create the cozy hideaway of your dreams.
When To Start Decorating for Winter
There’s no right or wrong time to decorate your home for winter.
Many people start transitioning to a winter theme in early to mid-November as the days grow colder and darker. This approach can bridge the gap between fall and the holiday season, helping you mentally prepare for the upcoming festivities.
Others prefer decorating for winter after Christmas. That way, they can enjoy fresh and cozy decor for the remaining winter months.
Winter Decor List
Winter decor comes in a broad range of styles, but most designs include these key elements:
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Candles: Add soft lighting and warmth with candles. Choose winter scents like apple cider, cinnamon, pine, and sugar cookies.
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Muted color palette: Choose colors that reflect the subdued tones of winter, such as dark blues, black, charcoal, holly berry red, silver, and white.
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Natural decor: Reconnect with nature with organic elements like evergreen sprigs, pine cones, and dried flowers.
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Cozy textiles: Stay warm on chilly days by cuddling with faux fur throw pillows, flannel blankets, and other plush fabrics.
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Wreathes: Greet guests with a cheerful winter wreath with natural elements like pine branches and winter berries. You can also accessorize the wreath with winter symbols like bells and snowflakes.
Cozy Winter Living Room
For many people, the living room becomes the heart of the home during winter. You may spend your evenings curled up on the couch with a good book or perched in front of the fireplace with a steaming mug of cocoa. No matter your preferences, you can create a cozy hideaway with winter decor for the living room.
Decorating a winter mantel
Decorating mantels for winter is the perfect way to showcase seasonal decor and create an interesting focal point.
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Start by mounting a large mirror above the mantel to reflect natural light and brighten your living room. Choose an antique mirror with a distressed frame for a vintage look, or modernize your space with a multi-panel mosaic mirror.
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Place smaller winter decorations on the mantel itself. Include items of different sizes and materials to create visual interest. For example, you can display candles, greenery, lanterns, and string lights.
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Finally, add whimsical charm with a few winter-themed figurines, such as a white ceramic snowman and tiny woodland creatures.
Adding cozy textiles
Winter brings cold weather and long nights. To stay comfortable all season long, fill your living room with warm textiles.
Drape cozy blankets across the back of every chair and couch. The best blanket materials for the winter include cotton, fleece, and wool. These fabrics hold in heat, making sure you stay warm even during a snowstorm.
For extra coziness, layer all your seating with fluffy throw pillows. Mix and match winter-themed prints like snowmen and snowy forests. You can also add a thick rug in a complementary shade to warm your feet.
Winter Dining Room
Winter offers plenty of opportunities to savor delicious meals. In November and December, your loved ones may gather around your dining table for holiday meals. Later in the season, you might enjoy soups, pies, and other seasonal foods with your immediate family. Set the stage for these events with stylish table decor for winter.
Winter table decor
Winter dining tables often have muted color schemes to reflect the season’s serene hues. Pick two or three complementary colors for your decor. For instance, you could combine white, green, and silver for a forest-inspired palette.
Use your color scheme to select a tablecloth, napkins, and cutlery. A white linen tablecloth looks clean and elegant, while green plates or napkins add earthy tones. Meanwhile, silver or gold cutlery ties the look together with understated elegance.
If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, create name tags to guide guests to their seats. Online tools like let users design placards with winter plants, snowflakes, and other symbols. You can also draw name tags by hand to give your guests a fun souvenir.
Winter table centerpiece
An elegant centerpiece will tie together your winter table and give your guests something to talk about.
Large dining tables can accommodate sprawling centerpieces. Consider filling a long bowl or tray with winter foliage, such as spruce sprigs, roses, and berries. Spray faux white snow on the plants for a fun, frosty touch.
Alternatively, create an attractive centerpiece by arranging winter accessories in the middle of the table. Mix and match different colors and textiles for a balanced look. For instance, you can group slim candles around a round bowl filled with greenery or create a miniature forest with small trees and deer figurines.
As you design your centerpiece, leave enough room for dishes, serving utensils, and other necessities. That way, your decor won’t overwhelm the table.
Outdoor Winter Decor
It might be chilly outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a welcoming yard. You can transform your outdoor space into your seasonal sanctuary with the right winter decorations for your front porch and garden.
Front porch decorations for winter
There are many ways to decorate a front porch for winter.
Hanging a wreath is an easy way to refresh your entryway. A simple evergreen wreath adds color and natural beauty to your door. Tie a bright ribbon to the top of the wreath or cover it with faux snow for an extra touch of festivity.
If you have space, consider placing a small green or white Christmas tree on your front porch. Decorate it with multicolor or white lights to brighten the space during gloomy winter nights. However, avoid ornaments if you live in a windy location.
Garden decorations for winter
Your garden might not look as vibrant in the winter as in the summer, but don’t let it turn into a barren wasteland. Winter decor will inject life back into your garden.
Next, add winter-themed decorations in strategic locations around your garden. For instance, hang sturdy ornaments on a small evergreen tree or wrap fairy lights around bushes. Place small lanterns along pathways to guide your guests, and drape garland along your fence. These decorations will beautify your garden and entice guests outside to explore.
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