Extra Layers
Just as spare furnishings and slick surfaces create a sense of coolness, the reverse also is true. Add a few extras around the house and notice how the temperature seems to rise.
  | Consider more throw cushions. They make any spot more comfortable, from the living-room couch and the bed to kitchen chairs. |
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| Throw in a throw. On the arm of a couch or chair, or at the end of the bed as an added touch, throws — cotton, wool, velvet or even a quilt — are both fashionable and functional. |
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| Dress your windows. Options include switching to heavier draperies for winter or layering your existing look with sheers or a blind. |
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| Cover your floors. Area rugs are a simple but effective way to warm up your floors, regardless of whether they're currently bare or covered in wall-to-wall carpeting. |
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| Spoil yourself. Add to the overall sense of plenty with bowls or jars of small luxuries. For example, add a dish of candy in the living room or foyer and a glass jar or vase filled with small soaps in the master or guest bathroom. |
Hot Colour
Cool colours by their very nature make us feel calm and quiet. On the other hand, warm colours — tailor-made for winter — make us feel more fired up.
| Introduce a warmer shade into your colour scheme for colder months. Blue interiors can benefit from shades that range from light mocha to chocolate. This also is true for green rooms, which work well with gold, russet or burgundy. Neutral spaces — white, taupe, cream and grey — instantly heat up with any of the above shades, as well as orange or red. |
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| The easiest way to add colour is through accessories. Aside from the options above, you also could add a few new towels in the bathroom, a set of sheets in the bedroom, candles in the living room, a fruit bowl, vase or planter for the kitchen and a bouquet of flowers anywhere you please. |
Nothing alters the mood of a room more than lighting. Dim the lights and you'll heighten the atmosphere.
| Take control. Install dimmers around the house, from the dining room and living room to the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. |
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| Think pink. A favourite trick of interior designers is to switch white light bulbs for soft pink in the winter. It's a simple way to create a subtle, rosy glow. |
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| Avoid the overheads. If you need more light, consider adding more light lower to the floor, such as a table or floor lamp or sconces. |
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| Make a fire. Today's electric fireplaces look — and feel — more authentic. What's more, they're now available in a range of materials, colours and looks. Perfect for the living room or family room, you also might consider plugging one in an unexpected place, such as the bedroom or bathroom. |
