Are you heading somewhere warm or beachy for the holidays? Good for you! Staying home in your midwinter city? Good for you too! After all, there’s something your home offers at this ‘most wonderful time of the year’ that’s particularly special – coziness. Decking the halls with boughs of holly (and twinkly lights, sentimental ornaments and fragrant evergreens) creates that charming sense of “hygge,” as the Danish call it. But why pack that away with your decorations? With some simple accessory updates, you can keep the comfort alive long after the 12th day of Christmas. We might think of them as the home equivalent of a hug!

1. Swap warm climate patterns for chilly ones

BEFORE: WHITE COTTON THROW - ETSY — **BEFORE:** WHITE COTTON THROW - ETSY

AFTER: BUFFALO PLAID THROW - SCHOOLHOUSE — **AFTER:** BUFFALO PLAID THROW - SCHOOLHOUSE

There’s a reason argyle and Fair Isle knits are currently the height of sweater chic. What could be cozier than fabrics that have been keeping the Scots snug for centuries? It’s the same reason classic fabrics from northern climes cozy up your home. They evoke that sense of comfort, familiarity and safety – from whatever meteorological horrors may be lurking outside! Plaid, tweed, herringbone…they all have that heft that feels reassuring. That’s why our white cotton Moroccan throw is getting replaced (just for the winter) with a Buffalo plaid one from vintage-y brand, Schoolhouse. Ah, that’s cozier!

2. Swap breezy fabrics for cuddly ones

BEFORE: BANANA LEAF & KENTE CLOTH PILLOWS - ETSY — **BEFORE:** BANANA LEAF & KENTE CLOTH PILLOWS - ETSY

AFTER: VELVET & EMBROIDERED PILLOWS - CHAZIN INTERIORS — **AFTER:** VELVET & EMBROIDERED PILLOWS - CHAZIN INTERIORS

BEFORE: INDIAN THROW BLANKET - ETSY — **BEFORE:** INDIAN THROW BLANKET - ETSY

AFTER: WOOL PILLOW AND POM POM THROW - ANTHROPOLOGIE — **AFTER**: WOOL PILLOW AND POM POM THROW - ANTHROPOLOGIE

You’ve probably put away your linen trousers and cotton dresses, so why not do the same with your pillows? Velvets, chunky knits, sheepskin or faux fur not only look the part when temperatures drop, they feel right too - so much nicer to cuddle! Another plus of switching out soft furnishings like you might a sundress is that it keeps things interesting. The linen banana leaf and cotton Kente cloth pillows that’ve been cheering up our couch since the summer are still a joy. But I’m sure they’ll be even more of one when they’ve had a bit of a holiday and the subs (a velvet-woolly-embroidered assortment) have had their turn.

3. Swap cold tones for warm ones

AFTER: SHEEPSKIN AND CORAL PILLOW - HOUZZ — **AFTER:** SHEEPSKIN AND CORAL PILLOW - HOUZZ

Think how you feel when you wear bright color on a chilly day. It makes everything feel a bit happier, doesn’t it? Pops of pumpkin, emerald or amethyst can have same effect on your home. Looking for inspiration? Interior designer Jodie Shields suggests looking for “color threads.” “Do you have a pop of pink running through a piece of artwork?” she asks, “bring that in. Repetitive color creates connectedness, harmony and rhythm.” Prefer a more neutral palette? You can also add warmth with texture or finishes. When we switched out our chrome lamps for brass, it warmed things up instantly. Warm (rather than bright) white bulbs help too.

4. Swap bare windows for dressed ones

CURTAINS - ANTHROPOLOGIE; POM POM GARLANDS - THE LITTLE MARKET

It sounds like a cliché to mention curtains in the same sentence as coziness, but that’s because they really make a difference! We recently installed curtains on windows where we’re particularly exposed and along with privacy came a lovely sense of comfort. If money, time, and commitment to your home allow, customized coverings are your home’s Saville Row suit. If not, you can still get the benefits for a high-street price tag. Online retailers like allmodern.com will sell you a good-looking curtain rod for under $80. An expert from Thumbtack can install it for even less (or maybe you can if you’re handier than me with a drill)! Stores like Anthropologie have a nice selection of panel curtains that you can just double up for wider windows.

5. Swap the tree for plants

watering my wonderfully tolerant spider plant

This swiss cheese plant enjoys its westerly window

our snake plant is surviving in a dark corner of the loo!

bird of paradise plant looks harder to care for than it is

Christmas brings so much greenery into our lives. Why not keep up the verdant vibe alive by adding some houseplants? I must confess, I’ve knocked off a few of our leafy friends on the way to gaining a greener – or at least slightly less black – thumb. But now we have so much greenery my husband complains our house “looks like the 70s!” In case you’re similarly challenged, the plants that have been resilient enough to survive having me as an owner have been the ZZ (tolerates low light and little watering); the Snake (thriving in a dark corner of our loo!); Spider plant (happy pretty much anywhere); Ponytail Palm (loves to be ignored); Bird of Paradise (sounds fancy, surprisingly low maintenance) and the Swiss Cheese (lordy, will this thing stop growing?!).

Whatever you’re doing over the holidays, however you’re enjoying your home, I hope you have a wonderful and cozy time. And if you have a moment, do how you’re making your home a respite from Old Man Winter with a comment!