How to make your home cosy for winter

It’s time to settle in and make your home a cosy haven for the cooler months ahead. Try these simple interior style updates to prepare your home for days spent enjoying winter from the comfort of your own abode. 

Firstly, it’s all about layering. This easy style update will create warmth with different textures that you can snuggle up in (movie night anyone?). To successfully layer in your home, utilise accessories with different piles. These are the tufts or loops of fibres and yarns that stand up from the base fabric. A leather sofa paired with velvet cushions and a wool throw work perfectly together as they all have varying piles. You can use layering throughout your home from placing throws over occasional chairs to beds and bench seats.

Aurora Throw from Pillow Talk

Don’t forget to swap out your cushions for an affordable and effective seasonal update to transform your interior. Choose cushions that feature textural fabrics like boucle, wool and felt. 

Winter months also call for a refresh of your bedding with layered fabrics including flannelette as a base for a great night’s sleep. You can also incorporate natural materials in your bedding like linen and bamboo, which are known for regulating body temperature to keep you snug on those chilly evenings. 

Adairs Loreto Brown Sugar Velvet Cushion

If the cold weather is keeping you inside, bring the outdoors in by adding a touch of nature. Introducing indoor plants in your home can help purify the air and recreate the relaxing vibe of being outside. And don’t worry if you’re not a green thumb! There are some gorgeous artificial plants available that look realistic and require no maintenance.

To brighten up your home with some faux greenery, try the Home Republic Fiddle Fig Potted Plant from Adairs. Plus, incorporating natural materials like timber, rattan and leather can also add instant warmth to your space.

As the days get shorter (and colder), use lighting to replace the disappearing sunlight and create a comfy ambience in your home. We recommend complementing your existing ceiling lights with floor lamps and table lamps in varying heights and sizes to brighten up dark corners and create cosy nooks for reading. Always opt for warm globes over cool globes to create a softer and more natural look. Lamps that feature semi-opaque shades are also a good option for diffusing light and providing a more subtle glow inside your abode. We can’t go past the Aahana Glass Chrome Floor Lamp from Early Settler

A quite literal way to warm up your home is with heating. To determine the most effective and economical type of heating for your abode, you will need to consider how often you will use your heater and the size of the space you intend to heat.

If it is only a small area (like a home office), then an electric heater is a cheap and portable option that can be moved around easily for your convenience. And although a bigger investment to begin with, reverse-cycle air conditioners are very efficient and economical for the amount of heat they generate. Another option for those looking to heat larger areas for longer periods of time are gas heaters, which are generally more efficient and cost effective than electric types.

If you’re on the lookout for a statement feature that will stand the test of time, installing an electric fireplace may be the perfect option for adding both style and warmth into a space. If you need expert guidance to select heating, we recommend taking a visit to Harvey Norman for their extensive range to suit every budget and home.

Dimplex Mantel from Harvey Norman

When updating your interior for the cooler months, it’s also important to consider flooring. If you have concrete or timber flooring, now is the time to invest in cosy rugs for areas such as the hallway, living area and bedrooms. In spaces that already have an area rug, you can layer another one on top for even more warmth.

When choosing the rug fabric, we recommend wool because it is both insulating and durable (perfect for high-traffic areas and little kids). We love the Eastern inspired Meraki Floor Rug featured in a dusty pink from Koala Living. 

Finally, a smart way to stop the cold air from entering your home is to switch out those summer sheers for long, thick drapes. Not just for looks, drawing curtains in the late afternoon can assist to trap in the warmth and stop the flow of cool air into your home through glass windows.

The ideal length of curtains is floor to ceiling; however they should hover slightly above the floor to prevent dust and avoid becoming a trip hazard. For the best insulative results, a tip is to ensure that your curtain total width is two to three times larger than your window width. We love the Selina Blockout Eyelet Curtain in Sapphire from Curtain Wonderland for a dramatic, luxe touch to your interior.