INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS

A switch to cozier slipcovers on the sofa and vases filled with wintry flowers and greenery will help transport you to another place.

As someone raised in the South – a region rich with a long tradition of hospitality – I learned early on that the most memorable homes are the ones in which you feel welcome. From the moment you step over the threshold, and often even before you do, these homes seem to embrace their inhabitants, visitors, and living itself. You instantly feel a sense of ease in everything from the overall home décor arrangement of a room to the smallest gestures of comfort. And while any house should be warm and welcoming, this feeling is essential in a winter house that you often share with guests. “Ah, there is nothing like staying home for real comfort.” Jane Austen

Though you may greet people with the words “make yourself at home,” you can extend this invitation in many unspoken ways as well. Guests first experience a sense of welcome outside as they come up the front walk and then when they enter the foyer.

One of the most remarkable interior décor aspects of a winter house is its ability to draw people together, and I find that there are three main common areas where everyone naturally tends to congregate: the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen. These bustling centers of activity are the heart of your winter house (or any house for that matter – what is it about the kitchen?) Everyone wants to gather there.

THE LIVING ROOM…..

The living room is the first real room you enter. I love the main seating area to have all the furniture essentials to make a comfortable space: a comfortable sofa, chairs placed for conversation and a coffee table. The biggest requirement for a living room in any house is lots of seating, with the main requirement being that everyone is comfortable. Some of the best INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS include varying chair sizes, shapes and fabrics to ease the formality of the living room, as does the addition of plenty of ottomans and footstools for putting your feet up when you sit down. When a room has all of these essentials, the mood is relaxed.  I like a slight mismatch here and there to keep things from looking too “done” a room that says, come in, sit and relax.

Books are among my favorite possessions, and they are an absolute necessity, because reading is a classic winter-house activity. A coffee table layered with books will completely change the feeling of any room to that of comfort saying “welcome, come in, make yourself at home and relax”.

THE DINING AREA….

Almost any meal is a cause for celebration in a winter house. Of course, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve are the ones we think of in winter, but there are also more intimate dinners and luncheons celebrating the gathering of old friends which are meaningful. Large or small, these gatherings say so much about the hospitality of our homes and contribute to the warmth of time we spend in our house in the winter.

THE KITCHEN…

Good things come from the kitchen of a winter house: I just love having something alive, green and fragrant growing indoors when it’s cold outside. Potted herbs such as fresh rosemary are attractive, fragrant and useful. As a reminder of nature’s sleeping beauty outside.  As the outdoor garden is barren in winter, we have the opportunity to create a winter garden indoors. Having things inside that are fresh, green, and alive is a special treat and is an absolute necessity. A simple boxwood ring around a hurricane brings in the outdoors and a wonderful winter fragrance to any room.

POWDER ROOMS…

Powder rooms may be small in square footage, but they can – and should – have a big impact. Sometimes it’s a lot easier to experiment in powder rooms; after all, they are only visited for a few moments. If you’re brave enough to try out bold designs in these small rooms, it will enable you to take more risks in larger spaces.

A SPACE OF ONE’S OWN…

Private quarters or guest retreats…

All houses need quiet spots where you can get away from everything and everyone. This retreat might be a separate room, such as a study, or simply a corner in an existing room. A window seat with lots of pillows will create a cozy corner to any space. It’s the perfect spot to curl up with a good book or just look out the window to view a winter landscape. It’s not the physical configuration that matters, but the feeling created there.  When guests are staying with you, they should be able to enjoy their own private moments. You can make guests feel special in their own spaces through your decoration, linens, accessories, and thoughtful extra touches. Aim for a feeling of comfort for the duration of their stay with little luxuries like a bed tray. When planning your guest rooms, ask yourself, “What will make your guest comfortable? Have you slept in your guest bedroom lately? It’s the only way to discover what works and what doesn’t. No matter how beautifully a guest room is decorated, it must be inviting, comfortable, and well stocked.

So when you think of winter, think of making your home cozy, inviting and a fun place to be… A place where guests feel comfortable… A place where you can’t wait to walk through the door and feel the warmth and coziness of just being home…  A place where memories are made. This is another in my series of home interior designs; I hope that you can use them to make your home a cozy winter retreat.

Written by Cynthia Aiken

“Atlanta’s own Interior Designer”