1. Start at the door
Nothing says Welcome! like a pretty wreath at the front door! Add a warm feel by wrapping it in a thrift store sweater...instant coziness! And...this sweater wreath is easy to make and requires no sewing!
2. Add wintery décor
My house always looks so empty after the Christmas decorations come down, so I love to add some bits of wintery decorations to fill in the gap until spring. Pine cones, mercury glass and moss balls gathered in a bowl are a perfect fit!
3. Perk up the indoors with simmering potpourri
With colder temperatures, it's impossible to open the windows to freshen up the air in your home, so try a pot of spiced apple simmering potpourri on the stove to give it the wonderful scent of an apple pie baking in the oven!
Or if you prefer, lemon and lavender add an instant fresh, clean scent...so welcome in a stuffy winter home!
4. Add lots of cozy pillows
Something about throw pillows just warms up a home, adding lots of texture and coziness! And nothing could be much cozier than a sweater pillow! Ready-made sweater pillows can be expensive, but a trip to the thrift store or an old favorite ready for a new life can yield all that you need to make your own!
Hot tea and cocoa are always the perfect winter beverages, complete with all the fixings and little snacks! And...you can even add a personal touch with your own DIY Sharpie mugs!
OK...I'm just going to say it...there is something so cozy about comfort food! However, it doesn't have to mean that it is high in calories! With a few substitutions, you can create lighter versions of your favorite winter recipes. One of mine is Weight Watchers chicken pot pie...and my family loves it, too!
7. Build a fire
And finally, and probably the best, is to use the fireplace as much as possible! For me, a fire in the fireplace is the ultimate in coziness! And, as you can see, even the cats agree! And I have to add here that we even used the Yule Log option on our cable channel all through the Christmas season...a crackling fire with beautiful music and no ashes to clean up!
I hope these little tips help you stay warm and cozy this winter! Do you have any favorites of your own?
Thanks for stopping by! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants.
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for the Show and Share Party , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday, Tatertots & Jello for the Link Party Palooza on Fridays
See you next time! À la prochaine!
Also find me at…
It all sounds wonderful, Deb. Love the fire-place. Stay warm. xx Deb
ReplyDeleteKitties ALWAYS make a house cozy. Oh, my three would love a fireplace if I had one. My bed is the place where they will be right now, the two brothers cuddled together and the old lady stubbornly sitting by herself. If she had been sweeter to the boys when they came, I know they would have embraced her as a new mama...like your snowman mug, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. I just printed the chicken pot pie recipe and I am inspired to add some cozy to our home.
ReplyDeleteAll sound like great ideas for a cold day!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Good ideas, and I miss having a fireplace. I want a woodstove with a glass door and that way most of the heat doesn't go up the chimney! I just made your faux lavender wreath. Looks great!
ReplyDeleteOur fireplace has been aglow all morning. It's cold here in south Texas too, but like you, I am loving it! All of your suggestions make for cozy and comfy January living and I will be starting a simmering pot of spiced apple potpourri as soon as I finish this comment. Your chicken pot pie sounds like the perfect idea for dinner tonight too.
ReplyDeleteBig Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI agree with comfort food and cozy fires blazing!!!
(Move over Baby Kitty!!!)
Your sweater wreath and pillows are so~o~o warm and inviting, too!!!
We were in the 'frigid' temps. . .now back to the upper 40's & 50's!!!
Oh, how I'm wishing for some SNOW!!!
Fondly,
Pat
These are wonderful suggestions, Deb! We usually don't get much winter, so I try to make the most out of enjoying the time we do get. Comfort foods and cozy fires probably top my list of winter faves. We have a gas fireplace and use it quite a lot in the evenings (if I'm not having a chemo-induced hot flash...lol). Our cat does not beg for food or anything else, except for having the fireplace on. Abby sits in front of it, turns to look at us & then turns back to the fireplace.....repeat, repeat, repeat until we finally get up and turn it on. She will continue to do that all summer long! Thanks for sharing your great ideas!
ReplyDeleteLove your simmering potpourri ideas!
ReplyDeleteI need to go on the hunt for thrift store sweaters so I can make some pillows out of them! I live in the south, so not too cold, but we are having lots of rain and dreariness, so need to stay inside and cozy up with my pup.
ReplyDeleteNice suggestions specially when all Christmas decorations come down! Love those sweaters pillows
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these ideas,your cat looks like she or he is staying warm and cozy.Do they like to cuddle up with you?
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas for creating a cozy home. The sweater wreath is definitely a cozy way to welcome guests and sitting by the fire with a hot cup of tea is the best!
ReplyDeleteWow love love your tips for a cozy home
ReplyDelete