Transitioning Decor from Fall to Winter
As fall winds down, it’s time to give up your pumpkin spice lattes and shift into hot-cocoa-and-peppermint mode. And your palate isn’t the only thing ready for a change. From pine-scented garlands to magical glittering lights, the winter months offer many ways to infuse your home with the textures, colors, and scents of the season.
Opt for a winter wreath
Switch out your autumn-leaves wreath for one with winter greenery like evergreen, eucalyptus, or pine, adding a ribbon accent in shades of white, blue, or silver to convey the coolness of the season. Or go more rustic and minimalist with a bare pine cone wreath.
Swap out porch decor
Before you know it, those cute pumpkin faces you carved in October will start to transform into more sinister and stinky scowls. Now is a great time to say sayonara to the gourds and replace them with more wintry items like big metal lanterns or mini faux frosted trees in white planters.
Add outdoor lighting and decorations
Nothing emphasizes the beauty of winter like lights. Whether you are aiming to be the neighborhood champion of holiday displays or simply want to come home to a cozy glow, decorating with string lights or even a projector can help you achieve your vision.
If you have trees in your front yard that are accessible, create an outdoor tableau by hanging various ornaments and lights on them. For extra effect, place a spotlight at the base of the trunk to illuminate the branches and decorations. And, of course, no judgment if you decide your display isn’t complete without an inflatable snowman or a whole team of reindeer. Decorate with your heart!
Bring the glow in
The outside isn’t the only place to incorporate lights. In your main living space, turn off your bright overhead lights and lean into softer table lamps for an intimate ambience. Or go a step further and arrange electric or wax candles of various shapes and heights on your tables or in your windows for a hygge-like environment that would make the Danes proud. You could also string fairy lights around banisters and across mantels to carry the holiday magic through your home.
Layer with soft furnishings
If maximalism was a season, it would be winter. This time of year is all about adding elements, especially since the greater the number of layers, the better insulated you are from the cold. Play around with adding smaller rugs on top of large area rugs or carpets, and stock up on blankets and throws in winter textures like chunky boucle, faux fur, and wool. Besides keeping you warm, they’ll also create an intimate and comfortable space that beckons you to curl up on the couch with a good book or cup of tea.
Break out the quilts
Chilly months are an ideal excuse to showcase thick quilts and bedding that would normally be too heavy for other seasons. Whether it’s an heirloom with sentimental value or simply a modern pattern that brings you joy, these pieces are simple and elegant solutions to any winter bedroom makeover.
Infuse the space
Smell is our most primitive sense, and it’s also the only one that gets processed in the parts of the brain that are linked to emotion and memory. Bringing certain scents into your spaces can evoke nostalgia and remind you of treasured memories like baking gingerbread cookies with family or drinking mulled wine with friends. Explore other winter scents, such as peppermint, vanilla, cinnamon, or pine, via candles or plug-in air fresheners to keep your home smelling comforting all season long.
Use natural elements
Garlands are quintessential decor for winter—and for good reason. These lush and flexible branches of pine, spruce, or fir smell like a forest and add a touch of the outdoors to any room. They’re also a verdant canvas for accents like pine cones, red berries, lights, and artificial snow, any of which can quickly transform your home into a winter wonderland.
Revamp your table setting
Bring the enchantment of the season to your dining room with an upscale, snow-inspired table. Choose a white or cream damask with a bit of shimmer or a subtle pattern; to create even more interest, layer a white lace cloth overtop. Highlight the center of the table with a chunky frosted garland adorned with soft-white twinkle lights, adding metallic-white globe ornaments and small faux trees in a white hue. As a finishing touch, nestle white votive candles throughout the garland and in between the trees. Crisp white dishes or delicately scalloped ivory plates would both look beautiful with this tablescape.
Decorating for the season is all about infusing warmth and sparkle into our homes through the magic of lights, delicious smells, and cozy textures. Use these tips to transform yours from an autumnal haven to a winter respite.