Winter Decorating Tips to Warm Up Your Home

Jessica Ackerman - When the cold and blustery days of winter arrive, it's a good idea to add a few warm touches to your home's decor to help counteract the snow and chill. During the winter months, most people find themselves spending more time indoors. What better time to spruce up your home decor and make your indoor world a warmer and cozier place? If you'd like to give your home a winter makeover, here are some decorating tips to help get you started.

Go Big

If you want to keep things simple and less fussy in your home, try using big decorating accents instead of small ones. This technique actually works with almost anything used to decorate your home, from furniture pieces to artwork. For example, use one piece of big wall art to create a bold and attention-getting focal point in a room. If you do have smaller decorating accents that you'd like to use, try combining them into groups instead of displaying them individually. For the winter months, a large winter themed wall sculpture could add the perfect touch. Or try hanging a small quilt on the wall to warm up a room's look.

Use Natural Materials

There's just something about natural materials that work well with winter decorating schemes. Whether you choose to display a big basket of pinecones on your fireplace hearth or hang a few pieces of wooden wall art, the look will be warm, natural and inviting. You could also bring in bare branches from the outdoors, arranging them in a big vase to create a natural display.

Create Cozy Conversation Areas

Since you'll probably be spending more time indoors during the winter months, why not make it a more comfortable place to while away the time? Whether you're simply spending an afternoon alone curled up reading or you're enjoying the weekend with family members and friends, cozy conversation areas will come in handy. If your living room or family room furniture pieces are currently arranged against the walls of the room, try pulling them forward to create small groupings. For example, pull a loveseat and chair closer to the fireplace to create a warm and cozy spot. By creating conversation areas within a room, you'll probably find that it will seem as though your room suddenly got larger and more useful.

Warm Up Your Color Palette

When decorating your home for the winter months, never underestimate the power of color. By simply adding a few warmer shades to your rooms, you'll almost instantly warm them up. If you're in the mood for a new wall color, try using a darker, warmer color. If you prefer light neutrals, rosy beige or a warm cream shade could work well.

You can also add warm colors to your rooms by simply adding a few new decorating accessories. Area rugs, pottery pieces, wall art and lamps all offer great opportunities for adding warm colors to a room. You'll be surprised how much warmer and cozier your home can look, simply by adding a few warm-colored decorating accents.

Jessica Ackerman is a Design Specialist on the Wall Decor & Home Accents website team.