Give Your Home A Winter Look
Does your home need a "Winter Look"?
We are in the thick of the holiday season right now and our homes are filled with pretty decorations, gifts, and lights, but what happens in a few days when the holidays are past? Have you ever gotten excited about creating a “winter” look for your space?
Join our FREE 5-day “Improve your Room Challenge” for design tips and tricks to try with any project including creating your winter look.
Our rooms are welcoming and comforting during the holidays. But soon, all the pretty accents will return to their permanent storage homes for the next 11 months and we’re faced with plain spaces that may not feel so cozy. Now is the time to think about what your space will look like “sans” the holiday decorations.
January is right around the corner and here in the Midwest it means cold, snowy, days and early darkness. It is more important than any other time of the year that your spaces are comfortable and welcoming as we spend the most time indoors this time of year. Fast forward a couple of weeks from now when your decorations are packed away – how do we breathe excitement into your room now that the holidays are over? What is your “Winter Look”?
Throughout the year, we find our clients are eager to freshen their spaces for the seasons – maybe a brighter spring look, a lighter summery look, and a warmer more colorful fall look, but many don’t have a “winter look”. We like to skim past winter and look to spring after the holidays are past. Here winter lasts a LONG time most years so why not create a welcoming, warm, cozy winter look in your space that doesn’t say “holidays”? Start slowly with classic pieces and build a composition over time that you will look forward to seeing every January.
Accessories are the easiest (and least expensive) items to update for a fresh winter look. Start with what you have. I always like to pull everything out and try it in new spaces and arrangements. You already have it so go ahead and try it in a different spot- you can always fall back into the old set up if you don’t like it.
If you can spring for a few new accents, I’m going to walk you through a quick and easy Winter White theme. Here are some ideas for fresh accessories to help you with your vision.
Fur
Anything fur this time of year is a perfect addition. Who wants to lay on a fur pillow in June? Take advantage of the cold weather and add some texture to your fireplace area with a fur throw draped over your favorite chair or sofa.
Candles
Keeping with our stay warm theme, candles can add a small glow and nice scent for the darker days in January. Look for neutral colors with pretty writing – here we show a winter white.
Greenery
A small feathery greenery plant is definitely an on-trend addition to any tablescape. Greens give a punch of nature against the soft white tones.
Update your coffee table
A quick easy way to update your room is a new vignette for the coffee table. The candle and greenery above are a great start. Then add a rustic wintery tray (maybe put the candle on it with your remotes) and place the greenery next to it. Finally, a stack of coffee table books with a fun magnifying glass on the top can finish your look.
Lamps
One way to really brighten the dark winter months is with lamps. Check your existing lamps to make sure you have the brightest bulbs allowable by each fixture. If the lamp is a 3-way, then, by all means, use a 3-way bulb to be able to alter the ambience of the room. If you’re using LED bulbs and you feel the light is harsh, check the Kelvin temperature of the bulb. LED bulbs are now available in the 2700-3000 kelvin range providing a softer warmer light.
If new lamps are an option, then that is probably the best use of your budget. If possible, layout your lamps in a triangular pattern in the room and try to get the height of the bottom of the shade 45” off the floor.
Look at these gorgeous options by Jamie Young. If you need help determining the right height for your room, sign up for our 5 Day Improve your Room Challenge for tips on choosing lamps.
Our free 5-day “Improve your Room” challenge is packed full of tips like these. You’ll receive daily info to consider when doing your own home improvement projects.
Want a little help making your home a Winter haven? – email a photo with your question to info@newperspectivedesign.com. We’re happy to give you a quick tip or two to get started.
Happy New Year
Angie