A Warm Welcome: 10 Tips to Start Winter Right
Embrace the new season by making your home a cosy and comforting retreat you won't want to leave
Samantha van Egmond
19 May 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance writer specialising in sustainable, natural and ethical living.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance writer specialising in sustainable, natural... More
There are plenty of things to love about winter – soft, woolly blankets, hearty vegie soup and cosy, candlelit nights in, just to name a few. Consider these simple ways to prepare your home for the cooler months ahead and you will love it even more.
1. Get your heating sorted
While lots of Australians mightn’t give home heating a second thought for most of the year, now is the time to make sure everything is in good working order. No heater, air conditioning or fireplace? Consider insulation options and ensure you have adequate bedding and blankets on hand for when the temperature drops.
How to thaw your icy abode
While lots of Australians mightn’t give home heating a second thought for most of the year, now is the time to make sure everything is in good working order. No heater, air conditioning or fireplace? Consider insulation options and ensure you have adequate bedding and blankets on hand for when the temperature drops.
How to thaw your icy abode
2. Reorganise your wardrobe
Bringing your knits, scarves and boots out of storage can feel like you have a whole new wardrobe! After gently washing woolies, bring cold weather items to the front of the your cupboard and create more room by packing away those you won’t be needing as often, such as swimwear, tank tops and summer dresses.
Bringing your knits, scarves and boots out of storage can feel like you have a whole new wardrobe! After gently washing woolies, bring cold weather items to the front of the your cupboard and create more room by packing away those you won’t be needing as often, such as swimwear, tank tops and summer dresses.
3. Plan a big night in
There’s no better time of year to organise a weekly night in, and we’re not talking about an evening in front of the television. Cold weather outside is no excuse for being anti-social – stock up on board games and snacks and invite friends over for a weekly get-together, taking it in turns to host.
There’s no better time of year to organise a weekly night in, and we’re not talking about an evening in front of the television. Cold weather outside is no excuse for being anti-social – stock up on board games and snacks and invite friends over for a weekly get-together, taking it in turns to host.
4. Up your soft furnishings
Early starts are not much fun when it’s freezing above the blankets, so having something soft and warm underfoot can make all the difference. Adding luxe furnishings such as wool, faux fur and velvet to your bedroom and living area brings an instant feeling of cosiness and makes cool mornings more bearable.
13 tricks to stay warm for less
Early starts are not much fun when it’s freezing above the blankets, so having something soft and warm underfoot can make all the difference. Adding luxe furnishings such as wool, faux fur and velvet to your bedroom and living area brings an instant feeling of cosiness and makes cool mornings more bearable.
13 tricks to stay warm for less
5. Don’t forget about colour
It’s easy to gravitate towards dark, comforting shades when the weather turns icy, but adding some bursts of colour can be a great mood-booster. Bring in some cushions in your favourite hue or hang a vibrant artwork to warm a cool palette.
Browse more colourful spaces
It’s easy to gravitate towards dark, comforting shades when the weather turns icy, but adding some bursts of colour can be a great mood-booster. Bring in some cushions in your favourite hue or hang a vibrant artwork to warm a cool palette.
Browse more colourful spaces
6. Let in some fresh air
Just because things are chilly outside doesn’t mean you need to close the house up. Adequate ventilation is important year-round, and over winter it can be uplifting to throw open the windows and allow some cool, crisp air to freshen up a musty space, even if it’s only for 20 minutes.
Just because things are chilly outside doesn’t mean you need to close the house up. Adequate ventilation is important year-round, and over winter it can be uplifting to throw open the windows and allow some cool, crisp air to freshen up a musty space, even if it’s only for 20 minutes.
7. Take up a hobby
With early sunsets and long, cold nights, winter is the ideal time to begin a new project or hobby. Have you always wanted to play the guitar? Take up knitting? Learn a new language? Start now and you’ll be up-skilled by the time spring rolls around.
With early sunsets and long, cold nights, winter is the ideal time to begin a new project or hobby. Have you always wanted to play the guitar? Take up knitting? Learn a new language? Start now and you’ll be up-skilled by the time spring rolls around.
8. Cook up seasonal produce
Celebrate winter by making a delicious meal with a fresh, seasonal bounty of vegetables. In Australia, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato and onions are all at their best for whipping up a warming soup.
Celebrate winter by making a delicious meal with a fresh, seasonal bounty of vegetables. In Australia, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato and onions are all at their best for whipping up a warming soup.
9. Declutter and refresh
While an annual spring clean is common practice, many might not consider a home refresh and declutter coming into the colder months. Take stock of what’s in your home – do you have adequate storage? Is your living area suitable for indoor entertaining? Is there anything that can be packed away or donated to charity? A winter clean-out can be just as effective as a spring clean in making your home feel fresh and ready for the arrival of a new season.
While an annual spring clean is common practice, many might not consider a home refresh and declutter coming into the colder months. Take stock of what’s in your home – do you have adequate storage? Is your living area suitable for indoor entertaining? Is there anything that can be packed away or donated to charity? A winter clean-out can be just as effective as a spring clean in making your home feel fresh and ready for the arrival of a new season.
10. Light a warming candle
Candles are synonymous with winter and add a comforting glow to any dinner setting or bedside table. Look for beeswax and soy candles with natural cotton wicks and pure essential oil fragrances – vanilla, sandalwood and white musk are warming winter fragrances.
Tell us
How do you intend to change your house for the coming winter? Share your warming tips in the Comments.
More
Warm yourself up by browsing cosy fireside spaces
Candles are synonymous with winter and add a comforting glow to any dinner setting or bedside table. Look for beeswax and soy candles with natural cotton wicks and pure essential oil fragrances – vanilla, sandalwood and white musk are warming winter fragrances.
Tell us
How do you intend to change your house for the coming winter? Share your warming tips in the Comments.
More
Warm yourself up by browsing cosy fireside spaces
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What another timely piece for my life! I made a big ole pot of soup using vegies I had in the fridge and given to me, just yesterday! So yummy!
Coz the nights are so early now I have made the commitment to learn Irish Gaelic (my ancestors would be proud!) and drag out the big chunky knitting needles to make a big soft woolly blankie for my bed.
I don't have a heater due to the running costs, so I have been insulating the walls and putting in rugs all over the house to keep the chill out.
I pulled out my wardrobe the other day and amazed myself at how many clothes I haven't worn in a looooong time, so it was declutter time. I replaced the wardrobe with a lovely bookshelf and now the books I adore to read are off the floor and look lovely. (Don't worry I still have another wardrobe to store clothes.)
So winter coming morphs me into a little homely bunny, to make my warren all cozy and warmies and able to do lots to while away the long nights.
- reposition all of the potted orchids and frost tender plants
- clean the windows to let in more light
- clean the outdoor furniture and garden tools
- air the winter weight quilts and covers
- apply the ugly but functional draught excluders
- sock review :)
- wash/air/fluff winter throws
Living in Invercargill, it is already got to zero degrees. Cooking nice hot warm meals like Indian and sitting in front of the fire works a treat :)