Warm It Up!

It's a classic decorating quandary: How can you keep a home looking warm and inviting once the holiday decorations come down?

The solution? Make seasonal changes with color, texture, and cozy touches. Here are six ideas for doing just that.

Tweak your decor with the addition of darker colors -- in paint, rugs, pillows, or other accessories. This bedroom has a bordered duvet cover for winter that can be switched for paler or brighter colors in summer.

 

A chocolate brown blanket and luscious persimmon-colored duvet cover give this all-white bed a winter makeover, yet the same technique could be used in a living room as well. Try slipcovers to update the look of summer-weight upholstery.

By the same token, it's easy to replace summer pillows with versions better suited to the season -- perhaps with covers made from velvet, chenille, or corduroy. Bring in cozy throws to warm toes while reading.

Light a fire and pull chairs a bit closer to the fireplace. Or put down a dark Oriental rug. These touches will serve your rooms well and offer the warmer look that's just right for the winter months.

Top 10 Ways to Cozy Up for Winter