How to Embrace the Winter Aesthetic in Your Home Decor

Winter is designated cozy season, meaning that your home’s decor should serve as a retreat away from the harsh chill of the outdoors. With plenty of ways to weave in the aesthetic of winter, without defaulting to holiday decorations, winter can be a time for you to have fun with transforming your home into an aesthetically pleasing winter sanctuary. At Plan Architecture, a trusted New Jersey architectural design firm, we know all about creative designs that bring new life to your space, season to season. Here are some easy, timeless ways to incorporate winter into your home.

Cool Color Palettes

Additions of cool colors through rugs, throws, pillows, and more can be an easy way to integrate winter into your home. Explore icy blues, soft greys, silvers, and metallic accents that reflect the elegance of winter landscapes. Jewel tones like forest green, emerald, sapphire, ruby, and deep burgundy are another way to add dimension to your space. Contrast these with warm neutrals like cream and taupe for a balanced feel.

Utilizing warm neutrals on larger spaces (such as area rugs or tapestries) paves the way for depth and drama with the deep jewel tones as accents (think lamps and vases). The blues, silvers, and lavenders can add a modern, tranquil touch, overall encompassing the crispness of winter with the juxtaposition of homey warmth.

Cozy Textures and Fabrics

Winter is best experienced through fabrics. This season, focus on insulating and plush fabrics through throws, pillows, rugs, and even upholstery to add that luxurious feel. 

Wool is an excellent natural insulator and great for blankets, rugs, and textured throws—think chunky knits, herringbone, etc. Fleece is another classic option ideal for throws and pillows due to its soft, fluffy, and warm texture. If looking for a more elegant option, velvet adds richness and depth, perfect for curtains and upholstery. Faux fur is another winter staple that immediately adds a glamorous, snug feel to your space and is the ultimate fabric for an area rug or antimacassar.

Layer these options by combining mismatched textures like a chunky wool throw over a velvet sofa with faux fur pillows. Swapping light curtains used in summer for heavier blends can add more function to your curtains by blocking drafts, too. Anchoring the room through thick area rugs can keep feet warm and break up the coldness that hardwood and tile can undergo in winter, as well.

Incorporate Natural Elements

Adding nature to your home decor is an effortless technique to sympathize indoors with outdoors, creating a winter retreat. Wood, pinecones, wreaths, and even faux snow are all stylish ways to add a touch of rustic sophistication to your decor.

Wood accents can add a country sense to your home through wooden bowls filled with pinecones, acorns, or seasonal branches as a simple centerpiece. Wood frames displaying nature-themed art or family photos are other simple ways to add decor to your walls while keeping in theme with the season.

Pinecones arranged with fresh or faux evergreen sprigs, eucalyptus, or winter blooms can make for a festive mantel decoration, while wreaths and garlands that feature pinecones and fairy lights can mix homey with rustic. Lighting is also crucial in embracing the winter aesthetic, so consider candles and warm fairy lights to create a comfortable glow in your space. Dimmable lamps are also a perfect method for curating your space’s atmosphere.

Your Home, Your Space with Plan Architecture

Founded in 2014 by Dan D’Agostino, AIA, Plan Architecture is an award-winning, client-forward, full-service architecture firm located in Bergen County, New Jersey, that delivers luxurious, functional architectural solutions for both the client and their site.

At Plan Architecture, we’re committed to designing homes that bring out the best in you, our client. By bringing a holistic design approach to every residential project, we blend architecture, interiors, and your own unique vision to create luxurious, livable spaces. Contact us today to start working towards the future of your home, and be sure to follow us on Instagram (@planinteriors / @planarchitecture) for more home decor inspiration!