How do I Warm up my Home or Cottage Decor for Winter?
As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, our homes begin to play a different role. In summer, they’re launching pads for busy days and open doors; in winter, they become havens. This is the season of blankets, firesides, slow mornings, and quiet weekends at the cottage. Thoughtful design can make those moments feel even more special.
A Hudson Bay wool blanket is at home in this Sturgeon Point cottage along with a green wall colour that blends seamlessly against pine ceilings.
Whether you’re cozying up at home or heading to your cottage on winter weekends, here are some design ideas to help your spaces feel warm, welcoming, and ready for the season.
Textile artist Liz Pead hand woven wool blankets in tartan patterns are a beautiful way to layer a winter look into a room. Shop here: https://colbornegallery.ca/search?q=liz%20pead
Warm Up Your Palette!
Winter is the perfect time to shift your colour palette for your home or cottage. Bring in warmer tones like soft terracotta colours, deep greens, ochres, and warm neutrals. Being inside always makes people want to repaint a room or two to make way for a change! These deeper colours will make a room feel cozy and grounded. It’s also the time when we start thinking about guest rooms for the holidays.
Swap out cool summer linens for textured fabrics like velvet, wool, or flannel.
Add earthy accents like clay, rattan, or brass for warmth.
Even small changes like switching your throw pillows or adding a darker area rug can make a big visual impact.
Focus on Gathering Spaces
This holiday season, think about ways you can design your home and cottage for connection. From great rooms to guest rooms there are ways to bring the season to each space and create a cohesive, inviting atmosphere.
Rearrange furniture to make seating more intimate around a fireplace or coffee table.
Create a games or puzzles corner.
Add extra seating like poufs, stools, or floor cushions for spontaneous get-togethers.
In cottages, multi-purpose furniture (like benches with storage or convertible sofas) makes winter weekends easy and flexible.
Organizing furniture around the fireplace or a game table can add that extra seasonal feel that suggests indoor time.
Seasonal Scents and Decor
Scent plays a powerful role in how we experience a space. It’s also the one thing that guests notice as soon as they enter your home. We may not notice since we are a constant in our own rooms, however adding seasonal scent can go a long way to making family and friends feel welcome.
Introduce winter fragrances like cedar, pine, cinnamon, or vanilla with new candles or diffusers.
Decorate with natural materials like evergreen boughs, pinecones, or birch logs for a seasonal touch that feels organic and not overdone. These elements tend to make people think about scent as well! Bit of a psychology meets décor play!
Sprigs of greenery act as décor and accessories when layered onto shelving and hardware handles. Let the soft scent of pine and spruce greet guests upon arrival.
Embrace the View
Think beyond just your indoor rooms. What are the various views that guests are taking in throughout your home or cottage? Is there an opportunity for outdoor lights around a focal point like a post, fence or window? Letting in natural light is also a way to keep things cozy with afternoon winter sun and to make the days longer.
Position cozy seating areas near windows so you can enjoy the view with your morning coffee or evening drink.
Build a snowman or other kind of outdoor sculpture to see from indoors. An outdoor Christmas tree visible from a large window is always a comforting seasonal reminder to slow down and enjoy the passage of time.
Decorate your porch with seasonal accessories to add charm and interest to your entrance.
In cottage country, it’s fun to set up a fire pit right outside your door and create a welcome station that signals to the kinds of activities you can consider while visiting.
A seasonal capture on Sturgeon Lake reminds us of how to connect to the outdoors!
Create a Sense of Ritual
Part of winter enjoyment comes from simple routines that make the season feel special:
A tea or coffee station for slow mornings.
A reading nook with layered lighting and blankets.
At the cottage, maybe a hot chocolate tray or a rack for snowshoes by the door.
These little design touches encourage you to slow down and savour the season. Winter can be something to enjoy. With thoughtful design choices, your home or cottage can become a warm, comforting place that celebrates the best parts of the season: connection, rest, and beauty in simplicity.
A tucked-away game table with seating makes for a private coffee spot or a place for cards in our Sturgeon Lake project.
Throws and a cozy corner wood stove do double duty in this primary suite we designed for a shared cottage space.
Seasonal décor is all around us and can add to our cozy holiday spaces.
At Home by Tim + Chris we are always exploring beyond the ordinary. We are excited to continue designing your Kawartha Lakes home and cottage lifestyle! Design, that is driven by us but highly influenced by you!
Our Project Portfolio: https://www.homebytc.ca/projects
Latest blog posts: https://www.homebytc.ca/space
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If you have a design question you would like to submit for the next Town Crier issue, you can send it to the Home by Tim + Chris design team at: info@homebytc.ca
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