20 Cozy And Warming Winter Decorating Ideas For Your Home
How do we decorate after Christmas? Discover 20 enchanting ideas for winter decorating! From cozy blankets to festive wreaths, create a warm, cozy, and inviting atmosphere with these simple yet stylish seasonal touches.
Winter is one of my favorite seasons! I’m one of those rare people who love snow. There’s something magical about snow and the cozy charm of cold-weather days. Winter is the perfect time to create an inviting home aesthetic. At Tanglewood, I celebrate the season in our home by creating spaces that feel stripped-down yet cozy, with layers of softness and warmth.
Let’s explore some winter decorating ideas together! After the Christmas decor is packed away, it’s time to refresh our homes with simple, comforting touches. Here are 20 easy ways to make your home comfortable, attractive, and winter-inspired!
Strip Down Your Decor
Winter is the season of simplicity for me. It’s a time to strip down my decor and enjoy a more pared-back aesthetic. While spring, summer, fall, and Christmas are all about embellishing with seasonal touches and festive decor, winter feels like the perfect time for my home to take a breather. This quieter approach creates a sense of calm and allows my home to feel restful and rebalanced after the busyness of the holidays. No wonder I love the winter season!
Stripping down your decor doesn’t mean your home will feel empty or unfinished. Instead, it’s about removing the excess and letting the beauty of your space shine through. Even our home needs breathing space. Clean surfaces, open spaces, and fewer accessories can feel incredibly refreshing during the darker, colder months. There’s something so soothing about a room with just the essentials and a bit of winter warmth translated through curated decor. Winter decorating is about everything feeling intentional, and every detail matters.
I find that this type of winter decorating isn’t just good for our homes; it’s also good for our souls. A simplified space has a way of inviting peace and quiet into our lives. It gives us room to breathe and focus on what matters, like spending time with friends and loved ones, enjoying a good book or hobby, or simply savoring the cozy comforts of home. As I write this, I keep saying to myself, “No wonder I love winter!”
Does this sound like something you would like to do, too? Start by removing unnecessary clutter and tucking away overly decorative pieces. Keep only the items that add warmth, texture, and meaning to your space. You’ll be amazed at how much more open and serene your home feels with a little less.
Stripping down your decor is like giving your home a fresh start for the new year. It’s a simple yet transformative way to celebrate the beauty of winter. It is one of my favorite winter decorating ideas!
Create A Winter Vignette
One of my favorite ways to transition from the holiday hustle to the cozy calm of winter is by creating a simple and meaningful winter vignette. After stripping our home of Christmas decor and giving everything a good clean, vignettes are my go-to for refreshing spaces. They’re the perfect opportunity to add personality and warmth to a room.
Here’s a simple and foolproof formula to create a winter vignette that exudes style, warmth, and your unique personality:
- Create a grouping of three. Odd numbers work beautifully in design, so gather three main elements or use three distinct groupings of items that vary in height, size, or texture. This keeps the vignette balanced and visually appealing.
- Choose one winter-inspired element. Think pinecones, birch logs, sprigs of greenery, or even a small winter-themed sculpture to make you think of the season. This adds that cozy, wintery touch.
- Add candles. A grouping of pillar candles, tea lights, or a lantern is a must for that warm, inviting glow. Flameless candles work wonderfully for safety and ease.
- Incorporate books. Stack a couple of books with pretty covers or spines that tie into your room’s color palette. They’re great for adding height and personality to your vignette.
- Add one quirky or personal item. Include something unexpected or meaningful to make your vignette stand out, like a framed photo, a vintage find, or even a small piece of art.
- Layer in texture. Keep your vignette interesting by using different textures. Our eyes love texture.
- Finish with your personal flair. Play around with the arrangement until it feels just right, and don’t hesitate to swap out elements throughout the season to keep it fresh.
Remember, creating a vignette is all about storytelling. Use elements that reflect your style and make your space feel like a winter sanctuary.
Add Cozy Pillows
While I love the simplicity of minimal decor in winter, pillows are the one area where I make an exception. They are the perfect way to add comfort, texture, and a touch of wintery charm to your home. Pillows bring softness and warmth to any space, making them a must-have for the season.
Here are some great places to use pillows during the winter to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere:
- Sofas and loveseats: Layer pillows in varying sizes and textures to create a cozy spot for lounging.
