The Weather Outside is Frightful, But the Colors Inside Are Delightful
Warm Decorating Ideas for the Cold Winter

Provided by: Christina Kittelstad

Winter has arrived, time to transform your home into a winter wonderland and enjoy the chilly months ahead. Whether you can't wait to venture outside into the Colorado winter or just want to relax indoors by the fire and watch the snow fall, this is the perfect opportunity to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere with just a few simple seasonal decorating updates to your home.

Indulge in Dramatic Colors
When it's frightful outside, consider creating an inviting retreat with dramatic colors inside. Rich colors such as gold, amber, orange, scarlet, crimson, sage, olive, plum and violet tones are all excellent colors to incorporate into your home in a variety of ways.
Color Tip: A few great paint colors I recommend taking color tips from are:
Inviting Ivory - SW 6372, Ambitious Amber - SW 6366, Fine Wine - SW 6307, Poinsettia - SW 6594, Clary Sage - SW 6178 and Wood Violet - SW 6557.
(All of these suggested colors are found at your local Sherwin Williams paint store).

Luxurious Lounging Through Layering
Just as you layer your clothing in the winter months, layering your home is just as important when creating a comfy atmosphere that encourages relaxed lounging, book reading, and napping by a crackling fire. The easiest way to achieve this is to layer your home with large fleece blankets, quilts, down comforters, pillows, heavier drapes, and floor rugs. Don't forget to also layer your home through heavier accessories such as large vases, good books, thick candles and colorful artwork that have richer colors, heavier textures and stronger patterns. When layering, consider using winter friendly fabrics such as fleece, velvet, or down to turn up the warmth factor.
Color Tip: Use reversible colored drapes, table cloths and pillows that can be easily switched according to the season.

Get Your Glow On With Great Lighting
Lighting is one of the easiest ways to create an ambient home and encourage rejuvenation during the shorter winter days when concentration and motivation are more difficult to muster. Placing your lights on dimmers is an excellent way to control the amount of light in your home and create a warm, inviting atmosphere for entertaining or relaxing. If you want to splurge, adding a sparkling chandelier to your entryway or dining room can do wonders for creating a gentle glow in your home. Scented candles are another way to bring calm lighting, color, and decorating sense into your space.
Color Tip: Select candles in shades of gold, amber, or crimson and add cinnamon oil for a wonderfully scented focal point.

Green It Up
Just because the warmer days are a memory, it doesn't mean you have to say good-bye to enjoying the benefits that live plants have to offer your home and health. Consider decorating with Poinsettias, Christmas cactus, Holly, Mistletoe, Evergreen or Pine. If you want to enjoy a colorful plant that brings the feel of warmer, more exotic weather into your home, growing orchids is an excellent alternative.
Color Tip: Create a winter wreath for your front door or hearth, with pine or evergreen branches, pinecones and your favorite colored ribbon. Place a few drops of cinnamon oil around it for scent and enjoy!

Color (and Cookies) in the Kitchen
While you enjoy sprucing your home up for the cold days that lay ahead, don't forget to fuel up before and after your decorating fun, by indulging in a few colorful treats that celebrate the season such as homemade gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, holiday cookies, pumpkin pie, cider or some hot peppermint cocoa.

Color Tip: Bring some warm colors into the kitchen by displaying a favorite bowl filled with healthy and colorful Clementine's, thick hand towels, or a large scented candle on your countertop. There are many seasonal scents like pumpkin, vanilla or cinnamon that evoke a warm, " I just baked something yummy" scent in your home.

I hope all of these color and decorating ideas will spark your imagination and encourage you to transform your home into a warm, glowing and peaceful haven that you look forward to coming home to each day and truly enjoying when it's howling outside. Happy Nesting!