Stylist secrets for warming up your home this winter

If there’s one thing that’s certain, layers of texture are essential when creating a cosy winter interior. From faux fur throws to velvet bed linen and heavy weight curtains, we caught up with the stylists at west elm and Pottery Barn Australia recently for their take on how to warm up your home this chilly season.

The living room
“Winter is about getting cosy on the couch and sleep-ins on rainy days. In the living room, adding cushions and throws with lots of texture creates warmth,” says west elm’s lead visual manager Rhys Duggan who loves using the brand’s Candlewick cushions and faux fur throws to achieve this look.

west elm Candlewick cushion range — west elm’s Candlewick cushion range

Pottery Barn Australia’s lead visual manager Ebony Quaid uses plenty of texture in winter too. “I like to load up on textiles in the living room. Add extra throws on the sofa and extra blankets on the beds – not only does it add warmth, but the layering creates a sense of visual warmth. Perfect for snuggling on the couch, I always opt for our faux fur,” says Ebony.

Pottery Barn faux fur Ombre throw — Pottery Barn faux fur ombre throw

west elm faux fur Ombre throws — west elm faux fur throws

And layering can also mean literally laying things on top of one another as Ebony likes to do with rugs in her home. “It provides extra warmth underfoot and looks cool if you get the right combination,” says Ebony who believes you should never underestimate the power of window coverings in creating warm spaces either. “You can lock in a lot of warmth by hanging long, heavy curtains to cosy up large open areas.”

Pottery Barn silk curtains — Pottery Barn Dupioni silk curtains

It’s not something that many people do on a regular basis but another way to warm up your home this winter is by shifting your furniture around to capture the season’s light. “My failsafe winter tip is – never be afraid of rearranging your furniture. You can shift key pieces away from draughty spots in the house to lap up the warm winter sun,” says Ebony.

The bedroom
When it comes to bedroom winter styling, changing the bedding is not only a practical necessity but it’s a good chance to change mix things up from an aesthetic perspective too.

“In the bedroom, layer like a stylist and use warm, soft fabrics like organic cotton and Belgian linen – both of which improve with age. Combine one of our lush velvet coverlets and blankets with your quilt cover to add extra layers of warmth and weight,” says Rhys who also recommends rugs made from natural fibres to inject warmth underfoot and lock heat into the home.

west elm's Lush Velvet range is a textural treat — west elm’s Lush Velvet range is a textural treat

From lamps to candles Rhys also suggests using lights to create mood this winter. “It is a visual trick but having a few sources of light in the bedroom can switch your mindset from cold to gold. A bedside lamp is standard, but add some candles and it creates a cosy, luxe feel. Just don’t forget to blow them out before sleep!”