18 Winter Decorating Ideas to Make Your Home Feel Extra Cozy After Christmas
Create a winter wonderland of your own with these mantel, front porch, and living room decorations.
Christmas may be "the most wonderful time of the year," but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate all that the winter season brings in the months to follow. Tap into the season's sweeping feeling of cozy and calm by dressing your home with these winter decorating ideas. These gorgeous decorations — some easy winter crafts, some ready-made — highlight everything that makes the post-Christmas months merry and bright: the enchanting aroma of citrus and pine, warm nights cuddled up by the fire, frost-covered front lawns, and so much more.
Although most of the ideas stay away from traditional Christmas colors and embellishments, many can be arranged well before December 25 and stay up until we usher in the spring season. You can go big or small with these winter decorations — string fresh garland across your fireplace mantel, craft together a custom centerpiece to make family dinners feel extra-special, hang a winter wreath on your front door, make your living room feel as magical as a Hallmark Christmas movie with decorations galore, or all of the above. The more, the merrier ... right?
Mitten Garland
Clip an assortment of colorful mittens to a clothesline for something that's just as functional as it is eye-catching. Just make sure you keep it within reach, so that everyone can get a hold of their favorites.
RELATED: Winter Crafts That Anyone Can Make
Embellished Embroidery Hoop Wreath
Wrap two embroidery hoops — one small, one large — with different shades of red thread, and then finish it off with fresh or faux pine branches and a medley of hand-painted pinecones.
RELATED: Winter Wreaths That You Can DIY
Winter Village Tablescape
Bring winter straight to your dining room by lining the table runner with bottle brush trees, woodland creatures, and tiny houses.
Paper Lantern Sky
Paper lanterns of all sizes, shapes, and colors dress up a wall of windows, providing a pretty backdrop for family photos.
Potted Paperwhites
These winter blooms really make a statement once they're potted in birch bark-covered planters. Scatter some pinecones and votive candles nearby to fill any empty space.
Wooden Snowflake Tablescape
Forget red and green — this understated tablescape relies on muted tones, beaded decorations, and natural beauty (think: twigs and acorns).
Fresh Winter Greenery
Make even the smallest of spaces feel as bright and beautiful as the great doors by bringing the outside in. Spruce up fireplace mantels, bannisters, shelves, and wall mirrors with live greenery.
Rich Plaid Accents
Even your bedroom could use a winter refresh: Keep it simple by dressing the bed with a plaid throw pillow and coordinating blanket.
Subtle Seasonal Window Accents
If you do it right, then you can hang up your decorations before Christmas and leave 'em up all winter long. These wreaths, decked out with wooden beads and artificial pine branches, really shine on any blank wall, window, or door.
Bottle Brush Tree Centerpiece
Warm up your home with tons of rustic charm, from buffalo plaid blankets to snow-covered tabletop trees. Round up a dozen or so bottle brush trees in an antique wooden box for an easy centerpiece.
Frosted Faux Fruit
Upgrade a bounty of decorative fruit — pears, grapes, apples, you name it — with a dusting of artificial snow, glittery or otherwise.
Rustic Wreath
Trade garland and twinkle lights for this gorgeous wreath, embellished with large pinecones, fresh greens, and winter white flowers.
Dried Citrus Garland
Not only do air-dried orange slices smell great, but they're a more affordable way to customize a standard garland. String it along a bannister, mantel, or shelf, depending on what look you're going for.
Metallic Place Setting
Even if your parties are smaller in scale, you can still make them feel as glamorous as ever with perfectly coordinated place settings, complete with coordinating plates, flatware, and decorative accents in varying heights.
Dramatic Garland
Lean on fresh greens to bring the drama to the hearth of your home: the fireplace. For a bolder statement, sprinkle in a mix of pinecones, ribbons, and berries.
Evergreen Swag
Stick a freshly-cut bough above your headboard to bring the warm and cozy feeling into your bedroom. Then it's up to you whether you want to add in spruce accents to the rest of your space.
Hot Cocoa Bar
Hot cocoa is the unofficial drink of the winter season — no questions asked. For the meantime, turn your coffee bar into a hot cocoa bar, so you can sip on the chocolatey-marshmallow goodness all season long.
Galvanized Planters
Who says Christmas trees should be reserved for December 25? Not us. Place mini trees in galvanized planters and stick them outside your front door for a beautiful outdoor display.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
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