6 Ways to Warm Up Your Home With Accessories

Winter’s shorter days and colder nights mean the holidays are nearly here, bringing friends and family together to fill our homes with love and laughter. Whether you’re hosting out-of-town guests or just curling up on the couch alone with a warm cup of tea, you can turn your home into a warmer and more welcoming space to spend time in during this chilly season. Layer your living spaces with textures, shine and organic elements to create a cozier home this winter.

Living near the Northern California coast, I don’t experience a winter with snow on the ground, snowmen in the yard and icicles on the eaves. However, there’s a crispness in the air and clear, starry skies that signal a distinct change in seasons. It’s the perfect time for lighting fires in the fireplace, hosting get-togethers or enjoying lazy weekends spent under heaps of warm covers. These easy updates will help you spruce up your home for the winter holidays and create a restful retreat from all the chaos.


Chunky Tassel Throw - $79 Add instant warmth. Drape soft and luxurious throws on chairs, the sofa or the end of your bed for easy access to extra warmth. Thick cable-knit throws are perfect for wrapping around your shoulders while stargazing on the porch, and faux-fur blankets add a sense of luxury to any living space. Fold or roll up throws and place them in a large rattan basket within reach of where you like to unwind. Buy a few extra during the holidays — they make fantastic gifts when left wrapped up in the guest room for visitors.

To Drape a Throw or Fold It?


Light up the night. Candles are an inexpensive way to add a sense of wintry romance. Group them together in clear glass hurricanes or on crystal candleholders to allow the glittering candlelight to reflect off the surface. Put large pillar candles in oversize lanterns on the fireplace hearth or front porch to welcome guests.

Tip: Set different-size candles on a large silver tray for the perfect centerpiece or scatter votives in unexpected places, like on the bathroom counter or an entry table.




Go for luxury underfoot. Take your regular floor coverings to the cleaners and substitute a flokati or shag carpet for the winter. The long fibers and fluffy texture will create a supercomfortable place for your stockinged feet. Bright white flokatis are gorgeous against dark wood flooring and are heavenly to sit on while flipping through those holiday catalogs.


Tip: If you're not ready to switch out all your rugs, try a smaller and budget-friendlier approach. Layer small sheepskin rugs over dining chairs or occasional chairs for added comfort and warmth.


Chambers Side Table, Set of 2 - $349 Mix in metallics. Metallic decor radiates light and holiday cheer. Switch out a few small pieces with silver or gold accents to add sparkle and glamour. Place a gilded drink table next to your favorite chair or put a gold-toned table lamp in place of your current one in the living room. Stack small silver boxes on the mantel or on the coffee table for extra shine.



Use winter whites. We often turn to white in summer, when it's hard to imagine being surrounded by anything else in the oppressive heat. But white can actually be warm and wintery too. Set the perfect winter table by draping it first in a crisp white sheet — you don’t need a fancy tablecloth to create a winter wonderland. Layer a vintage lace tablecloth over the sheet; try an ivory one for texture and depth. Use simple white or cream-colored linen chair covers to give your dining room a laid-back luxe feel. Add a metallic table runner, white plates, crystal candleholders and silver or gold cutlery to complete the mood.


Tip: Simple arrangements of branches in silver containers adorn any winter-time table perfectly. Stark yet stunning, they add height, interest and texture.



Include a fantastical touch. Nothing says the holidays like twinkling lights. A single strand of white fairy lights around a door or window or across a mantel would add just enough sparkle to feel special. String one around the mirror in the guest bath or in a group of empty cylindrical glass vases with the cord tucked discreetly behind.

More: Easy Sparkle: String Lights for Christmas and All Year

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