Creating a Cozy Home: Transitioning Your Decor for Cooler Weather

In this post: Want to create an inviting cozy home? These ideas will help you transition your decor for the cooler weather with refined warmth and grace.⇒

Often you just know when it’s time.

The other day, I was huddled under the blanket, reluctant to get out of bed because of the sudden chill in the air, informing me that it’s no longer summer. As I mulled over this turn of events, lamenting the passage of time, yet excited by the plans that we have upcoming for the next few months, I was struck by an incongruity.

The blanket I was snuggling in was adorned with stalks of lavender like a summer field in Provence and the vase on my bedside table was brimming with lilies of the valley. My bedroom had become an anachronism and it felt terribly out of place.

Why Decorate for the Seasons?

Now, if you enjoy bringing summer into your home all year round, more power to you. It’s your home and it should reflect your passions. But I have a thing for appropriateness. I believe that living in the moment includes embracing the motifs and imagery of the place and time at hand, and indulging in the symbols and attributes of that setting increases the pleasure of the experience tenfold.

It’s kind of a ‘When in Rome’ philosophy of life.

So in fall, I seek out butternut squash soup. I enjoy cinnamon candles, crunchy colorful foliage and copper everything on repeat. I delight in pulling out my chocolate brown cashmere sweaters and wearing them under a classic camel hair coat.

Where spring and summer are all about light, fall and winter are the seasons of cozy. As such, I’ve quickly realized it is time for a little home update.

How to Create a Cozy Home

There are many characteristics that can make a home feel cozy, but for me the most important are a sense of welcoming and comfort. In summer you throw the windows open and let the air and light in. Entertaining is often done outside on patios and verandas, and socializing is generally outer directed.

But cooler temps bring us back into the house and the lightening up we did for summer is now very much reversed. This doesn’t necessarily mean closed and dark, but rather warm and inviting. As we return inside we want it to feel like a warm embrace. Overstuffed seating, lush fabrics, rich tones, and spicy scents. What follows is an exploration of these aspects individually, as well as through the prism of current decorating trends.

Extend Cozy to the Entire Home

My home is light and very neutral, but this year I decided the single most important update it needed for the transition into cooler weather was the addition of color and pattern. You would be surprised at how simple this is to achieve, even when your home is nearly all white.

I wanted the entire home to get a dose of this treatment, as it felt sorely needed, but I also wanted to use much of what I already owned to keep costs down. So you will see throughout the post that in each of the spaces I only altered a few inexpensive things. The bulk of the changes, which pretty well transformed the rooms, were accomplished with little more than a few new pillows, a throw or two, and a handful of small decorative objects.

Trends: What Cozy Looks Like This Year

For the past several years, decor has been getting both more subtle in color, yet at the same time, warmer in tone. Neutrals haves warmed significantly from the greys that were ever-present, with camel, beige and khaki gaining in popularity. Woods are warm toned, and creams have been accepted where pure white was only used.

Whitened, dusty, and less saturated color is trending and this is what makes even a fall palette look sophisticated. The look leans toward colors from nature, with brown and green looking super fresh. These are the colors I’ve worked with in my home this year.

In the bedroom above, you can see how simply this was done (once I removed the aforementioned lavender print duvet!) I reverted to our all white bedding, then added two green toile shams and a moss knit throw. That’s all it took!

I took the same approach in the family and sitting rooms, along with a second bedroom, changing just a few pillow covers and a throw blanket here and there. I finished up with vintage leather books and wood vessels and will be collecting and adding more as the season progresses. No rush. No pressure. Add a few seasonal stems and you’re good to go.

Here’s a closer look at the three main concepts I used to add cozy to my home.

Warmth

Among the various ways to achieve a sense of warmth in your home, color is solidly at the top of the list. Fall has always been a time for warm tones and this is the easiest way to communicate a cozy welcome. Whether you embrace a traditional fall palette of vibrant oranges and golds, or you favor the more subtle approach that’s currently trending, a palette that leans to the warmer side of the color wheel is definitely key.

Any color that’s tinted with yellow or orange is considered a warm tone, so yellow-leaning greens like olive and moss and rich warm browns like chocolate and caramel fit the bill. Likewise creamy neutrals will get the job done, too.

Other ways to add warmth include using lush fabrics like velvet and soft knits, adding a gentle glow with lamps and candlelight and including warm metals like copper and gold.

