Winter is a time to slow down and enjoy the quiet comfort of your home, to nourish, nurture and nest
Words Carrol Baker
As the weather cools down, there’s nothing like kicking off your shoes, wrapping yourself in a warm woollen throw and relaxing at home. The mood is peaceful, it’s relaxed, and it’s all about comfort.
Feeling cosy is like a big warm embrace; it lowers your heart rate, it helps you feel calmer. The science of cosy is a fascinating one. When you feel cosy, your brain emits feel-good hormones, dopamine and oxytocin. Feeling cosy makes you happier, and research shows it also improves your creativity.
In winter, nature gently slows down. It is the season of peace, of rejuvenation and renewal. Winter can also be a time of wonderful get-togethers with friends, and evenings spent by a roaring fire, sharing warming winter dishes. Creating a home that is cosy is something both you and your guests will enjoy.
Author Kate Hanley says feeling cosy really matters. “Seeking cosiness is more than just a comfort measure — it’s a survival mechanism that boosts all aspects of health,” she writes.
Gemütlichkeit is a German word that translates to warmth, good cheer, and a sense of belonging. We are a human-centric society — relationships with others matter. Creating a cosy welcoming home, where friends and family can connect, fosters our innate desire for togetherness. Regardless of the season, you want your home to be inviting, with a welcoming ambience.
Can you feel it?
“Atmospherics” means effects that are created to curate a certain mood or atmosphere in a space. It can apply to any number of creative or organic forms of art, including music, literature, architecture and interiors. To create warm winter interiors, designer Emma Blomfield suggests layering. “It really is the best way to add cosy vibes to your living spaces,” she says. “Think about textures and textiles, from fabric sofas, throw rugs, printed linen or boucle fabric cushions to beautiful linen curtains and wool rugs for the floors.”
Take stock of your interiors and declutter spaces if necessary to create the cosy feels. Refresh your spaces with a deep clean. Swap out warmer-season decor for winter accessories.
Creating cosy vibes
The psychology of colour plays a role in creating warm cosy interiors. Emma says it’s all entwined with the human psyche. “Colour has a profound impact on our moods and studies show the benefits of surrounding ourselves with colour,” she says.
When applying colour, there are a few rules of thumb, according to Emma. “Choose three to five colours per room and then carry one to two colours from room to room to create some cohesion,” she explains. “For example, if you have blue tones in your living room, bring one of those blue tones into the dining room.”
When opting for a colour palette to inspire a sense of cosy, aim for warm undertones with your colour choices. “That means colours such as warm creamy whites, taupes, yellows and other citrus tones as well as pinks and peachy corals,” notes Emma. “Steer clear of colours such as cool greys, crisp blues and charcoal tones which can feel too cool to be cosy.”
Winter curtains and soft furnishings
In home design, curtains play a significant role. They add privacy, colour, texture, and control the light coming into a space. Jarred Parkinson from Maurice Kain says thoughtfully chosen curtains and blinds transform a house into a home, wrapping each room in a sense of warmth and comfort. “Soft, flowing curtains instantly create an inviting atmosphere,” he says. “Textured fabrics such as linen looks and boucle yarns are a popular trend, adding depth and tactility, helping to diffuse natural light for a soft, glowing effect.”
Jarred adds that layering sheer curtains over block-out blinds offers both practicality and a designer edge, giving you flexibility in light control while enhancing the aesthetic, making the room feel thoughtfully curated. “With an increased focus on sustainability in all aspects of the home, Maurice Kain and Four Families offer both curtain and blind fabrics using recycled polyester yarn,” he says. “Each metre of fabric uses between 40 and 60 one-litre post-consumer PET bottles, preventing them from entering landfill. The recycled yarn meets all the high-level performance criteria required for window furnishings in Australia.”
Lighting to add cosy winter feels
The artistry of lighting is a skill that can transform your living spaces. Changing up your lighting as we move into the cooler months of the year can help to set the scene for comfort. Tara Pollard from Alti Lighting says using indirect low-level lighting is the ideal way to transition into the evening.
