Let’s face it, the holiday season is when you can get to put on your creativity hat and decorate your home for the season. IMO, the best approach is with an overarching eye toward cozy and festive. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune and it really should be fun. If you’re stuck for ideas, here are 18 tips for making any room in your home cozy for the holidays.
1. Embrace seasonal scents throughout your home
Scent is so powerful yet overlooked by homeowners. IMO, it’s one of the most overlooked methods for enhancing your home’s space. It’s also ridiculously affordable to do with the Pura Plus Diffuser and wonderful scents such as Holiday by NEST and Frasier Fir by Thymes. Let’s face it, when you enter a room or store or somewhere with a comforting or pleasant scent, you take notice immediately.
Pura Plus Diffuser & Scents
One of the best ways to add fragrant scent to your home is with a high-quality diffuser. Pura Plus is one such brand to check
2. Layer soft textiles on your furniture
To layer soft textiles on furniture for a cozy Christmas look, start by choosing warm, festive colors like deep reds, forest greens, or snowy whites. Drape a chunky knit or faux fur throw over the arm of your sofa or the back of a chair to add texture and warmth. Next, arrange pillows in varying sizes and patterns, such as plaids, cable knits, or holiday-themed designs, making sure to mix and match textures for visual interest. Add a smaller, decorative blanket folded neatly on a corner for an extra layer of charm. Finally, ensure the fabrics feel inviting and snug by choosing soft, plush materials that make you want to curl up instantly. This combination transforms your furniture into a festive, cozy retreat for the holidays.
Pottery Barn Sofa Pillows and Throw Blankets
3. Add ambient lighting
So many options here. Add table and floor lamps. String lights (we go nuts with indoor lights throughout our house). Candles are always perfect for ambient lighting as well… don’t forget about the humble candle. In fact, we have an annual tradition of our whole family going to a local Swedish Heritage Museum for candle making every year.
The Knox Shaded Table Lamp at Target
4. Create cozy corners
Creating a cozy reading corner in your living room starts with choosing a quiet, well-lit spot and adding a comfortable chair or chaise lounge. Layer the area with soft textures like a plush throw, cushions, and a small area rug, and include a side table for books and beverages. Enhance the ambiance with adjustable lighting, such as a stylish floor lamp or warm string lights, and personalize it with decor like a small bookshelf or your favorite art pieces.
5. Add soft seasonal floor coverings over area rugs
Layering seasonal floor coverings over existing area rugs for Christmas adds warmth and festive charm to your space. Choose smaller, holiday-themed rugs in rich reds, greens, or snowy whites, and position them at key areas like in front of the fireplace, under the coffee table, or by the tree. Secure the layers with non-slip pads to prevent shifting and ensure they complement, rather than clash with, your existing rug’s colors and patterns.
Wonderful festive area rug layered on top of existing – by RUGS USA
6. Set up a hot beverage station
Coffee bars are all the rage. If you don’t have one, let the holiday season be your inspiration. Start with a hot chocolate and perhaps stronger libation station to enjoy over the holiday season. You can go all out with a full-blown coffee bar cart of keep it simple with a layered tray system on a side table.
7. Incorporate metallic accents
Add warmth with copper, gold, or brass decorative pieces that reflect light and add sparkle. It could be in the form of additional lighting or simple festive decorative pieces. Why? given all that ambient light you’re adding, these pieces jazz is up even more with reflective properties.
Metallic Christmas tree decoration for mantle, table or shelf – at Darby Creek Trading.
8. Don’t forget about seasonal sound, as in holiday music
We live in a golden era when it comes to music. For a few bucks a month, we have access to unlimited music thanks to streaming. All we need is a phone and some Bluetooth speakers and presto… you can create that holiday vibe with music day and night.
Bose SoundLink Revolve II Bluetooth Speaker (we use Bose speakers and are happy with them).
9. Seasonal plants and branches are a must for any cozy holiday decor
Poinsettias and garlands are all it takes. Our family prefers garlands – we have a mix of real that we collect as a family in nearby forest but also have some faux garlands. We weave lights throughout all over the home.
Williams Sonoma Pre-Lit Faux Garland – doesn’t get easier to decorate than this.
10. Add some soft storage solutions throughout your home
If you opt to add textures in the form of blankets and pillows, you’ll need a place to store them. Use woven baskets and fabric bins to store extra throws and pillows while adding texture.
Crate&Barrel Rulon White Storage Baskets – I love the fest white.
11. Create a holiday display table
We have one every year. We buy those miniature holiday buildings and scenes and create a small village display for our foyer. It’s festive and creates a great holiday vibe when entering our home. The kids have great fun putting it together.
A completed village scene by HOLYART
12. Soften hard surfaces
Add runners to wooden tables, cushions to hard chairs, and fabric-covered trays to coffee tables for a softer feel.
Beautiful festive table runner by Eleganza Home Textiles at Etsy
13. Build vertical coziness
Use wall space with hanging tapestries, fabric wall art, or vertical garland arrangements to add warmth from floor to ceiling.
Snow forest scene tapestry by James Prints Backdrop on Etsy
14. Display holiday magazines and books
IMO, books and magazines are such a great decor technique for any room, but especially living and family rooms. My favorite is a stylish a magazine rack placed next to a fireplace. For the season, set out some kids Chrstmas books and seasonal magazines. They look equally great on coffee and side tables.
Stylish leather and wood magazine and newspaper rack by Halo Hope Design at Etsy
15. Level up your textures with faux fur
Warm, soft, textured faux fur throws and floor coverings immediately dress up any space for the holidays. We have several we place on top of ottomans but for something more sumptuous go for a full armchair faux blanket.
Haalan Cozy Faux Rabbit Fur Throw Blanket at Wayfair
16. Create a cozy pet corner
We have two cats and do our best to create cozy areas for them… pretty much throughout the house. These pet areas are a great place to decorate with special beds and ornamentation for the holiday season.
Festive plush cozy dog bed – Christmas sleigh at FUNNY FUZZY
17. Add a large mirror or mirrors
Mirrors are great year-round but doubly so to accent and enhance your festive decor by reflecting it making it look like you’re space is more festive than it is. A great example is placing it so it reflects your Christmas tree.
18. Place decorative trays on you coffee table and elsewhere
This is such a simple, yet highly effective method to festivy any room in your home. Such trays can go on any table, counter or dresser top. They’re not terribly expensive. All you need is some garland and candles and voila – you’ve added some festive decor to your home in minutes.
