Creating a cozy winter home doesn’t have to be complicated. And it doesn’t require a lot of things. Mostly, it begins with being content with what you have and being intentional with what you add to your home.
We are finding ourselves in the middle of the cozy winter home season and this one feels different than previous years. Maybe it’s the mild temperatures we have experienced. Maybe it’s the vitamin D I’ve been taking every day. Or just maybe, my perspective has shifted…in the best possible way. {My 2020 word may have something to do with it too…click HERE to read what I shared.}
Instead of focusing on what I would like my house to look like, I am embracing what it does look like. Knowing that creating a cozy winter home {or any season} will take a lifetime. This season {of weather and} in life will only last so long. And while I find myself in the midst of an especially full season, when my family is home on these cold winter days and nights, I want them to enjoy our cozy winter home.
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We’ve made some little changes throughout the house that have made our home feel so much different than a year ago. At that time, we had only been living here for a few months and I really didn’t have an idea of the direction our home would take. 15 months after moving in and the “vibe” of our home has just kind of happened. And I am very happy about that.
DINING ROOM VIBES
Look! Our recent hallway and staircase makeover flows so well into our dining room.
It was so fun to participate in a $100 Room Challenge last month. Those always require a bit of creativity due to the budget, but they’re a favorite for me. {Click HERE for the final reveal!}
Now, do me a favor and take a peek all the way through to our living room and remember what you see tucked back there! Oh and this $4 flower bouquet has added a little bit of sunshine to our dining room.
Even the dog is enjoying our cozy winter home. And since she isn’t allowed into our dining room, this is where you will find her three times a day: at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. {Click HERE for this blue dresser makeover.}
COZY LIVING ROOM VIBES
Remember that clue I gave you from our dining room? Here it is…I added a love seat to our living room.
My goal for our home is that it works FOR my family. Previously, there were two large rattan chairs here. They were pretty amazing…and super comfy. But nobody sat in them. Well, minus James for 15 minutes every morning while he read his Bible and sipped his coffee.
I had a hunch though. That if I changed out the furniture here, it would be used. Kind of a “if you build it, they will come” idea. Guess what? I was right!
Now here’s the thing. This wasn’t a big purchase. When we added our amazing sofa to our home, we knew it was an investment piece. {Click HERE for the post all about it!} But I knew that adding the matching love seat was not in our budget, and so, I settled for an IKEA Ektorp.
REAL WINTER LIFE
When we moved from our farmhouse, we left the warm wood stove that would help dry out all the kid’s winter gear. Our solution in this home is to hang hooks on the built-in around our radiator in the living room. Soaking wet mittens dry really well here. {All our winter gear is shared in a favorite tiny space makeover: our coat closet…click HERE.}
We get asked if we own a snowblower. Nope. We’ve got teenagers…and when James joins in, the shoveling goes even faster!
This is typically what our property looks like from December through March. It’s just the way life is and we adjust by having proper winter gear…and a good attitude.
And digging tunnels helps too!
HALF BATH/LAUNDRY ROOM VIBES
While we were out of town earlier this winter, we came home to a dripping washing machine. And while it is no longer leaking, we added a tray underneath it to protect our wood floors. {Did you know I sanded these floors on my own? Click HERE for the amazing before and after pics!}
And no, the laundry never ends. But I love the warmth this rug has added to our half bath/laundry room. {Click HERE to see when I added it to this room.}
I’ve also been going through the home decor that has been in storage and found these two frames. James made them at our farmhouse out of a pallet I picked up along the side of the road. This spot was empty and so, these pics ended up here. They aren’t hung up, just leaned up against the wall, so it is easy to move them if I find another spot. {I recently gave our full bathroom a refresh too: click HERE to see the changes that were made.}
Alright, it might get a little weird here. But, we have a potty problem in my house. “No one” is able to change the toilet paper except Mom. Turns out, Mom is tired of that. So she made it very easy for everyone else by filling a basket with tp. Notice the location and proximity.
Happy to report that the success rate has greatly increased since instituting this little experiment. 😉
Just a few little changes to our home this winter. Each has been intentional and serves a purpose. If our needs change, we will adjust, but this is all working so well right now.
I encourage you to take a look around your home and evaluate if there are any areas that need some tweaking. Take some time to figure out what is not working. Then think about what would work better. After that, look at what you already own. You may even have the solution under your roof. And if not, realistically look at your budget and see what is feasible to do. Instead of being frustrated with how your home is not working, make it work FOR YOU!
COZY WINTER PLAYLIST
Click HERE for a free cozy playlist to listen to this winter.
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