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Try a new paint shade A lick of paint is all it takes to transform a cool summer space to a cosy, moody room ready for winter, especially when you opt for the ‘full drip’, painting skirtings and ceilings the same colour to maximise height and cocooning. The great thing about paint is that it can be easily changed if it doesn’t pan out and is cost-effective, making it an accessible solution for when you want to make a seasonal change. Annie Sloan paint in Knightsbridge Green Pick from a range of lovely deep, earthy colours from Irish paint brand Acres Hall, a family-run boutique company with 120 luxury handmade eco-friendly paints inspired by the Irish landscape.
Change up your textiles Wool blend cushion, €34, marksandspencer.com Swapping out your lighter cushions and throws for warmer, cosier options is a quick and easy way to transition from one season to the next. Using different weights and fabrics animates a room and creates depth and visual interest.
Think chunky knits and cosy wool, faux fur, lush velvet and boucle that invite warmth, and deeper, richer tones that ground your room for the new season. Faux fur throw, €60, Paul Costelloe at Dunnes Stores; dunnesstores.com Paul Costelloe’s creamy faux fur throws and cushions, available at Dunnes Stores, look great layered with Marks & Spencer’s wool and boucle blend abstract cushions in earthy shades.
Lay down underfoot decor Rug, €402, rugs.ie A rug is often the starting block for designing a room, anchoring the space and dictating the colour scheme, but can also be art for the floor; it’s the perfect way to be bold without committing to a whole area. Having softness underfoot should be the first thing you feel entering a living room or bedroom on a winter’s evening — the bonus is a statement-making rug that doubles as art and absorbs the cold and sound.
For a show-stopping rug, consider one that plays with shape and pattern, such as artist Garance Vallee’s collection for Nordic Knots, with totemic cut-outs and transformed angles. For something more traditional in shape with modern twists, rugs.ie has handpicked designs from elegant Persian designs to striking abstract pieces.
Read more Focal points Swivel armchair, £1,198, anthropologie.com A statement lamp, a dramatic piece of art, a sculptural vase or a piece of furniture that gets everyone talking — the addition of several statement pieces gives the eye more than one focal point to engage with and creates visual intrigue. Mirror, €563, reflections-copenhagen.
com Just ensure it’s enough to add drama without overwhelming the space, such as Anthropologie’s orange chenille swivel chair or Reflections Copenhagen’s Nouveau mirror. Add ambient lighting Wall light, €50.49, pooky.
com In winter, the impulse is to dim the lights, which can result in a cold, flat living space. Instead, swap the harsh overhead light for ambient lighting: table lamps, wall sconces, floor lamps and candles that create those glowing pools of light and cosy corners for reading nooks or to highlight your favourite piece of art. If plug points are an issue, there’s a huge range of cordless lamps available (Ikea, Marks & Spencer, Sostrene Grene, Kave Home) perfect for dotting around the room on bookshelves or side tables which can be easily carried to different spots around your home.
Use nature Wooden stool, €79, townandcountryinteriors.ie A nod to nature — whether that’s a fireside stool for your feet or mug of tea, a wooden display bowl or some foliage from your garden — is a sure-fire way to create the perfect winter interior, balancing rough with comfort. Even a functional pile of logs for your stove can double as a lovely winter display if stacked nicely.
Books and board games Hay backgammon set, €55, industryandco.com It’s so tempting to flake in front of the TV after a day’s work and forget all about the glut of books in the bookcases behind it or the stack of board games gathering dust in the cupboard nearby. And yet reading is one of the joys of winter, especially in a warm, cosy living room with the right reading light and warm blanket.
Coffee table book, €28, nordiccelements.com Just last week, I dusted off the Cluedo box in lieu of the kids’ screen time and we rediscovered our love of the family board game. Leave them on show, I say.
Break out the chess board and the monopoly and carve out a reading nook. If they’re looking a bit tattered and you’d prefer your board games to be ‘stylish’, Hay’s backgammon and chess sets are playful and chic, adding that hit of style to your coffee table. Please the senses Hygge scented candle, €39, brownthomas.
com Apart from the appeal of the flicker of candlelight, the power of scent for changing up the mood and atmosphere of a room can’t be underestimated. It’s usually the final layer to any home and a simple way to change up the feel of your home with the seasons. Choosing a scented candle or diffuser with headier, smoky notes marks that shift in atmosphere, such as Daylesford’s new Log Fire candle available from Hedgeroe Home or Skandinavisk’s Hygge candle from Brown Thomas, which hits just the right note of winter cosiness with black tea, mint leaves, dried apples and cinnamon.
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