Creating Cozy in Your Home

Today’s forecast… frigid!  And, spring seems a million years from now. But don’t despair. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your home has to be on the inside. Here are some ideas to cozy up your home and bridge that gap between holiday and spring decorating.

Add some green. I used to dread when it was time to pack away my Christmas tree and garlands. Oftentimes I’d leave them up just to avoid the winter decorating blues. 


One day I realized it wasn’t Christmas I missed, it was simply the green throughout my home. Bring back the green with a few new houseplants, a terrarium garden, forced bulbs or a moss-covered wreath in your kitchen window. Plants not only fill up cold spaces, they help purify your home.

Create a wintery centerpiece. Save the tulips and daffodils for Easter. Incorporate winter elements such as branches, pine cones or even some small birch logs into an arrangement of faux greenery. Let your decorating be inspired by the beauty of the season.

        

Light some candles. The soft glow of candlelight warms up any room. If you have kids, pets or are just leery about using real candles, flameless candles are a great substitute, and they have the same effect.


Try wrapping a strand of mini, battery-operated white lights around a topiary or plant or add some to a centerpiece. Most have timers and remotes, and some even have a few light patterns to choose from.

 

Change your accent pillows. Warm up your couch with snuggle-inducing pillows in fabrics such as faux fur, wool or velvet. Instead of buying more pillows, buy just the pillow covers and liven up what you have.

     

Fill a basket with throw blankets. Keep comfy throws handy by storing them in a large wire or woven basket near your couch. They’ll be close by for movie nights or just relaxing by the fire.

Clean up the clutter. It is said that extra “stuff” lying around can cause anxiety. So, get rid of it! Recycle catalogs, junk mail and magazines; file important papers; donate clothes you haven’t worn in awhile and pitch any expired foods.

It may still be frozen out there, but a few simple tweaks in your home will lift your spirits and send old man winter packing.