Winter Makeover

12 Dec

Winter Makeover

As the mercury dips and we head inside, these top 10 tips will have your home looking cozy and incredible instantly.

1. Create an accent wall. The project doesn’t have to be huge. Simply choose one wall, or bulkhead even, and re-paint it in a deep, saturated colour – the perfect antidote to the cold weather outside. The russet of CIL DL05, or a spicy pumpkin shade like CIL MC11 are good choices, as is the deliciously nutty Behr 750D-6.

2. Warm up furnishings. You don’t have to reupholster; instead, simply cozy up the couch with a plush throw (or how about making over a favourite wing chair by wrapping the seat cushion in faux-fur?) and some plush pillows.

3. Swap area rugs. Replace warm-weather rugs with softer, thicker ones. Bold geometrics and oversized patterns add drama and when cast in soft wools, they add warmth, too.

4. Envelop your space. Keep out the chill and create intimacy by dressing windows in thick, gorgeous draperypanels. Hang them floor-to-ceiling and go for showstoppers, since, in winter, draperies often remain closed, recasting windows as walls. Choose a jewel tone, especially in dramatic textiles like velvet or silk. Fabrics like corduroy and flannel also create a cozy mood.

5. Dim the lights. It may at first seem counter-intuitive, but bright indoor lighting only accentuates the thin, pale quality of winter skies. So, if you haven’t already, invest in dimmers for all overhead lights.

6. Add accent lighting. Once you’ve dimmed the lights, you’ll want to create cuddly zones in each room. Do that with strategically placed table and floor lamps. Glass and mirrored bases will reflect light, giving a lustrous starry quality to rooms, while twig or wood lamps will create a rustic, cabin-like ambience.

7. Bring style with still lifes. Craft meaningful and memorable displays for tabletops, bookshelves, or sills. Borrow a trick from room fluffers and prop stylists and think in multiples: logs stacked by a fireplace, oranges amassed in a bowl, an occasional table loaded full of crystal (or pewter) candlesticks or a row of snow globes from a personal collection.

8. Makeover your photos. Reframing your photos and family artwork gives them a whole new lease on life. Gold achieves a luxurious and particularly festive effect, but polished chrome or silver are equally lustrous. And consider grouping a range of different sized frames together to create a gallery-inspired effect. The look is dramatic for a wall leading up a flight of stairs, above a sofa or in a dining room.

9. Install a fireplace. Electric models are easily installed (plug them in presto, there’s your hearth!) and they not only add the romance of those flickering flames, but they’ll also heat the room on cold winter nights. (Bonus: Many electric fireplace units even come complete with a mantel – the ideal perch for candles and charming displays.)

10. Perfume the air. Home fragrance does wonders to create atmosphere. Room sprays or scented sticks come in the most delicious options from cinnamon and fig to rose and sandalwood – whatever soothes your personal soul. Or decorate with scented candles; they do double-duty, adding both twinkle and inviting aroma to your wintertime home.

Just in time for the holidays: Now that your home has a cozy new look, bring in the festive spirit by…

  • Creating a forest of trees. Mimic the grand tree installed in the corner with smaller versions scattered throughout the house, on a landing between floors or on a console or on a coffee table. Keep them all the same colour or texture (feathers, red glass or silver) to unify and avoid visual clutter.
  • Rethinking the garlands. Beyond evergreen, garlands crafted from strings of light, willow branches or dogwood bring a crafty touch of nature and are more whimsical than the traditional greenery.
  • Opting for a daring accent colour. Deep reds and greens may be traditional holiday hues, but tangerine or chartreuse offer exciting counterpoints, as do gem tones like amethyst and turquoise. Opt for a shade that works with your interior and collect ornaments in that unusual hue. Group them in bowls, string them across tables, dress your tree with them and even accessorize your wreath with the accent hue.
  • Personalizing your tabletop décor. Centrepieces are typically constructed of candles, but by adding natural elements – evergreen boughs studded with oranges, pomegranates and even pineapples, for example – you can create a more personal statement. Scatter votives throughout to achieve a romantic glow.

Contact your REALTOR at Coldwell Banker Vantage Realty for more tips and advice on home renovations during the holidays.

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