“Table lamps, floor lamps or indirect lighting eases us gently into winding down for the night,” notes Tara. “The softness and warmth of the light allows you to relax and slow down after
a day of stimulation and activity.”
To create warm pockets of gentle light in a space, Tara suggests portable rechargeable lamps. “Position a lamp wherever you like — on a bookshelf, a coffee table, by the bath, outside dining, balconies, the options are endless,” she enthuses.
To bring warmth and depth into an area, use several distinct types of lighting. “Layered lighting involves different light sources in one space but won’t over-light the room. For example, you might have some direct downlighting over a kitchen island, as well as concealed LED strip lighting over a back countertop, complemented by an ambient table or floor lamp in the dining or living room,” she suggests. “Each light source is performing a different task in each area, but in essence the light is gently and indirectly travelling around the room, providing softness, warmth and tranquillity.”
Comfort underfoot
The sumptuous soft feel of carpeting or rugs adds an immediate sense of cosiness. Chanel Bragg from Wautier Carpets says a great rug is the ultimate accent, instantly warming up cold hard floors, creating a soft, inviting surface underfoot, while reducing noise for a peaceful ambience. “With rich colours and plush pile heights, a rug transforms any room into a cosy winter haven,” she shares.
The key for winter warmth is texture and layering. “For ultimate luxury, choose merino wool for its soft, insulating and naturally durable qualities, or add a touch of lustred elegance with Lumi silk via Wautier Carpets, a premium shiny faux silk also renowned for its easy cleaning.”
And for a unique twist, Chanel suggests considering rami, an eco-friendly, natural fibre resembling linen. It’s been used for centuries, particularly in Asia, to bring natural elements in. “These materials not only enhance comfort, but also bring a sophisticated, winter-ready ambience to any space.” Chanel says oversized patterns and mural-esque designs are also making an enormous impact, as well as colours such as chartreuse and rich winey burgundies.
This winter, Chanel suggests investing in a quality rug or carpet as the finishing touch to your warm winter haven. “Our studio with dedicated design team focuses on creating the perfect rug or wall-to-wall carpet design for our clients’ homes with their interior architects and designers,” she says.
Stoke the fire
If you’ve never considered adding a fireplace to ramp up the cosy feels, Natalie Tarabay from Chazelles Fireplaces says adding a fireplace adds real value. “It can be a primary or a secondary heating source in your house, and it creates a wonderful ambience most people love, whether indoors or out.”
Modern fireplaces have evolved over the decades, with new innovative features and safety guidelines. “In Australia we have strict guidelines to abide by for wood-burning fireplaces, so the wood-burning fireplaces are much more efficient and friendly to the environment. They meet less than one gm emission per kilo of wood burnt, which is amazing,” notes Natalie. “Wood is a 100 per cent renewable source so it’s a no brainer that we should be using wood fires.”
Electric fires have also come a long way, adds Natalie. “We have the option of holographic and vapour electric fireplaces, which look a lot better than older electric LED flames,” she points out. “The older models do still remain quite popular, however, as they are a cheaper option.”
From chaos to cosy in five
Most of us have been there. You’ve been roped into a last-minute impromptu get together and guests are arriving soon. Emma advises how, in a few minutes, you can give your home a mini makeover to add warmth and comfort. “For starters, light a candle. That’ll add ambience and kill off any house smells such as pet odours really quickly,” she says.
Grab some blooms from the garden and add them to a vase on the kitchen bench or dining table. Pop a few stems from the same posy in a smaller bud vase for the bathroom vanity. Plump up the lounge cushions and add a warm throw. “Then crack open your best hand soaps and lotions along with a fancier hand towel than your usual day-to-day ones to add a touch of luxe for your guests when they visit the powder room,” she suggests.
If you’ve a little extra time, throw a batch of muffins or cookies in the oven for a tasty warming treat that will also make your home smell wonderful. Find your favourite laid-back tunes on Spotify and put on lamps to add light and warmth to dark corners.
