Winter is here, and that means it’s time to rug up, stay in and sip on a cup of soup, hot chocolate or a bold red wine by an open fire, while you work out where to start the myriad of DIY projects you’ve set aside till another day! In many ways, winter is when a home really feels like a home, with delicious slow cooked meals scenting the air and everyone snuggled up in the warmth. A change of season is also a great time to restyle your interior and your outdoor spaces. Here are our tips to help make your home winter-friendly and feel extra cosy:
- Think about heating your home.
There are several steps you can take to fill your house with warmth. When the temperature drops, there is nothing more appealing than a cosy fire. Gas fires are becoming increasingly popular and offer everything you love about having an open fire, without the hard work that goes with it. Contemporary and efficient gas fires are available as free standing or built-in options, and are a must-have to bring warmth into your home. Or, if you are lucky enough to have the real deal fireplace or wood stove, it’s time to stock up on firewood and keep it dry.
You can also stop the flow of heat escaping through your windows by swapping any thin, summer curtains for thermal curtains, which can be found at most home design stores. It may also be useful to go through your home and make sure you close any gaps and cracks that may be sneaking through that could let the cold air in. Why not learn a new craft and make your own draft door stopper? There are so many innovative ideas online!
- Blankets, knits and rugs are a must.
Replace or add more blankets, knits and rugs and drape them over your sofa, over your bed, and over your favourite reading chair, to make sure you are cosy in every room. Bring out the winter bedcovers, blankets and cushions to make your rooms feel warmer and welcoming, and make sure to opt for some extra layers and thickness at every opportunity to ensure you’re prepared for those cold winter nights. But—an important note—if you have a pre-existing colour scheme throughout your home, make sure you abide by the design rules you’ve already set yourself and stick to your scheme when purchasing new blankets and rugs to fill rooms with—especially if they’ll often be on show for guests.
Have you ever learnt how to knit? If not, now is a great time to pick up the needles again. If you’ve never learnt, there are some great “knitting for beginners” videos online and winter gives you plenty of time to learn a new skill. There’s also a great website called loveknitting.com.au that has plenty of ‘how to’ guides and thousands of free patterns – all you need is to grab some needles, head out to your closest craft store for some yarn, and get started on your own homemade blanket!
- Opt for home décor that appeals to your senses.
Although they may often be overlooked, the little things like home décor and ornaments really do matter. Home décor can make such a difference to the interior of your home in the cooler months, to make you feel more comfortable and cosier in your environment. For example, you might consider implementing some new, typically ‘winter’ scents to your home. Think cinnamon, vanilla, freshly baked cookies, or anything with musky undertones. Winter is the perfect excuse to stock up on your candle collection or to buy a diffuser or some more essential oils to make your home feel more relaxing and pleasant.
Texture and colour schemes are an also important consideration during the cooler months. Opt for fabrics like velvet, wool and cashmere to add warmth and texture to rooms. In terms of colours, this season typically calls for saturated, deep shades such as reds, dark greens, oranges and purples, in order to combat the grey hues that appear outside or are shining through windows. On the other hand, you may want to embrace cooler tones and opt for a winter wonderland theme, and experiment with whites, creams, vibrant blues and grey hues. However, it’s important to keep in mind your existing colour scheme and make sure your new décor compliments this.
- Keep up your curb appeal
When winter comes around, curb appeal becomes even more important. There are several things you may want to consider. But first, buy yourself some fancy new rubber boots!
Although your garden may be dormant and there’s some rain about, don’t let the gardening and landscaping you’ve achieved in the warmer months go to waste. Keep the yard and edges trimmed and tidied, and all of your bushes and trees properly shaped and pruned. Rake leaves from the yard and start mixing through your compost and make sure you keep your walkways clean and clear so they don’t get slippery when wet. Be sure to put your garden tools away when you’re done so they don’t get wet and rusty.
The winter months are also a really good time for planting local natives. The soil is moist and the plants will have enough time to establish deep roots in time for spring. Local natives are really good idea as they will require less effort to maintain and minimal watering before the warmer months start again.
Alternatively, you may also want to spruce up your outdoor area with winter friendly flowers and foliage. For Adelaide homes, it is recommended that you consider flowers like petunias, Iceland poppys and marigolds due to the nature of the South Australian climate.
As the colder months generally mean that it gets dark early, you may want to set up outdoor lighting. Not only will this make your home safer and more welcoming, it adds interest to your front garden area and undoubtedly makes it appear more attractive. There are several ideas you could try. You may want to opt for garden lights that illuminate your front pathway, add mix’n’match decorative lanterns that light up the front of your house of your doorway, or use upward-facing lights to highlight features trees and plantings in your gardens.
There are several ways you can spruce up your home for winter, but if you’re wanting extra inspiration, head down to our Display Village—open Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5pm.
While you’re there, be sure to pop into the Newenham Sales and Information Centre at 164 Flaxley Road, Mount Barker, click here for open hours or here to book a personal tour at a time that suits you.
Come and see for yourself why you’ll love living at Newenham.
