After the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season the world seems to slow down. We have spent the last 3 months planning and organizing. I don't know about you, but the thought of taking down the Christmas decorations that took me days to put up and arrange, is exhausting and some what of a let down! You don't have to start all over. For this reason, I leave up many decorations through January. This makes the process a little more manageable while still decorating for the winter season. Here are a few ways to have a cozy winter home.
1. Winter Greenery
The tree is taken down and decorations packed away but you can still keep the feel of the winter forest by using garlands and mixed winter greenery center pieces. I already have greenery throughout the house so I leave garlands with white lights and greenery arrangements adding some color. I know some people think all the red should come down but I still like the color of red past Christmas. It reminds me of woolen Scandinavian sweaters ice skating. Blue is another color that reminds me of the cold, crisp, blue morning skies. These are the colors I gravitate towards the winter months.
2. Add winter objects
When I think of a winter's night I think of snow covered roofs with the glow of warm lights in the window. Around Christmas, I love to look in Target dollar bins. They offer a great way to decorate of a minimal budget. I have found metal houses for $3 that you can put a candle in that come in a variety of sizes. You can create a winder village. Joanne Fabrics also offers an assortment of battery operated cardboard houses. They offer a variety of buildings. If you hit them right, you can buy them at a big discount. I love decorating with snowmen. They are such happy little characters! I have also found some skier and winter people ornaments. I cut the hangers off of them and use them as decoration. Anything that reminds me of winter comes out in January.
3. Lanterns and candles
Fill lanterns with battery operated candles and berry decor. The best battery operated candles are ones that you can put on a timer so they will go on automatically and create a warm and cozy look.
4. Winter wreaths
Wreathes can be pricey and expensive. I will often find a wreath I like and find materials from the dollar store to create a look I love. I created the tree wreath with a small grapevine wreath purchased at my local dollar store and then found small Christmas trees at Target. I then glued them to the wreath and viola! I have a beautiful winter wreath. The craft took less than 5 minutes.
5. DIY and found winter decor
Decorations don't have to be costly. You can use things you already have. Colorful dishes and linens can create a beautiful setting. White, red or blue dishes can be elegant and can be kept out all season long. Another cost effective way to decorate is by creating your own decorations. These beautiful snowflakes are so quick and easy and are made from an item you may already have at home, paper bags. Here is the link on how to make paper bag snowflakes: