Create a cozy winter home with these 10 decorating ideas.
You’ve taken down the Christmas decor and your house looks…naked. You’re asking, “How can I decorate my house in January?” Looking for non Christmas winter decorations ideas? Help is on the way! Winter decor can be just as fun and inviting as any other season. You just need to know what to use, right? Here are 10 Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Winter Home.
10 Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Winter Home
Accent Pieces with Good Architecture are a Great Foundation for Winter Home Decor
Classic vintage pieces are a great backbone for winter decor. Often they’re in neutral colors of black, whites, creams, so you can add them to any room of your home.
Here are some of pieces to build on:
- scales
- cameras
- clocks
- suitcases
- globes
- typewriters
- drawers
- architectural wood pieces
Next Add Accessories with Subtle Surface Texture
Wintertime decor is the perfect time to feature accessories with subtle surface texture. Whatever textures you’re drawn to can be incorporated into your winter decor, whether it’s rough or shiny. Just make sure it’s color is quieter than the loud Christmas decor you just put away.
Textured accessory ideas:
- milkglass
- faceted clear glass
- pottery
- different metals: galvanized, aged copper, vintage brass
Candlesticks are an Easy Extra for Winter Decor
Thrifted candlesticks are a great addition to cozy winter decor. They can be found inexpensively in all varieties. Or, if you have an overabundance of extra table and chair legs in your garage, you can repurpose them and make your own {“DIY Repurposed Candlesticks with Sheet Metal Shades“}.
Vintage Books are a Decorator’s Secret Sauce
If you don’t have a stash of vintage books, go out and find some, asap! You can never have enough of their decorative powers. Bang for the buck; you can do so many things with them…all through the year. But winter decorating is when their beautiful subtle textures look the best!
Check out: “Decorating with Vintage Books: The Different Types You Should Find”
and “Decorating with Books, 101 and Beyond”
Paper Crafting is Perfect for Cozy Wintertime Decor
Since you’re going to be picking up some vintage books, rip out a few pages and do some paper crafting! Paper accents from vintage books, maps, and music add a great texture to winter decor. And it’s basically free!
You can use your shredder to whip up some great filler to add to wood and glass accessories. You can create simple garland by gluing or stapling shapes to lengths of yarn or twine. Drape it anywhere for an instant, fun accent.
Faux Foliage Brings New Year Life to Winter Decor
Faux foliage is the best way to beat the winter blahs. Combine evergreens with succulents and any type of classic greenery. The blue and gray-toned foliage will be more fitting for winter. If you bring yours out of storage and it’s dusty and tired looking, check out “How to Clean Artificial Plants“.
Rustic, Organic Textures are Perfect for Cozy Winter Decorations
Scrounge your yard or a neighbors for sticks, pinecones and fallen branches to cut up. These organic textures bring a natural element to your vignettes that just can’t be beat.
Here are some to add:
- pinecones
- log slices
- sticks
- birchbark
- wood slices
- acorns
- moss & lichen
Incorporate Soft and Warm Textures into your Winter Displays
Use an old scarf as a runner, sew up an old sweater for a pillow cover, or wrap styro balls in yarn. Just seeing these warm textures will make you feel cozy and warm!
Use Textural Fillers…in Anything!
Vintage hoarders rejoice! Whatever bits and bobs you can scrounge up can be elevated into art when grouped together. Old spools, clothespins, buttons, rulers, paintbrushes, letters-corral it all and enjoy it’s visual interest!
These subtle-colored vintage beauties fit right in with quiet, cozy winter decor.
The last two winter decor ideas bring “life” to your vignettes:
Woodland Animals Add a Touch of Whimsy and Life
Whether they’re older ceramic figures, softer craft-store varieties or textural versions, seeing a little face peeking out can add some fun to your accessorizing (and can make for a fun “I spy” game with the littles).
Here are some animals I like to add to my winter vignettes:
- owls
- deer
- raccoons
- winter birds
Last, but definitely not least…
Fight Away the Darkness of Winter with Light
Whether it’s real or faux candles flickering, or little strings of fairy lights, the twinkle and glow make the dark nights more bearable. Dark, winter evenings can become a special part of wintertime, rather than a time to be endured.
Hopefully you won’t ever have to ask, “How can I decorate my house in January?” again! There are so many wonderful, textural accessories you can use to make winter a special and cozy time in your home. Non Christmas winter decorations are plenty! Hope you enjoyed this 10 Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Winter Home and are inspired to fill your home with wintertime beauty!
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Thank you for all of the helpful tips! I love changing from Christmas to Winter, and I’m always looking for new ideas!
Thanks, Cherryl! So glad you found it helpful! Happy decorating:)
This is loaded with helpful tips for beautiful and interesting winter vignettes! Pinned
That was my goal, Marie! Inspiration for the after-holiday burn-out!
Thanks, Amber! Glad you enjoyed it!
This is such a great post! Pinning and featuring tomorrow at TFT!
Great list. I like all of these suggestions. Now I feel the need to visit some thrift stores. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, Donna! Any day I can go to a thrift store is a good day;)
I really like all of your ideas. I find I am leaning towards the neutrals after all of the holiday color and glitz. I will be using your ideas around my house.
Wonderful, Debra! The subtle colors help my eyes & my brain rest a little after the holidays! They also feel cozier, since we’re still very much in the depths of winter!
Wonderful decor elements! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Thanks, Cecilia! Your welcome!
Oh I love this round up of such wonderful ideas! I ADORE the vintage light shade turned candle holder!
Glad you enjoyed it, Laurie! I have a couple old light fixtures that look beautiful with a glimmering candle inside-especially in the winter:)
Love the woodland animals. I just redid my bookshelves and relined the backs with new paper since I had to take down the Christmas design. It was really sad how empty everything looked but once I started rearranging and added some live plants it brighten up the room. Our little potted Christmas tree is out in the garden now, I hope it survives the year so we can use it next year. Always love visiting your site, you have fun ideas, thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome! Thanks for your sweet compliments:) I love the idea of swapping out the backdrop paper seasonally-I bet it gives you a whole new look instantly! We used to do the same thing with fabric at my store; such a great way to get a whole new look.
Great ideas!
Thanks, Michelle! Have fun decorating with those new chairs!