The winter months can get gloomy and lonely when having to stay indoors all the time. We can get stuck in the mundane routines and the boring, outdated spaces we’ve become so used to seeing.
If you’re like me, you might start to notice the things you said you’d fix as soon as you moved in and now, years later, they are still the same because your mind has become so accustomed to seeing it that way. So, let’s make some change and make it more enjoyable to be indoors! I’ve come up with 5 tips to make your home extra cozy during these cold winter days.
1. Light a Fire or Candles
What’s a better way to warm a place than with a fire in the fireplace! I know not everyone has this option, but if you do, take advantage of getting to cuddle up by the crackling fire. And if you don’t have a fireplace, make your space cozy with burning candles. Not only are candles good for beautiful light and a warm ambiance, but also choose some scents that fill your house with an enjoyable aroma to lift your spirits.
2. Add Warm Textiles for Decor.
When you’re in the coldest months, you’ll take any easy added warmth you can get. So, make your blankets easily accessible in your normal sitting spots. Use them as decor, draped over your favorite chair or hanging on a blanket ladder next to the couch. The same goes for pillows and rugs. Pillows will help create a comfy seating area and don’t forget soft rugs to warm your cold feet as you walk across cold hardwood floor.
3. Do Some Baking
There are only a few things that get my spirits up like freshly baked cookies! If you’re in need of an energy boost, fill the oven with your favorite dessert or baked bread and fill your home with an inspiring scent, and of course a treat for your taste-buds afterwards!
We (of course!) made some fresh baked cookies already, but we also made one of Luke’s favorite homemade snacks: homemade soft pretzels. These are an Auntie Anne's pretzel recipe that Luke's Mom wrote out years ago. We’d love to share it with you so you can fill your home with the fresh smells of soft baked pretzels!
4. Decorate with Flowers and Plants
One of my favorite things to liven up a space is with plants or flowers. Since the outside is cold and brown, you can bring some joy indoors with some potted plants or beautiful flowers placed in a special vase. If you don’t have the greenest thumb, some faux greenery can do the trick too! Add some to your mantle or your table centerpiece to make your space feel extra cozy.
5. Spruce Up an Empty Space
We all have that spot in the house that’s empty or needs updating. Trying switching up your home decor to go along with the season. This is the best way to get out of the slump of the mundane, familiar decor you see everyday. Create a cozy reading corner with a comfy chair, your favorite blanket, and an end table with a bright lamp or your favorite burning candle. And update your wall decor with new seasonal art, or add some texture to your walls with baskets or macrame. I created a tutorial video of our basket wall I hung above our bed. Check it out for some added inspiration to get your DIY ideas flowing.
