The great indoors – cosy home trends taking over this winter

With longer evenings and shorter days ahead, it’s no wonder Aussies are all about a new trend—winter nesting. Winter nesting is about getting comfy at home, pulling out the extra blankets and stocking up on your favourite hot chocolate in preparation for the colder months ahead.

Turning your home into a cosy haven for winter is easy and fun.

Winter is the perfect time to get creative with textures. Use different materials to create visual warmth, and to keep your toes cosy on nights snuggled up on the sofa. Boucle, velvet, corduroy and wool all ooze warmth and cosiness. Using them together creates a rich, layered feel, so don’t be afraid to go all out with texture this winter.

Incorporating texture doesn’t have to start and end with cushion covers. Consider options like:

• Getting a velvet, boucle or corduroy cover for a footstool or ottoman
• Hanging a tapestry
• Laying out extra rugs
• Hanging thicker curtains
• Upgrading your couch covers to corduroy for added warmth

Layered lighting is a great way to add ambience to a space. Use lamps at different levels to create this effect, and don’t be afraid to play with colour and style. Lampshades on standing lamps can significantly impact where light falls in your home, so play around until you find the perfect lighting solution.

Pendant lamps are moody and elegant, while lampshades made of natural materials like rattan add warmth to any space. Fairy lights and fake candles are a great way to bring a magical, wintery glow into your home.

Consider adding dimmer switches to your existing overhead lights. Dimmable lights are great for winter, when the sun goes down earlier and the lights are on longer. Wind down the day by turning the lights down gradually; you’ll be instantly relaxed.

Wired lighting must be installed or changed by a licensed electrician, but you can DIY layered lighting by using tabletop or standing lamps and getting creative with lampshades, fairy lights and LED candles.

Muted, earthy tones like clay, sage, ochre, and charcoal are the colours du jour, but you don’t have to paint the whole house to enjoy them.

An easy and affordable way to add colour is through soft furnishings like cushion covers, throws, or curtains in the living room, napkins or table runners in the dining room, and bedspreads and quilts in the bedroom. These are easy to swap out and store, so you can enjoy different tones as your mood shifts throughout the year.

Other options for adding colour include small decor pieces like vases, trays, artworks, plants or flowers.

Colour-drenching is trending right now, so if you’re ready to commit to a colour, it’s an excellent option for smaller areas like your entryway or bathroom. Alternatively, a painted or wallpapered feature wall is less of a commitment while letting your personality shine through.

You can paint your home yourself, but a trusted painter is your best bet for a professional finish and to avoid the hassle of all that taping.

If the weather prohibits you from spending time outdoors, bring the outdoors inside. One way to do this is by using natural materials around your home. Timber, stone, and ceramics are all great ways to create an earthy, warm vibe in your home for winter, and there are plenty of ways to integrate these materials seamlessly.

Consider options like:

• Adding ceramic vases, candle holders, or even wall art in warm tones.
• Integrate warm wood like timber by swapping out an existing coffee table or bedside table, or adding a wooden tray to an ottoman for a makeshift coffee table.
• Choose a rattan chair, sideboard, shoe rack, or headboard.

There’s nothing cosier than a fireplace, especially when there’s a fire crackling away in the hearth. Even an electric fireplace can add visual warmth to a room, and the options for adding wintery decor to a mantlepiece are almost endless.

Give your fireplace a facelift for winter by:

• Updating the cladding. Stone or brick is a classic option, but you can tile your fireplace, if you prefer, or do a mix of both.
• Switch out the items on your mantel for real or fake candles, wintery foliage like eucalyptus, and accent pieces like vintage frames, clocks, or books.

Before lighting the first fire of the season, ensure your fireplace is in top-notch condition. Now is a great time to hire a chimney sweep to ensure it’s safe.

If you don’t have a fireplace and mantel and don’t want to install a real one, you can buy or DIY a fake one. Use cardboard, plywood, or old furniture to create a fake mantelpiece and decorate it however you like. To mimic the warmth and glow of a fire, loop fairy lights around a small pile of logs in your faux creation.

A reading nook is perfect for hanging out on rainy winter days. All you need to make one of your own is a comfy seat like an armchair or beanbag, a warm throw and a good book. Add a small table for your cup of tea, a footstool, and some warm lighting, and you’re good to go.

Kids of all ages will love a cosy corner to hang out in in winter. Create one just to your child’s liking by choosing a corner where kids will be out of the way and can spend time relaxing. Add a high pile rug, a large cushion or even a big dog bed, and include lots of snuggle material like cushions, soft toys and blankets. To make the space feel extra magical for your little ones, consider hanging fairy lights, adding glow-in-the-dark stick-on stars, or hanging a canopy.