To me, winter has always meant hibernation.
Spring and summer is the time to be social - festivals, picnics in the park, barbeques every weekend. Frolicking without a care in the world. As soon as the temperatures drop below zero, I tend to retreat into my flat and don’t really want to come out until March.
December is made bearable by the anticipation of Christmas, gorging my face with chocolate and mince pies and a one week holiday from the tedium of work. January and February are just plain bleak with its lack of bank holidays, sunset at 3pm and the sheer misery written all over the faces of everyone riding public transportation. Which is why this is now the perfect time of year to cosy up your home with soft furnishings and scented candles. Nothing says bliss like watching hours of television in my fluffy robe, curled up on a pile of cushions with a cup of tea, an electric blanket and a roll of ginger nut biscuits. Ahhh.
There are a few things that you can add to your home that will make it instantly feel and look cosier. It doesn’t have to cost much, but a few strategically placed cushions will go a long way to making your winter nights that much more enjoyable. If you don’t plan on being a slug like me, you have probably stopped reading this ages ago and are on your way to a Body Pump class at Fitness First. These may seem obvious to you but try them all together and you’ll welcome the winter nights with open arms and a bag of Doritos.
Cushions
Since I have gotten older, my passion for soft furnishings really has taken off. In my twenties, I practically lived in squalor. I had flatmates who puked up their chicken kebabs on the bathroom floor (vile), lived in a room that the former tenant used as a storage space and and at one point had no lounge. As someone married and out of their twenties, I obsessively search shops and the internet for cushions. A few scattered, mismatched cushions on the couch and our tiny lounge area instantly looks more inviting. A bonus if some are made out of velvet.
Candles
A sweet smelling home is something that I’ve also recently become obsessed with. Any old Glade air freshener won’t do. I must have the scent of vanilla wafting from an open flame at all times. I can’t bring myself to spend my hard-earned money on expensive candles but the £2 pound scented candles from Ikea get the job done. Scouring charity shops and jumble sales for tea light holders is also a good way to instantly create a cosy little haven in your lounge or bedroom. Just don’t fall asleep.
Throws
A good quality throw is worth the investment. I’m not crazy though, I don’t mean something actually expensive - something extra large in size, soft and around £20-25 should be more than enough. The fluffier the better. When not in use, throw it on your couch or over the bottom of your bed (if that isn’t obvious from the name).
Framed Prints
Former flatmates and my husband would all agree that they hate it when I hang stuff all over the walls. I have always been obsessed with covering walls with wallpaper, lovely framed prints, photos, or just plain colourful paint. I hate a bare wall - minimalism has never been my thing. When I was a teenager, my walls were covered with posters of New Kids on the Block. Although my tastes have matured, my desire to hang things on walls has not abated.
An Adult Onesie or Fluffy Robe
I received silk pajamas as a Christmas gift one year. They just felt cold against my skin. Cold winter evenings means you must have flannel, a fluffy robe or an adult onesie. You may enjoy wearing silk nighties, old sweatpants or leggings but try sinking into a pile of cushions in one of the above. My favourite thing to wear in the winter is a floor length flannel nightgown with a sheep pattern on them. I’ve had it since I was a teenager and it’s in remarkably good shape considering how long ago that was. It’s not sexy but it’s warm, doesn’t bind me at the waist and a bonus is when I glide down the stairs towards the front door to receive my Dominoes pizza, I look like a Victorian ghost.
Credits
Wood multi wall frame, £65, OLIVER BONAS, Floral cushion cover, £30, Urbanoutfitters.co.uk, Grey blanket throw, £12.49, H&M Home, Noix de Tubereuse scented candle, £34, MILLER HARRIS, Green cushion, £19.50, Marks & Spencer, Pink and white fluffy robe, £14, F+F at Tesco, Little My Moomin Mug, £17, AtomicInteriors.co.uk, White rabbit art print, £13, by corelladesign on Etsy.com
Main image: Owl Cushion, £24, Urban Outfitters