- Chairs: Add a single pillow to a reading chair or accent chair for both style and comfort.
- Beds: Winter is the perfect time to pile on pillows for an extra layer of softness on your bed.
- Window seats: Make window seats more inviting with a mix of cushions and pillows.
- Benches: Whether it’s in the entryway, dining area, or at the foot of a bed, pillows soften hard benches and add visual interest.
- Floor spaces: Large, oversized floor pillows are perfect for creating a casual and relaxed vibe in living rooms or cozy nooks.
Using pillows throughout your home is an easy and versatile way to make any space feel cozier and more winter-ready. Mix textures like faux fur, knits, and boucles to keep things visually interesting. Pillows are not just decor; they’re an invitation to relax and enjoy the slower pace of the winter season.
Add A Cozy Throw
In the winter, every sofa in my house, and a few chairs, has a throw draped over it. There’s something so inviting about a soft, textural blanket ready to wrap you in warmth. Throws aren’t just practical for warding off the winter chill. They’re also one of the simplest and most effective ways to add a cozy, layered look to your decor.
The beauty of a throw lies in its versatility. Drape one casually over the arm of a chair or fold it neatly along the back of a sofa to instantly create a warm and welcoming look. Throws bring texture and softness to a room, which is especially important during the colder months when your home should feel like a sanctuary from the chill outside. I love chunky knits, plush faux furs, and soft cashmere throws for winter because they add both visual and tactile warmth.
Make sure to see 6 Ways To Style Decorative Throws.
Harness The Beauty And Ambiance Of Candles
I’ve always loved the warm glow of candles, no matter the season. But in winter, when the days are short and the evenings stretch long, candles play an extra special role in our home. Their golden glow feels like it belongs to the season, wrapping a room in warmth and coziness that’s perfect for those cold, quiet nights.
Candles are one of the easiest ways to make a space feel inviting, their soft light creates a peaceful, romantic atmosphere. And lanterns aren’t just for the outdoors! I use them indoors to cast beautiful patterns of light on the walls, adding even more charm to a winter evening.
For years now, I’ve used batty-operated candles. I have to confess: I would often light candles and forget to blow them out, which meant more than a few U-turns when we were on the road to ensure they weren’t burning! Can you relate? But now, battery-operated candles with realistic flames and built-in timers have changed everything. They turn on automatically, casting their glow without any extra effort from me. While they’re a little more expensive up front, they’re absolutely worth it. Not only do they last for years, but they also let me enjoy the beauty of candlelight without any worries.
In winter, I like to add candles to every room. A cluster of pillar candles on a tray, votives tucked into lanterns, or even a single taper in a simple holder can instantly transform a space. The soft glow of candles is a daily reminder to slow down and let your home bask in a golden glow.
Be Pro Pinecone
One of my favorite decor elements to use from fall straight through spring is pinecones. They’re the perfect natural touch for winter decorating. Pinecones are versatile and effortlessly charming. Pinecones work beautifully in the winter months as interesting accent decor. They bring a bit of the outdoors in, creating a warm and inviting look.
If you’ve been packing up your pinecones with the rest of your Christmas decorations, you might want to get a few back out! Pinecones deserve a spot in your home all winter long.
There are so many ways to incorporate pinecones into your winter decor. Tuck smaller ones into vignettes, bowls, or other arrangements for a subtle, textural touch. Fill a decorative tray with a mix of pinecones and candles for a stunning centerpiece. Or use larger pinecones as standalone accents on shelves, mantels, or side tables. Their simple yet striking beauty makes them a signature element of winter decor here at StoneGable.
So, be pro pinecones! Welcome the beauty of pinecones this winter, and use them in a couple of spots in your home. They’re a small detail that makes a big impact and captures the understated charm of the season.
Add Something Green To Your Winter Home
Adding a touch of greenery to your decor during the winter months can breathe life into your home. Even a small sprig of green can do wonders for a vignette or an entire room. We all need a bit of the freshness something green brings to a room, even in the winter.
Greenery, whether real or faux, adds texture and life that brightens up even the gloomiest winter days.
Every January, I also love to plant herbs in little pots and place them on my kitchen counter, right where they can soak in the natural light from the windows. Basil, thyme, parsley, and mint thrive in this spot, giving me fresh recipe cuttings and a daily reminder that spring is just around the corner. There’s something so uplifting about having something green and growing in your home during these colder months.