Complexity

In addition to color, infusing a space with pattern and texture is an instant way to bring coziness in. Pattern mixes, in particular, take advantage of color use, but amp it up a notch by adding a note of complexity to the styling. Plaids, tweeds, tapestry prints and brocades, all work beautifully in a cooler weather home and the mix of simple block prints with bolder florals and embroidered motifs brings layering to new heights.

Textures like cable knits, seagrass, faux fur and the like can also be used to add interest to your spaces. Mix them with print patterns as if they’re companion prints to complement the main attraction, barely functioning as solids at all.

Organic Materials

Natural materials are popular all year round, but given their warm tones, they’re perfect for adding coziness to your home. Think vintage raw wood objects like vases and bowls, natural marble pieces with warm veining, antique leather bound books with their gorgeous patina and bits from nature such as pine cones and bark.

In this category, I’d also add branches and stems, whether faux or real, to add gentle color and an inviting warmth.

Prepping You for the Holidays

There’s no question that with a welcoming base of subtle but warm decor, both in color and pattern, as well as solid textures, you have everything you need to decorate for the holidays. With my chosen palette of browns and greens, I can easily add pumpkins and mums and be ready for Thanksgiving, then just as easily pivot to evergreens and gold for Christmas, or even a touch of burgundy and cream.

The concept is to bring cozy warmth to your home as the temps begin to drop, then react to accommodate the holidays as the calendar progresses. When the time comes to lighten up again, just remove a few pillows covers and change up the throws and you’re ready to throw open the windows and slip the lilies of valley back on the bedside table!

More Tips for Creating a Cozy Home

• Layered blankets: Drape soft, chunky-knit throws on sofas and chairs for instant warmth and texture.
• Faux fur accents: Incorporate faux fur pillows, blankets, or rugs for a luxurious, cozy touch.
• Candles: Place candles throughout your home in warm, inviting scents like cinnamon, vanilla, or sandalwood.
• Warm lighting: Switch to soft, amber-hued light bulbs to create a warm glow in the evenings.
• Sheepskin rugs: Add small sheepskin rugs to chairs, benches, or the floor for added texture and coziness.
• Textured pillows: Use pillows with cozy fabrics like wool, velvet, or flannel on your couch or bed.
• Ambient lighting: Add table lamps, floor lamps, or string lights for layered lighting that feels warm and welcoming.
• Fireplace focal point: If you have a fireplace, make it the center of attention by arranging furniture around it.
• Seasonal greenery: Place eucalyptus, pine branches, or dried florals in vases for a natural, wintery touch.
• Velvet curtains: Swap out lightweight curtains for heavier, insulating velvet or linen drapes to keep the cold out.
• Wooden accents: Incorporate rustic wood elements like bowls, trays, or candle holders for a natural and inviting look.
• Slipper basket: Keep a basket of cozy slippers by the front door for guests to feel instantly warm and comfortable.
• Layered rugs: Layer area rugs over hardwood or tile floors to add warmth and softness underfoot.
• Fragrant diffusers: Use essential oil diffusers with warm scents like cedarwood, clove, or amber to create a cozy atmosphere.
• Throws on dining chairs: Drape cozy throws over the backs of dining chairs for extra warmth during meals.
• Flannel bedding: Switch to flannel sheets and bedding in the bedroom for a soft and warm feel during cold nights.
• Oversized mugs: Keep oversized ceramic mugs handy for hot drinks like cocoa, tea, or mulled cider to enjoy during chilly evenings.
• Wood-burning stove: If you have a wood-burning stove, keep it stocked with wood and make it a focal point in the room.
• Plaid accents: Add subtle plaid or tartan patterns in your throws, pillows, or tablecloths to evoke a cozy cabin feel.
• Warm-toned artwork: Hang artwork or photography in warm colors like terracotta, ochre, or deep reds to visually warm the space.
• Woven baskets: Use wicker or woven baskets to store extra blankets, adding texture and function to the room.
• Books and magazines: Place a stack of favorite books or winter-themed magazines on coffee tables to invite relaxation.
• Fairy lights: String up warm white fairy lights in unexpected places, like along bookshelves or around windows, for a soft, twinkling glow.
• Soft, oversized rugs: Anchor seating areas with thick, plush area rugs to add both warmth and comfort underfoot.