10 WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR HOME FOR WINTER
Although the last couple of days in Chicago have been gorgeous, winter will be here before you know it! With the craziness going on in the world right now along with the below zero temperatures that might be in our future, we'll be spending a good amount of time in our homes. There are so many small little things you can change around in your house to give yourself a fresh feel before the winter months hit. I love making changes to the spaces my family and I spend a lot of time in once or twice a year - it makes your home feel brand new! Here are my 10 tips to refresh your home this winter:
1. Declutter and Reorganize
During the warmer months, it's easy to collect things in your home that don't actually add any value or serve any purpose, ESPECIALLY if you have kids. You're outside, running from place to place - trust me, I know it's easy! A great way to refresh your home before winter is to declutter and make every drawer and countertop feel intentional. Decluttering and reorganizing will make you feel more refreshed and productive while you're inside and at home for the winter months.
I love to start by going through all my items in a single area and getting rid of things I don't need. From there, I usually try to find some type of organizational tool or system that will allow me to find the items I need easily. The key is organizing in a system that you'll actually use so that things go back where they need to go. Only you know what will work for you and your family! Now that you have a clean slate, it's time to refresh your decor.
2. Paint
If you want to go big with your home refresh, adding paint can change the whole look and feel of a room. It's the perfect way to revamp your space to one that is cozy and perfect for the winter. You can go as big or small as you want with this! Whether you're painting your walls or your side table, switching up your space with a few coats of paint is an easy way to hit reset on a room without breaking the bank.
Here are some colors we would recommend to give your space a revamp:
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3. Add Winter Decor
I always say I cope with the cold weather by offsetting my dislike for below zero days with my LOVE for winter decor. Switching out your decor for the seasons is a great way to put yourself in that seasonal mood and gives yourself a great way to process the change. It may be hard to accept that the warm weather is over, but adding your favorite winter accessories around the house may just put you in the mood to drink hot chocolate and embrace the change! There are so many different paths you can take with winter decor, it just depends on your style. I'd recommend looking on places like Pintrest to get an idea for the look you want and buying decor similar to the photo you love!
Here are some decor that would be great for the winter months:
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4. Add In Winter Greenery
I'm all about including greenery and flowers throughout your space to really bring it to life. It breaks up your decor and adds an element of life that - especially in the winter - is so needed! Adding winter flowers and plants are an awesome way to bring your winter decor together. I love incorporating branches and cedar. It gives off a sophisticated look and makes my house smell amazing! There are a ton of different plants and arrangements that will bring your home together, just pick the ones you love!
5. Add Warmth To Your Home
Incorporating candles around your home is not only a great way to cozy up your space but also adds great scents to boost your mood! The nice thing about candles are that they can fit into so many different spaces and can be incorporated in so many different ways. As we've talked about before, the key to great decor is to make everything look intentional. There are so many great candles that will look nice with the rest of your decor and smell great at the same time.
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6. Add Custom Pillows
Custom pillows are one of my favorite ways to add fun patterns and textures into a home. I'm not saying you have to switch them out for every season, but finding the right style that fits your taste can give your home the style and comfort you need to get you through those winter months! When your choosing your fabric, make sure you think about the different decor it will have to match with throughout the year and play up the designs to really showcase your style!
7. Add Blankets
Blankets during the winter are a MUST. Adding throw blankets that are cozy but also match the style of your space is so important. It's always better to buy things that add to the look of your interior design rather than take away from it! When it gets to be cold outside, I always think I need 50 blankets to keep me warm. If you're the same way, I recommend getting some type of storage for them - whether that's a wicker basket or a bin that can fit in the corner of your room.
8. Switch Your Fans
Refreshing your home for the winter isn't just about making your home look great, it's about making it feel great too! Keeping your fan on in the winter might seem a little counterintuitive, but they're actually great for managing the climate of your home. Turning your ceiling fan to spin clockwise at a low speed in the winter will pull the cool air up towards the ceiling. This prevents that "warm air rises" effect by blowing the cool air up and bringing the warm air from the ceiling down towards the floor.
Keep the fan at a low temperature to avoid draft but still keep a consistent airflow. It's important to keep good air circulation in your home and also helps with your heating bill!
9. Make Sure Your Windows And Doors Are Sealed
When it's below zero, you'll want to make sure you keep every ounce of warmth inside the house. At the beginning of every winter, it's a good rule of thumb to check all your windows and door treatments and make sure there are no spots where air is able to get in. The first step is to locate the leak, even if that just means walking your home on a drafty day and locating places where you can feel air blowing in. It's important to clean and dry the surface you'll be sealing in order for the caulk to adhere properly. From there, simply caulking the areas that are bringing in the air can be a quick fix to help reduce your heating bills and keep all the cold air out.
10. Humidify
Winters in the midwest can be super dry. Adding a humidifier into your home will help add some moisture into the air and keep those sinuses flowing! I add humidifiers to all the bedrooms in our home as well as in different places around the house when the weather is feeling particularly dry.
We hope this list gave you some ideas on how to refresh your home for the winter months. We'd love to see how you incorporated our tips! Tag us @MegMade on Instagram and Facebook, and we'll feature you on our page!