Happy holidays! With all its fanfare, snowfall, and Christmas joy, it can be easy to forget that December is only the beginning of winter.
Don’t let that get your tinsel in a tangle, though! With Jack Frost nipping at our noses, there’s nothing better than curling up at home and hibernating in style. We put together a list of winter tips for decorating your home after the holidays. (It’s easier than you think!)
1. Put Away Ornaments
Whether you start on December 26th or wait til the new year, your first step for transitioning from Christmas decor to the rest of winter is to take down the 100s of ornaments from your Christmas tree and around the house. (You can leave up those wreaths and garlands!)
Not sure what to do with all those ornaments til the next holiday season? A basement or a spare room remodel can be indispensable for stockpiling decorations and other seasonal supplies. Our contractors are storage space experts, take a look at our blog, “Your Basement, Your Bonus Room,” for inspiration: https://christiescompleteservices.com/your-basement-your-bonus-room/.
2. Focus On Your Fireplace
It’s only December, which means more cold days are ahead. Don’t give your fireplace the cold shoulder after Santa’s visit. Keep it up and running all winter with these winter tips:
- Clear our ashes
- Clear away tree limbs
- Store wood away from the house to avoid pests
- Keep anything flammable away from your fireplace
- Consider heatproof glass or safety screens
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
For styling inspiration, take a look at our fireplaces gallery: https://christiescompleteservices.com/work/.
3. Put Out Some Greenery
Use greenery left over from Christmas in and around your home to bring in the “outdoor” wintery feel.
Tip: Take a winter walk to gather pinecones, twigs, and small branches. Bring outside elements in to add a wintery feel to your decor. Bundle larger branches together with twine to decorate your front porch.
4. Accent with Textures
Add throw pillows and blankets around your seating areas for a cozy touch. Use a mix of textures, like fluffy, furry, flannel, etc. They are great for cold evenings cuddled up on the couch.
Like pillows and throws, area rugs are crucial for adding warmth through the cold months. Textured materials like wool, sheepskin, and natural fiber look great – and feel great underfoot too!
5. Good Old-Fashioned Antiques
For many of us, the holidays can be stressful and overwhelming. Winter is the perfect season for spotlighting antiques and heirlooms, evoking cozier, simpler days of yore. (Keep scrolling for ways to incorporate antiques into your porch decor!)
6. Let There Be Light
Just because you take down the tree after Christmas doesn’t mean there can’t be any lights! If you love the cozy glow of the Christmas tree as much as we do, try incorporating a string of twinkling lights into your winter garlands or decor, or better yet, stock up on candles (You just can’t beat that glow!)
Save a few strands of those Christmas lights as you take them off your roof and turn your living room into a cozy winter wonderland.
7. Winter-Inspired Decor
Keep your seasonal accents up all winter long, even after the holidays pass. Elements like snowflakes, garlands, and evergreen trees just scream winter. Add them throughout your home, here and there, on towels, pillows, throws, etc.
The Great Outdoors
Once your interior is brimming with seasonal decor, it’s time to take the party outside:
- Add some cozy curb appeal – cover your seats or swing in soft blankets in bold colors.
- Add some greenery – a beautiful wreath is a perfect way to celebrate every season or place a few live evergreens near the front door. You can also repurpose hanging baskets for evergreen branches or poinsettias (traditional red Christmas flowers).
- Since candlelight is always welcome in winter, try something as simple as mason jars filled with tealights (or LED candles) for an extra rustic charm.
- Add a decorative entry mat for a welcoming touch.
- If your family has vintage snow equipment, like old skis, ice skates, or a wooden sled, prop them up on your deck to create a nostalgic winter tableau.
We hope these ideas create spaces of warmth and love and help you fall in love with your home again this winter. All it takes is a little effort to keep things looking fresh!
Planning a home remodel for the new year? Our team at Christie’s knows the who, what, and how to make your remodel run smoothly. Contact us for a complimentary consultation, and let’s discuss what works best for you.
Happy Holidays from the Christie family to yours!