Make sure you check out The Ultimate Guide To Grow Herbs Indoors. Adding little pots of herbs to a windowsill or a kitchen counter will make you smile every time you see them.
Diffuse Memory-Making Scents
Winter has a way of awakening our senses, and nothing sets the mood for a cozy home quite like the perfect aroma. Scents are powerful. They evoke memories, stir emotions, and create an inviting atmosphere that makes your home feel uniquely yours. Diffusing seasonal aromas is a simple yet impactful way to make your space extra cozy this winter.
Think about the scents that make you feel warm and nostalgic. Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg bring to mind baking in the kitchen. These scents are my favorite when the weather is cold. Pine, cedarwood, and fir remind me of freshly cut trees. I also love to diffuse orange and vanilla because of their soft, comforting sweetness that brightens even the coldest days.
One of the easiest ways to fill your home with these memory-making aromas is by using a diffuser with essential oils.
If you don’t have a diffuser, make a winter simmer pot with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Not only does it make your home smell incredible, but it also adds a bit of humidity to the dry winter air.
Candles, scented room sprays, and potpourri are other ways to introduce those wintery scents into your home. Place them in areas where you spend the most time so you can enjoy their memory-making aromas. So, light a candle, diffuse your favorite oils, or simmer a stovetop potpourri, and let the magic of scent fill your home this season.
Let The Sunlight In
Winter days may be shorter, making the sunlight even more precious! One of the simplest and most effective ways to brighten your home and lift your spirits during the colder months is to let as much natural light in as possible. Even a small amount of winter sunlight can warm a room and make it feel alive.
Start by pulling back your curtains or raising your blinds during the day to invite sunlight into your space.
Clean windows are another essential for making the most of natural light. Sparkling glass allows sunlight to pour in. Even on cloudy days, you’ll notice the difference. Take the time to clean both the inside and outside of your windows.
Positioning mirrors strategically around your home can also amplify the sunlight. Place a mirror opposite or adjacent to a window to reflect light deeper into the room. This simple trick can make spaces feel brighter and more open, even on dreary winter afternoons.
Letting in sunlight is more than aesthetics. It can boost your mood and make your home feel warmer and more welcoming. So, open up your curtains and let those winter rays in!
More Winter Decorating Ideas
Enjoy the season’s beauty by using these ideas in your winter home…
- Add a winter wreath to a door, mirror, or blank wall for a seasonal touch.
- Use natural wood accents like bowls, trays, or cutting boards to bring rustic warmth to your decor.
- Incorporate frosted or snowy details with faux snow, frosted branches, or whitewashed decor pieces.
- Place a basket of firewood near the fireplace for a cozy and functional winter accent, even if the wood is purely decorative.
- Layer rugs by adding a smaller, textured rug on top of an existing one for added warmth and dimension.
- Add seasonal art or prints featuring winter landscapes, cozy themes, or abstract snowy designs.
- Style a hot chocolate bar in the kitchen or dining room for a fun and functional winter feature.
- Drape faux fur throws over sofas, chairs, or dining benches for extra coziness.
- Fill vases with winter greenery like eucalyptus for a fresh and fragrant touch.
- Bring in metallic accents like gold, silver, or bronze to reflect light and add a subtle shimmer to your decor.
- Display a collection of winter-themed books on coffee tables or bookshelves to celebrate the season.
- Create a cozy corner with a reading chair, a small table, and a stack of blankets and books.
Bonus Ideas
- Switch to winter-themed dishware and linens for your dining table, adding subtle seasonal charm.
- Scatter small bowls of pinecones, dried oranges, or cinnamon sticks throughout your home for natural, decorative accents.
Winter is the perfect season to let the simple style and natural beauty of your home take center stage. With just a few carefully curated things, you can create an inviting space that feels both refreshed and comforting.
Choose a handful of decor elements that speak to you, and start crafting a winter home that’s as beautiful as it is cozy. The season is all about decorating with warmth, simplicity, and the quiet charm that makes winter so special.
Frequently Asked Questions
Winter coziness starts with layering. Think about draping soft throws over your furniture, adding pillows in chunky knits or velvets, and incorporating area rugs to make rooms feel grounded. Use warm lighting like table lamps and candles. They create a beautiful golden ambiance. Give a nod to the season at hand by incorporating textural items like baskets, pinecones, and warm metals. And don’t forget to add a bit of real or faux greenery to add life and a harbinger of the season to come.
