How to make your home feel cozy for the holidays

Tips for creating a cozy environment for the holidays.

Tribune News Service
December 1, 2017 at 6:59PM
Adding greenery can help make a space feel less cold. (Design Recipes/TNS) ORG XMIT: 1216343
Adding greenery can help make a space feel less cold. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

With the holiday season officially here, many of us will be opening our homes to entertain our families and friends. While how to decorate the holiday table may come to mind, why not also make your entire home warm and cozy this holiday season? We have assembled a list of ways to bring warmth into every room of your home.

Add area rugs and throws. Soft goods help instantly warm up an interior space.

Incorporate tactile materials. Luxurious plush materials, such as velvet and faux fur, instantly add a sense of coziness.

Mix it up. Mixing different materials especially in social areas, such as living and family rooms, can add warmth to a space.

Add light. A chandelier can add a warm glow to any space.

Introduce fragrance. Avoid common scents such as pumpkin and spice. Instead, infuse elegant yet unexpected aromas such as juniper, fig, blood orange or sage.

Use your fireplace. Fireplaces are a popular place to entertain guests during the holidays, and nothing says cozy quite like a warm fire.

Incorporate the fruits of winter. From pomegranate to pumpkin and fig, these elements can be incorporated into the home, either through your meals or even on display.

Dim the lights. Now is the perfect time to light some of your entertaining spaces using dim lights and candles.

Add greenery. Greenery, including evergreens, is a great way to help a space feel less cold.

Add color. Warm-hued accents, in deep shades of red, orange and yellow, can warm any space.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is a TV host and interior design and home-staging expert.


about the writer

about the writer

Cathy Hobbs

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