When the temperature drops, we expect most humans to begin donning additional layers of warm clothing. But what about our homes? Light and airy interiors can not only look, but feel viscerally cold and uninviting when cooler weather arrives. As a child, both my Mother and Grandmother changed the living and dining room curtains to reflect the new season. It was a tradition practiced by generations gone by, that has all but fallen by the wayside.
As we approach the coldest months of the season, why not consider adding additional warmth and coziness to your interiors? Here are a few easy ways:
1. Dress up your windows. Hang sumptuous velvet or brocade panels to your windows by adding a second curtain rod, or by flanking them aside of your airy sheers. Or if you prefer the look of casually draped yards of fabrics, replace your filmy linen and sheer fabric window scarves with yards of burnt velvet or soft chenille. Letting the scarves puddle to the floor adds extra drama and richness.
2. Bring out the heavy wool area rugs. Many of my clients like the cool and smooth feel of bare hardwood floors under their feet in the warmer weather. Now is definitely the time to add insulation and texture by bringing back the richness of wool area rugs. If you currently have wall to wall broadloom, an area rug will add color and new style placed right over it, either in front of the coffee table or along the sides and at the end of your bed. Very plush, very cozy!
3. Pull your furnishings closer together. We now want to focus more on hunkering down and nesting. Especially if you have a fireplace, there is nothing that says winter more than friends gathering around a crackling fire sipping brandy (herbal tea?), sitting close to each other. If you don’t already own one, invest in a few soft chenille throws.
4. Change the scent of your home. Home scenting has never been more popular than it is today. In October and November, I break out all of my cool weather scents such as cinnamon, spiced pumpkin and gingerbread. The day after Thanksgiving, without fail, I put out the hollyberry, sugar cookie and balsam scents. Evergreen and balsam are particularly nice throughout the winter, until the temperatures start to break. And these days, you can find scents in a plethora of forms, including candles, sprays, potpourri and “plug in” oils and gel packs.
5. “Winterize” your accessories. Many interiors lend themselves to both a “light and bright” as well as “deep and rich” interpretation of their color scheme. Look at your silk centerpieces, interior wreathes candles, pillows and throws. If they are expressing “summer” more than “winter”, its t
ime to change. For example, consider replacing your soft sage, lemon yellow and mauve floral arrangement with one that is olive, butternut and claret. I would bet the deeper arrangement will look just as lovely, just more seasonally appropriate.Jayne Pelosi is an HGTV Designer and the author of "Interior Divine: Walking You Through the Transformation of Your Home". She can be seen at http://www.renaissanceinteriordesign.com/
