Striving to live a wholesome, self-sufficient, and handcrafted life
How To Create A Cozy Home In Winter
Winter is fully upon us! That can mean a lot more indoor time for many of us as temperatures drop. Many of us (often self included) think of winter as a dreary time of year. But it doesn’t have to be! I love making my home a haven any time of year but especially in winter. This way, when the outdoors can be very uninviting, the home is very inviting! So here are my top tips to create a cozy home in winter!
Let In Natural Light Whenever You Can
This one is so important to do first thing in the morning! Think about it. What is it that is so inviting about the summer months? Warmth and sunshine right! And what is it that is often so dreary about winter time? The lack of warmth and sunshine! So letting in as much warmth and sunshine as is available is a must!
Of course, some days through the winter the sunshine is limited. But especially on days when the sun is shining – embrace it! Pull back curtains and blinds. Choose flowy curtains that you can easily pull back and secure them with a cute tie back. Some days you’ll actually be surprised how much warmth you can soak up from the sun when you let it in through your windows.
Create A Cozy Home With Throw Blankets
My second tip for creating a cozy home in the winter time is to bulk up on the number of throw blankets you have available. I am so much more inclined to cozy up on a couch when there is a throw blanket near by to wrap up in. And the spaces throughout your home are undoubtedly more inviting to your family when filled with cozy blankets at arms reach!
Some places that I love to keep blankets handy include beds, couches, and chairs. This doesn’t have to be overboard to where your space feels cluttered, but a good rule of thumb is at least one cozy blanket through the house for each person. If you spend most of your time in the living room, then concentrate the coziness there. Or if there is another nook in your house that could stand to be more inviting, simply add a blanket or two draped over a chair or folded on an ottoman. It can work wonders!
Bake Cozy Treats For A Little Winter Charm
My next tip is to bake cozy treats – you’ll be surprised how much this will warm up your day on a chilly morning or evening. Not only will this physically warm up your home from your working oven. But it will simply warm everyone’s soul to be sharing in a delicious home baked goodie!
One of my go to recipes has been variations on my Sourdough Lemon Cake . I love swapping out ingredients for a winter version by using orange zest and juice instead of lemon and adding 1 cup of pulsed cranberries. It’s a delightfully sweet treat with a winter twist.
But this is just an example! Any treats that your family enjoys such as chocolate chip cookies or gooey cinnamon rolls would be an excellent choice! Go with what your family loves and your home will be cozier for it!
Make More Soup
Who doesn’t love a steamy bowl of soup to warm up during the winter months?! Soups are not only extremely delicious on a cold winter day, but they are also so very nourishing! Many soup recipes call for a base of bone broth which is loaded with benefits! Bone broth is high in protein and rich in minerals making it an excellent choice for winter when fresh produce can be more difficult to find.
Many winter soups are also loaded with root vegetables making them a great choice for winter when these vegetables are in abundance! If you’re looking for some soup inspiration the choices are endless! For tomato based soups, I love a vegetable soup, chili or chicken chili, or creamy tomato! Some wonderful cream based soups include potato soup, cheesy broccoli soup, or creamy white chili!
Create A Cozy Home With Candles And Dim Lighting
My last two tips go hand in hand. One of my favorite ways to create a cozy home in winter is to make use of candles and dimly lit lighting. Candles of course, serve two purposes – they set the cozy mood and they also smell wonderful!
If you have a fireplace or wood stove this is also a great way to bring some cozy into your home! We don’t have either at the moment, but candles and lamp light can do just as good! The flickering light is so homey especially when curled up on the couch with a cozy blanket!
Embrace Earlier Evenings At Home
This final tip is one of my favorites! (Maybe because I’m a home body)! When the evenings are shorter and there is not as much day light, this is a perfect time of year to settle into cozy evenings at home. It’s probably no secret that I make an effort to push against hustle culture, but this time of year it really doesn’t take much effort! Winter evenings are made for coziness and time spent with loved ones.
Embrace these earlier evenings with some cozy indoor hobbies such as crochet or knitting. Another great option is to start a good book and read either to yourself or allowed to your family. Learn to play an instrument or have fun playing board games with your family!
I hope this post gave you some inspiration to bring the cozy into your home this winter. Instead of counting the hours until spring, have fun embracing these colder months and simply celebrate spring when it arrives!
Be sure to tag us on Instagram or Facebook if with pictures of your cozy winter home! @almostheavenhomesteading
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