Shift the focus from holiday themes to seasonal simplicity. Swap out red and green for neutral tones or wintery blues. Replace overtly festive items with natural elements like pinecones, bare branches, or greenery in simple arrangements. Keep decor understated by focusing on cozy textures, glowing candles, and layers of textures.
Get creative with what you have! Collect decor in your home and use it in fresh, new ways. Use pinecones, twigs, and bare branches from your yard to add natural decor. Swap out pillow covers or add a new throw to bring in a fresh look without spending much. DIY projects like wreath-making or crafting simple garlands with dried fruits and spices can add charm without breaking the bank.
Related Posts To Enjoy
10 Cozy And Easy Winter Recipes To Warm You Up
The Art Of Homemaking: 60+ Decorating Ideas For Women Who Love Their Home
Can You Mix Warm And Cool Colors In Decor
9 Classic Home Decor Trends That Are Always In Style
Happy winter decorating!
Hello Yvonne,
I love all of these winter ideas! I will be moving into a new home in the spring, and I really love the sofa that has your white pom pom pillow on it. The upholstery material is just what i want. Do you know the name of the material, and where you purchased the sofa?
Thank you, Happy New Year!
Hi Gayla, the sofa is from Pottery Barn. MAKE SURE if you buy the comfort sofa like mine you get it with the down! I got a sofa with only the fill and it did not hold up. However, the foam with the down is perfect. I got a performance fabric in ivory. Hope this helps.
May I ask where you got the white woven look bowl that the pine cones are in?
Hi Darlene, this is such a versatile bowl! It’s really a bread bowl but it is great to decorate with too! Here it is:https://rstyle.me/+75-5MvaDl08Tcrf6599Ecw
Love your winter ideas. I’ve taken down the Christmas wreath from my front door. Looking for a replacement suggestion. My front door is bare. Thanks.
Oh yes! See this post for 3 pretty winter wreaths that are easy to make:https://www.stonegableblog.com/three-easy-winter-wreaths-front-door/
I’m in love with your white pom pom pillow. Do you mind telling me where you got it?
Hi Teresa, I found them years ago at HomeGoods.
Hi Yvonne, I would love to know where the lantern by your fire place is from.
Thank you
Hi Nancy, I found it locally. Sorry, I have no source.
Have a goofy question: I love my lighted birch trees in the sunroom for Christmas. Love them so much and the fund light they provide, I don’t want to take them down. Any suggestions
Why not keep them up through the winter if you love them.
I always enjoy your blog. Your ideas are always beautiful and classy! Could you possibly share the pattern for the knitted throw you made? It is lovely and I need to keep my hands busy ( with something besides munching ?)
Thank you!
So cozy! Can you share the pattern for the throw you knitted?
No pattern Maureen. Just knitted it.
I love the beautiful throw you knitted! Thank you for the wonderful winter suggestions.
You are so welcome, Christine.
Love your throw! Can you tell me what yarn you used and what size needles you used? I’d like to try this.
Hi Nancy, I used circular needles. I don’t knit much anymore, so I just kept knitting doubling the chunky yarn and voila! I no longer have the needles.
Yvonne, I loved reading your cozy winter decor ideas! Thanks for always sharing with us! I especially love throws, cushions and flameless candles this time of year! Oh! Yes! And I love pinecones, too. I am going to use your recipe to make a few more bleached pinecones as they are so pretty! Everyone who sees them comments on how pretty they are.
I love those bleached pinecones too! For anyone reading the comments see how to bleach pinecones here:https://www.stonegableblog.com/bleached-pinecones/
I’ve been following you for so many years and always love pretty much all!
Can you share any details of knitted blanket? Needle size, yarn, how many stitches casted on? It’s elegant and simple all at the same time!
Have a great day!
Hi Chris, I wish I would have paid more attention to the details. I made them with thick circular needles and chunky yarn that I doubled. I just knitted. Sorry, I don’t have any more detail.
Hey
I’m looking for for black end table. Could you please tell me where you purchased it. I’ve bought one that you have from Ballards. I love it!
Suzette Gore❄️
Hi Suzette, The end tables are such a good quality! Here’s the link:https://rstyle.me/+g29-qSzO8CfbeenJ4n-M8g