Woodsy and Warm: Winter Decorating Tips

It’s winter, and the holidays are over. How do you decorate? There are lots of “looks” you can go for, and one of the most popular is the “woodsy and warm” look. This look can take many forms, from a remote cabin look to a more “winter wonderland” effect. Here are some winter decorating tips for a woodsy and warm look for your home.

1. Start with Your Furniture

To create a warm feeling, arrange your living room furniture to encourage interaction and conversation. (When you’re taking down holiday decorations is a great time to do this.) Think intimacy and conversation. Draw chairs and couches together so they’re facing each other, and put a throw rug down in the center. A coffee table in the center also adds to the conversational atmosphere.

2. Natural Decorations

The woodsy look is not just about putting wood items everywhere. Rough, unfinished wood has a warmer look to it, and so does wooden furniture that’s finished in warm, earthy tones. So think of adding this element in the form of accessories – wood-based lamps, candle holders, and picture frames are a good place to start. Then you can go for natural branches and leafy garlands for decoration.

3. Soft Fabrics and Cushions

A warm look often means a soft look. Rustic furniture can be softened and “warmed up” by adding soft, plump pillows in warm colors. Draping blankets and knitted throws over couches and chairs also soften things up and provide a warm, inviting look. Focus on warm and natural colors, like rust, dark red, sage green, and brown-gray.

4. Wool Throw Rugs

Nothing says “warm” like a wool throw rug, especially one that covers a large area. Wool is a natural insulator, and it really can help make our home warmer (in a very literal way!). Warm colors and soft patterns help add to the effect.

5. Pewter Accessories

Have you ever seen pewter teapots, coffeepots, mugs, plates, and so forth? They give such an antique, simplistic look to a room. See if you can decorate with pewter accessories around the room, maybe combining the natural decorations with the pewter (decorative twigs in a pewter pitcher, maybe?).

6. Wall Art

In the Middle Ages, people hung tapestries on the wall for decoration and also to help block drafts and add warmth to a room. You can do the same thing. Some blankets and rugs are wall-worthy, with scenes of animals and nature or patterns that are warm and interesting. Tack something like this onto your wall for a very woodsy, warm look.