A Better Way of Styling for Winter

After the holiday season passes, once the bright lights and sparkly decorations have been returned to their boxes to continue their long slumber, I am left with the darkness of winter as it sets into the deepest parts of my being. It is a long wait until spring and lightness, warmth and color, flowers and scent, so I set the course for renewal and refreshment through an awakening of the five senses within my four walls in a better way of styling winter.

The Cleanse

At first this involves paring things down, the cleanse, as I call it. For a visual cleanse, I empty out shelves and closets, and leave only what is necessary. For me this includes a reduction in clutter and color, too. Time without distraction. Time to look inward. Rather than the books and brass lanterns in my open shelves, I opt for firewood, the texture is easy on the eyes and the convenience of having it at hand makes for a nice setting. I embellish my open shelves with white vases for neutrality and the reminder to bring home fresh flowers from the florist, and scented candles for light and visual warmth when a fire is not necessary.

Scent through flowers and candles

Candles also provides sensory direction for your mood, whether it is floral to remind you of warmer days or spicy notes to keep you cozy. I love the pine and fir candles often available at Christmas time, but also I never tire of the scent of roses or jasmine, bergamot or something citrus. I am still on the hunt for my signature home scent, but I love florals and their smell to remind me of warmer days to come. Burning a candle under a bowl of essential oil, or Lampe Bergere is another great way to bring scent into your home. They offer some beautiful bottles to display as well.

Last year, when my lemon tree was much healthier, and the blooms so fragrant… it was a such a stimulating scent in the winter.

Texture

It’s also nice to have blankets piled everywhere in arm’s reach, in case you really want to lay in for the day. My favorites are from Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. I also love cashmere blankets to have close at hand.

Books and Magazines

Also important, to have good books or magazines on hand. I am avoiding digital stimulation in favor of hard copies lately, so I buy books and magazines to enjoy in my downtime. I recently finished Winter Garden, by Kristin Hannah and highly recommend this, as well as YOLO journal, which is excellent escapism at any time of the year. I have ordered Colin King’s Arranging Things, which releases on March 14. I am still on the hunt for a good historically based miniseries, but in the past, I loved Amazon Prime Vikings as well as Netflix’s The Last Kingdom.

Music

So we’ve got visual stimulation, scent, warmth, the mind/ heart, and now for ears… I love SONOS radio. I don’t bother with playlists… I can either listen to any radio station around the world with SONOS, or connect to my Spotify account. I love classical and jazz, and music, for me, is the creme de la creme of the senses. It can transport you anywhere.

Get out into Nature

Finally, the best way to appreciate your home, is to get out into the elements of winter for a brisk walk or other winter activity, no matter the weather. In Switzerland, this can mean skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, or even a trip into the city to a favorite coffee shop or bar. Once you return home, you will appreciate the cozy environment you’ve created in styling for winter.