As the last of the trees shake off their leaves and the frost begins to settle, many of us will feel the desire to return to our houses and transform them into warm cubbyholes for the winter, a place where we can snuggle up and watch the wind blow and the rain fall from the inside.
Much like to the clean blankets of snow that drape the landscape in old-fashioned pictures, or the sets in our favorite Christmas films, winter lends itself to sparsity and simplicity, and so when it comes to interior design, minimum work can lead to maximum effect.
To begin, I would suggest painting your wall a plain white, which will instantly brighten up the space and combat the dark winter evenings. White matches the season and can act as a strong base for further decorating. Silver goes particularly well with white, and the two together are a classy combination for the frosty months, avoiding the traditional green and red which can appear gaudy and more ‘Santa’s Grotto’ than ‘Winter Wonderland.’
A touch of green however – whether in the form of a tree or a couple of garlands purchased from your local garden center – will never go amiss, especially against the colder white and silver, injecting a little life, like a premature spring bud. This works the other way around as well, so I would suggest placing some silver amongst the green of your tree, hanging baubles and other decorations at varying depths, like snowdrops or icicles.
If green isn’t the color for you – or vacuuming up all those pine needles just drives you mad! – then I would recommend purchasing some pillows in bronze or chestnut, evoking the last of the autumn leaves, quivering in the winter breeze and glazed over with frost in the mornings.
If you want to become more adventurous with your redecorating think of Winter fashion and pick yourself up some fur rugs to lay on the floor. More than simply aesthetically pleasing, these rugs can act a great comfort in the dark winter mornings, allow your feet to sink into the warm fur and reject slippers forever.
If not fur, then why not try tartan, which has been all the rage the last couple of winters and is sported by celebrities across the globe. You can grab yourself a few tartan rugs, or go on the hunt for armchair, sofa and pillow covers in the Scotch style. (You may even want to go one step further, investing in some tweed, and making a little highland winter lodge for yourself, complete with log fire and quarry slates on the wall.)
As one can enjoy wrapping up in a good coat in winter and still look fabulous, so one can go a little crazy with throws, chucking them over sofas, beds and armchairs. As well as looking great when you host your mince pie and mulled cider evening, you can pull these throws about you when the neighbors have left and snuggle up to watch It’s a Wonderful Life while roasting chestnuts.
Don’t shy away from the hand-knitted either; with British Vogue model Lily Cole is promoting granny-knitted bobble hats this season and with the rise in vegan knit-wear – I’m talking hand-made from cowl and cotton – there is nothing frumpy about keeping warm this Winter, whether inside or out and about.
Finally, if every man’s home is his castle then every girl’s bedroom is her palace – her bed, the throne. More throws can be added here and on top of them why not create a little of tower of cushions, soft and shimmering. Invest in some good pillows as well, this site here offer a great selection from feather to foam to down, supportive and sensuous, creating a beautiful bed spread. In such a room, you can appreciate winter in comfort and style, enjoying peaceful nights, and waking up to the bells of advent.
Jessica Fletcher – Fashion and design enthusiast, Jessica is a freelance writer and lover of crafts.
