How do you keep your home feeling cozy all Winter long?
Are there favorite scents that only occur during the Winter, favorite dishes to prepare, maybe for guests?
Fond memories related to snow with your nose pink from the frosty air?
I remember my Mother saying, “Winter is miserable…dark and long.”
It’s true that everyone has their favorite season, and you can see that I didn’t hear too much too often about the benefits of Winter, other than the anticipated arrival of baby Jesus followed by Santa Claus! I for one, remember my brother and I being pulled on a wooden sled by my father, as we headed to the local park. The very best memories, that yes, included snow.
Outside my office window there is nothing but snow, which leaves me searching through my home looking for areas that should and could be a bit “cozier, warmer, more welcoming”.
I’ve gathered three distinct “ways to create cozy” for these winter months, both now and ahead that will make you NOT want to leave your home.
January is the time of year when we seek warm and welcoming interiors, fireside chats where we want to linger, and time in the kitchen filled with the scents of slow-simmering soups, stews, a simmer pot, and if we’re lucky, freshly baked bread and sweets.
Baking bread is a scent straight from my grandmother’s kitchen, a memory that makes me smile every time I think of it. She would immediately, after removing the loaf or rolls from the oven, brush the top crusts with butter. Watching that butter turn to golden liquid and drip down the sides of the bread, was mesmerizing.
What’s your favorite kitchen scent? Is it related to a particular season?
The above photo is my laundry room, with a Target lamp with a gingham shade in front of my block print wallpaper, similar colors, different patterns used. I felt they combined beautifully with my vintage washboards, wooden clothespins and vintage art.
Have you tried the block print fabrics yet, in linens and also in wallpaper?
I’ve always found that color and a mix of patterns always creates a “warm atmosphere,” and an aged, collected look. Patterned pillows, ginghams, stripes and florals combined, visually create a cozy-quilt type of comfort during the winter. No matter the season, comfort is always key at home, for yourself, your family and guests alike.
Years ago, Laura Ashley, a Welsh born businesswoman, began block printing Victorian-themed headscarves for women, later her company grew to include home decor linens and wallpaper, both in England and the U.S.A. Her block printed products became known as an English Cottage look, and I have to say that that style has always been one of my favorites, and it still is.
Are you looking forward to Spring?
Using bright and vibrant floral block prints would brighten any guestroom.
Light.
Are you a scented candle lover?
Lighting a candle every night after the kitchen is cleaned and the dishwasher hums, is a routine I’ve had since my girls were little. A scented candle usually takes a couple of hours lit before the scent fills an entire room. Better yet, if you have a fireplace, light a fire and sit back to enjoy it’s warmth, light and crackle.
Take all of the little dark corners in your home and add a tiny lamp, a candle, or a string of fairy lights. The tiniest glow or twinkle will lift your spirits.
Textures.
Have you ever dressed a toddler to play outside in the snow, literally stuffing them into a snowsuit?
When the weather is damp and cold, we reach for a sweater, a soft and fuzzy sweatshirt, a scarf around our neck, mittens or gloves, wool coats and socks…. the way we dress our children to “play outside” in the winter, is the same way we should layer on textures in our home. It’s all about layering!
For example, every bed in my house has an extra “throw” at its foot, the bed has blankets aplenty, sheets, pillows, a comforter…but the throw screams warm and cozy, right when you walk into the room. I also have a large basket in our family room which holds blankets and throws for “movie night”, and it’s been proven that each of these blankets can induce a coma as soon as the movie starts!
However, there is one problem without a solution: my husband will carry the blanket from one room to the next, depending on the TV we’re watching, and will fall asleep under a blanket that does not “coordinate” with its current location. However, the first person to fall asleep will most certainly have their popcorn eaten by everyone else!
What are some of your favorite ways to create cozy in your home?
Is’ve mentioned a few things that I try to be aware of, such as scents, colors and patterns, adding light and soft and warm textures. Combined, I don’t think you can go wrong, and the best thing is, that you can add one or two at a time to a shelf, a room or your entire house.
Home is where you live, you love and you grow, in time your home will grow along with you.
Stay warm my friend!
xx,
