Cozy Winter Decor

Hi Friends, are you finished putting away your Christmas decor? I worked most of last week getting things changed up and put away, but I took my time doing a little bit every day. Yesterday I spent all day working in the garage organizing tubs and straightening up. When it's cold it's easy to just take things in a tub and haphazardly throw it out in the garage. It was time to bite the bullet and get myself busy to put it all away properly. 

While I'm finishing up the transition to more of a "winter" decor theme here, I thought I'd share some pics from January posts at our old house about 3 years ago. It was an easy house to decorate for the seasons. It was mostly an "open concept" house where rooms flowed and were open from one to the other. My only rule was to keep colors and theme similar. After Christmas I really crave going to a more neutral decor palette without a lot of color. Mostly I'm ready for a change from anything red and green to more subtle and neutral shades. 

So here we go with a lookback from 2017.

If you ask 3 different bloggers how they would define "Neutral Winter Decor" I imagine you'll get 3 different answers to the question. To some "neutral" means all whites, or a combo of whites, grays, and creams. To others it may mean using a variety of lighter hues and tones to bring a calming, peaceful feel to their surroundings. I like a mix of the latter, using mostly a lighter palette, but definitely bringing in some colors of nature that "mix and match" with grays, cream, and my favorite shades of "mushroom".

You might be wondering how I can manage to sneak in a leopard print throw and pillows here in the Living Room, and still call it "neutral". But to me, leopard is a print that can go with so many color palettes and other patterns I just automatically call it part of a neutral scheme. It also brings in the feel of warmth and coziness I think we're all looking for our homes during these cold winter months. 

We all have our favorite spot where we like to get comfortable and put our feet up

 with a magazine, a good book, or journal.

I usually keep the bigger pieces neutral, in this case my sofas are sort of a gray/beige linen fabric that can get comfy with green if I let it. The Leopard print pillows are a natural way to change up from the traditional red Tartan plaids and toiles of Christmas.

This year I started with more nature inspired elements for my Christmas decor and layered them for easy Christmas de-cluttering after the Holidays. The coffee table, mantel and Entry area all have the same basic pieces I started with back in November. 

With the bold pattern of these area rugs, I would never be able to get to a totally neutral look here, but I try to keep all the other color to a minimum. I love "color" as a partner to neutrals; like using red during the Holidays, but now that the winter season is here I enjoy using texture and pattern as my key decor elements.

After Christmas I removed the lights, red berries and ironstone pitchers that had been here on the mantle to get down to my basic elements of evergreens and painted woods.

My little gray French wagon is a little bare right now, but reflective of a winter's garden. It's waiting for Spring's arrival, where it will be filled with Spring bulbs, tulips and I'm sure a rabbit or two.

I keep the Boxwood Wreath and our wooden signature Monogram here throughout the seasons. The mirror is bolted to the wall, so it won't accidentally go anywhere, but I always seem to be able to keep these elements relevant and working with whatever season I'll be decorating for. Because they are neutrals, they work throughout the year.

This was an old window box that we'd had at our previous home, that had deteriorated so badly it was bound for the trash. I cleaned it up and Hubbs put in a few strategic nails and now I use it alot as a centerpiece for the Dining Room table. A small decorative element from a piece of furniture gives some extra interest up here.

The armoire hides the tv during the day, since this is our main living area upstairs. We have a lower level family room that gets a workout with out of town family during the Holidays.

During the different seasons and Holidays I use a variety of different pieces on top of these book stacks, but right now I'm keeping them light and similar with 2 different clay pineapple?/artichoke? finials.

My white painted vintage suitcases are now a fixture under the sofa table.

This little punched tin cupboard is a handmade piece I've had for years. I was debating selling it when we moved but thankfully kept it. Painted the same color as the other pieces, it fills a space that was missing something before. 

Two of my little collection of sheep.

Here are a few pics of our Dining Room and Entry dressed in their Neutral Winter Decor.

 Large white candlesticks and a Pottery Barn lantern on a neutral linen tablerunner

keep things light and bright.

The Entry Way returned to neutrals with paperwhites and a Burberry-type ribbon.

 

The Kitchen Sitting Room has a little more color in the pillows 

with the gold in the toile. 

I always keep out some bare evergreen trees leftover from Christmas,

and mix the evergreens with dried or faux hydrangeas 

and a traditional look of fruit garlands.

I'm using some of the same vintage elements here at the new cottage,

 trying to focus on neutrals and textured pieces of wood and grapevine.

My little cottage teapot and sugar and creamer are here

just as they are at the new place.

Thanks for taking a little lookback at the old house with me.

I hope you're having a good week, 

and getting organized in this first week of January.

I'm joining a group of bloggers who'll be sharing 

some fun ideas using old toolboxes and totes on Saturday. 

Be sure to come back and see the 

vintage inspiration.

Did you catch my last post on planners and journals?

I hope you'll join in Monday evening!

joining in here:

Finding Silver Pennies-Sunday

The House on Silverado

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda, 

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

 Celebrate Your Story at The Zucchini Sisters,  

Tips and Tutorials at Home Stories A to Z,  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Party in Your PJ's at Apple Street Cottage
  Keep in Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles  Wonderful Wednesday at LeCultivateur 

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode,  Share Your Style at French Ethereal
Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage
Charming Homes and Gardens at Shiplap and Shells

Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home,  

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  
Embracing Home and Family at the Everyday Farmhouse

Create, Bake, and Grow at Shabby Art Boutique, Farmhouse Friday at The Painted Hinge