Eight ways to create cozy winter interiors after the holiday decor comes down

My new winter throw pillow and blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

So it’s January…and you’re staring at an empty room devoid of all the cheery decor that’s been up for--what seems like--months. It happens every year, and the feeling can be depressing and cold. 

That’s one way to look at it…But a more positive approach is to use this experience to be creative, as a chance to redecorate with a clean slate. A fresh new start…Isn’t that what January is about? 

I’m all about using design and decor to boost my mood and creativity, and this year’s challenge is to try to incorporate some of the winter home decor ideas I’ve discovered into my own space.
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Use greenery

One of the easiest ways to decorate for winter after the holidays is to leave out the greenery from the holiday or Christmas decor. Stuff basic off-the-shelf garlands with faux eucalyptus, pinecones, evergreen picks, berries, and even faux florals. Greens and neutrals create a tranquil, serene interior environment.
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Faux greenery on my dining room table. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

If you want the benefit of natural fragrance, use real evergreens and eucalyptus. Real greens are only temporary...But while they last, your home will smell amazing! 

Mix live and artificial greens and florals to create beautiful winter floral arrangements, wreaths, garlands, and table decor. Use pine stems, pinecones, and real branches in a vase as a nature-inspired table centerpiece or as part of a vignette.

Use wood textures

One of the best ways to warm up a space is to use decor with wood texture—wood furniture, baskets, wood accents, anything made from natural wood or resembling a wood texture.

Warm wood texture. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

For a rustic touch, use branches from your yard to accent your mantle or in a vase as an arrangement. Piles of wood logs or in a basket provide that extra nature-inspired touch next to a fireplace. 

Decorative woven baskets--used as decor or as storage for logs, blankets, and throw pillows--are an easy way to add texture and style to your living room.

Layer cozy textiles

Want to make your interior space instantly cozy? Layer on the textiles! 

There’s nothing like the warmth of chunky throws, woven blankets, and soft pillows to take the chill out of a cold winter’s day. Slipcovers on furniture can be an inexpensive way to add that next level of texture to your space.

Warm textured blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Keep your feet toasty with area rugs made with faux furs, wool, and sheepskin. 

Add drapes and layers of fabric to windows to add luxurious texture and keep out cold drafts. This can make your space feel incredibly cozy!

Layer lights

Don’t put away those twinkle lights! Twinkle lights and fairy strands create a warm glow and cozy ambiance when used with candles.  Create multiple layers of light with twinkle lights, fairy lights, LED candles, real candles, task and mood lighting…and if you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, light that up too! Even if you don’t have a fireplace, you can use rustic candles to mimic warm fire that illuminates your nature-inspired vignettes.

Fairy lights and LED lit candles on a dining room tablescape. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Little vignette with faux florals and candlestick table lamp. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Play with color palettes

When it comes to winter color palettes, you have options! This is where you get to decide what type of colors you love and which ones make you feel good and incorporate them into your new January decor scheme. Benjamin Moore has some good diagrams and examples of warm and cool color palettes in your space, which you can see here.

(My living room decor: 1. Paisley decorative throw pillow cover from Etsy, 2. Table lamp from Amazon, 3. Side chair taupe slipcovers from Amazon, 4. Decorative throw pillow cover from Etsy, 5. Chenille decorative throw pillow cover in taupe from Amazon, 6. Corliss sofa from Raymour & Flanigan)

Go warm and neutral with creams, taupes, and browns, or embrace white by playing with layers of textures (and even some white bottle brush trees) to add interest. If you like the cooler end of the spectrum but don’t like white, try using combinations of blue, silver, or purple.

Be defiant, and go for the bright colors! Bring out your bright-colored accents and decor. Add bold pops of your favorite color with pillows, blankets, vases, rugs, etc.

Image by Pixel-Shot from Adobe Stock.

Shop your own decor

January is a good time to re-assess the decor in each room in your home. Once the holiday decor gets packed away, you have a clean slate. This is your opportunity to shop your house, move decor around, and redesign your spaces using home decor that you already own. Have fun, re-arrange some furniture, and experiment with space. Let your creativity shine!

Use the sense of scent!

We will miss December’s Christmas candles, but many of the same scents can still be enjoyed in January and February. Cinnamon, cookie, berry, and evergreen scented candles still have their place in your winter decor…unless you’re looking for something new, in which case you can find a myriad of winter scents at your local home goods store. Other ways to introduce fragrance: use potpourri, essential oils, and live plants and flowers. Any fragrance that makes you feel safe and warm in these cold winter months is okay.

Lit scented candle. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Embrace hygge

My last tip isn’t a “thing”…it’s more like a state of mind, and any of the previous tips I mentioned could easily fall under this category. According to Visit Denmark, hygge is a Danish concept of embracing joy. Hygge means surrounding yourself with the sights, smells, and sounds that make you feel content. Make your interior space “hug” you and fill you with uplifting feelings by decluttering and adding home accents that have meaning for you. Find ways to pamper yourself with a cozy reading spot, a hot beverage station, some soft lighting, lots of texture, and a plant or two!

Throw pillow and knit blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

What do you think of these eight tips for redecorating your space in January? How are YOU conquering those post-holiday decorating blues? Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Feel free to drop a comment below!

Related blogs you may want to read:
Nine design trends for 2022
Winter color palette ideas for you home decor
Nine hygge decor ideas
11 interior decorating tips that help reduce anxiety and depression

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