Spring is still a long way off in the Midwest, so we are doing as the Scandinavians do and embracing winter in all its beauty. Gettin’ hygge with it, if you will. (Actually, the correct pronunciation is “hoo-gah” but we could not resist the urge.) In essence, we are leaning into the cozy and warm in all things.
One way to dress up your home for winter and embrace the cozy is by incorporating a winter palette.
via Park & Oak Collected
This doesn’t mean re-painting (though you could do that…go crazy!). But we are thinking smaller scale. Take a look at your display items on bookshelves, coffee tables or in cases, and lean into winter whites, blues and greens. Here’s our team putting together some examples:
The holiday decorations have mostly disappeared back into their bins. Bye-bye tartan plaid pillows. See you later reindeer. Till next year Christmas tablescapes. But, anyone else find the emptiness left in the wake of the un-decorating to be a little bleak? To spruce things up, our team put together a wintery cocktail table for inspiration. And that got us thinking, how else can we continue to embrace winter in our homes? After all, here in the Midwest, we’ve got a lot of it left! Below, a few of our favorite tips for sprucing up your winter decorating after the last strand of garland has been tucked away.
Just because the tree and garland are gone, doesn’t mean you have to forego the green again entirely. Visit your local plant shop (here in Chicago, we love our neighbors at Good Roots!), and bring home some green that lasts forever. A plant adds life to a room in a singular way. Even the teeny-tiniest plant can liven up a room that’s feeling a little naked after the holidays. Have a black thumb? At Collected we carry beautiful faux botanicals, from stems and branches to tabletop flower arrangements to large fiddle leafs. The construction and attention to detail on these is painstaking. You won’t be sorry.
When we decorate for the holidays, we are basically accessorizing to the max. While you’d eventually grow accustomed to the pared-down version of your home after the holidays, there’s no reason you can’t still embrace the winter season through accessories. Incorporate lots of candles and be sure to light one with a winter scent. Bring some cozy texture to your throw pillows with boucle, velvet or chenille. Lean into winter whites and navy blues. Drape a fur or cashmere blanket over an armchair or sofa, or at the end of your bed. Change out your artwork or display books. This may also be a good time to switch up the patterns in your accessories; a change of pattern can make the whole room feel like new again. Little changes can make a big difference!
Use that fireplace to create ambience in your home reminiscent of the inherent warmth and coziness of the holiday season. Add a basket with blankets near the fireplace so you can really settle in. Change up your mantle styling and coffee table to help things feel fresh. This is often the room where we spend our down time, so focus your attention here if you’re really wanting to amp up winter style after the holidays.
This time of year there is such a treasure trove of inspiration as everyone starts goal-setting for the new year and all the information sources we follow (news, TV, movies, art, home, social) are full of interesting aesthetics and products to consider.
In light of that, we pulled together eight things we are inspired by going into 2023:
1. Bold Trims & Doors
We’ve been exploring trim treatment in recent projects, and love the way a room is completely transformed when the trim isn’t considered the stopping point for the paint (or stain).
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
2. Velvet & Upholstery
Regular followers know that we really love dark and moody here at Park & Oak. And one of the secrets for achieving the right balance? Carefully chosen upholstery. But even in a bright, light room, velvet upholstery feels so luxurious. We are on board with this!
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
3. Brass Accents
Brass really brings the drama sometimes, doesn’t it? But brass can also be understated, or just the right addition to a subtle, serene room to give it a little life and shine. Unlacquered brass also ages beautifully, and brings the patina and character that is the lifeblood of good design.
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
4. Hidden Details
Whether it’s a built-in stepstool or a camouflaged door, hidden details help make the design of a room feel seamless, while still bringing all the practicality needed for modern families.
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
5. Curves & Arches
Oh curves and arches, how we love thee. Of course, curves and arches are not new in the design world, but we are seeing more and more of them, and have been incorporating them into our new build work frequently. We love the way a curve brings unexpected beauty to small spaces, and great big drama to larger ones.
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
6. 70’s Vibes
There is so much inspiration to draw from the different decades and of course the 70’s are no exception. You’re not likely to see us going full-fledged postmodern anytime soon, but we will always love the bold florals and beautiful, large stone associated with the 70’s.
via Park & Oak
via Park & Oak
7. Natural Elements
Bringing nature indoors can mean so many things, whether it’s a bamboo ceiling, rattan chairs, a vase of florals, or a stone arch. All of these elements help connect us more to the outdoors, even when we’re enjoying the comforts of being inside.
