Home hacks for winter hibernation
Winter is coming… It's time to wrap up in your wildling-style faux-fur and make sure your home is ready for hunkering down in. Because let's face it, a night in with a box-set is usually the preferred activity when the weather gets cold and miserable. In Denmark they call it 'hygge': creating a cozy atmosphere with candles, rugs, good friends, plenty of food and a well-stocked bar trolley. This winter we intend to follow their lead and the below interiors hacks will help you create a home you'll never want to leave.
Alexander JamesWhip on your paint overalls and give your walls a darker makeover. A deep, rich hue can really cosy-up a space. Ignore the old adage that dark colours are only for big rooms; painting a small room dark can create a real sense of drama. Some of our favourite shades are Farrow & Ball Hague Blue (pictured), Dulux Heathland and Little Greene Bronze Red.
Image from House and Garden.
Mimosa and cardamom candle, £42 at Jo Malone
Ideally we'd be stoking our wood fires all winter, but in the absence of a real fireplace, we recommend creating some flickering flames of sorts by stocking up on church candles and grouping them together in the hearth or on your mantelpiece. If you're lacking both of those things, even a few artfully placed scented candles will make all the difference. We don't recommend leaving either unattended. No-one needs their cosy home burnt to the ground.
Jo Malone
Overdyed rug, £65 at Urban Outfitters
It's not rocket science: rugs and throws add warmth to a room. Check out Notonthehighstreet.com, Zara Home and Urban Outfitters for great rugs. For stylish throws and blankets we love Toast, Melin Tregwynt and Donna Wilson. Both rugs and throws can be layered for added effect.
Long haired sheepskin bench, £1995 at Jonathan Adler
Jonathan Adler's sheepskin bench is on our winter wishlist but, as it is a little on the pricey side, we'll be getting crafty with an Ikea bench, a sheepskin rug and a staple gun. Not much of a craftster? A little sheepskin or faux fur thrown over a chair is all it takes to bring a little Scandi winter chic to the equation.
BrintonsGallery Walls
An abundance of empty space can make a place feel cold, so we recommend getting started on that gallery wall. Opt for uniformed rows of matching frames or an artful mismatch of prints. The Keep Calm Gallery, Pedlars, and Degree Art are great for affordable artwork.
Lana dreamcatcher, £25 at Urban Outfitters
Alternatively make a display of mismatched plates (first pit-stop Anthropologie) or quirky objects: Urban Outfitters' dreamcatchers are top of our shopping list.
Hornbeam wallpaper, £95 per 10 metre roll at Farrow & Ball
Ever noticed the rather chilly feeling you get in an art gallery? Minimalism doesn't often equate to cosiness, so start gathering your favourite things to create what's known in the interiors world as a 'tableaux' (that's a picturesque grouping of objects to you and me). Books are great for this, and they'll be on hand for you to pick up and enjoy on those rainy days.
Farrow & Ball
Porthole mirror, £145 at Loaf
Surprisingly bringing the outside in, with natural textures like wood and wool, adds warmth. Think of the rustic log cabin or ski chalet aesthetic. This mirror should do the trick, and will have the added bonus of reflecting light around the room on those dark, dreary days.
Loaf
