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Creating Cozy Indoor Spaces: Design Tips for Fall and Winter

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As fall and winter bring cooler evenings and shorter days, there’s no better time to transform your home into a cozy retreat. Creating a warm, inviting indoor space doesn’t require a major renovation—just a few thoughtful touches can add a seasonal feel that’s perfect for relaxing, entertaining, or simply staying comfortable through the chillier months. Here’s a guide on how to create cozy indoor spaces with textures, lighting, color, and a few design elements that will add warmth and comfort all season long.

1. Embrace Warm Color Palettes

One of the simplest ways to shift a room’s mood for fall and winter is through color. Warm tones can instantly make a space feel more inviting and are easy to incorporate through decor and accents.

  • Incorporate Earth Tones: Shades like deep browns, rusts, ochres, and forest greens reflect the colors of fall and add a grounded, nature-inspired feel to your rooms. Consider earth-toned throw pillows, area rugs, or even an accent wall.
  • Add Pops of Rich Colors: Jewel tones such as emerald green, deep navy, burgundy, and mustard yellow bring warmth and a touch of luxury to living rooms and bedrooms. These tones are perfect for accent pieces like throws, vases, and picture frames.
  • Balance Neutrals with Warm Undertones: For those who prefer a neutral color palette, go for shades with warm undertones, like creamy whites, taupe, and beige. These colors maintain an airy feel while subtly warming up your space.

2. Layer Textures for Depth and Warmth

Incorporating various textures is key to making a room feel cozy and inviting. From chunky blankets to soft rugs, layering textures adds visual interest and comfort to your space.

  • Bring in Soft, Plush Fabrics: Add throw blankets and pillows made from materials like fleece, wool, or faux fur. These fabrics provide a cozy look and are perfect for snuggling up with on cold nights. Consider adding throws to your sofa or draping them over the edge of a chair.
  • Introduce Area Rugs: In cooler months, an area rug not only grounds the room but also provides warmth underfoot, especially on tile or hardwood floors. Choose rugs with high-pile or shag textures to maximize softness, or go with woven, bohemian-inspired rugs for a rustic look.
  • Mix Materials: Layering textures with materials like leather, woven baskets, and natural wood brings an earthy warmth to your rooms. Try adding a leather ottoman, a rattan basket for extra blankets, or wood accent tables to incorporate a variety of textures.

3. Use Lighting to Set a Cozy Atmosphere

Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a cozy, inviting space. Swapping out bright or harsh lighting for softer alternatives can make any room feel more relaxed and ready for fall and winter.

  • Switch to Warm Light Bulbs: Opt for warm-toned LED bulbs instead of bright white bulbs. Warm lights mimic the glow of a fire and add a soft, ambient feel to your space. This works especially well in lamps, sconces, and overhead lighting.
  • Add Multiple Light Sources: Instead of relying on one overhead light, layer your lighting with lamps, string lights, and candles. Floor and table lamps allow you to adjust the level of light based on your mood or activity, while string lights create a gentle, twinkling effect perfect for cozy nights.
  • Use Candles for a Warm Glow: Candles are a timeless way to add ambiance, and they double as decor. Choose scented candles in fall-inspired fragrances like cinnamon, vanilla, or cedarwood to bring a warm scent to your space.

4. Create Cozy Seating Areas

Arranging your furniture to create small, inviting seating areas can make a room feel more intimate and ready for fall gatherings or winter relaxation.

  • Add a Reading Nook: Design a cozy corner with a comfortable chair, a small side table, and a good lamp. Throw in a plush pillow and blanket for the perfect reading spot. A reading nook can turn even a small space into a cozy retreat.
  • Arrange for Conversation: Set up seating areas that encourage conversation. Position chairs or sofas to face each other or a central table, creating a social atmosphere. Arrange seats around a coffee table or near a fireplace to give the space a focal point.
  • Add Extra Seating with Poufs and Floor Pillows: Poufs and oversized floor pillows are great for adding seating in a casual, cozy way. They’re easy to move around and add a touch of personality to your space.

5. Add Seasonal Greenery and Natural Decor

Incorporating natural elements indoors brings a touch of the season and enhances the cozy, grounded feel of your space.

  • Bring in Dried Florals and Branches: Dried florals, pampas grass, and eucalyptus are perfect for fall and winter decor. Place them in a vase on a mantel, coffee table, or entryway to add an earthy, rustic element that lasts all season.
  • Add Indoor Plants: Indoor plants not only improve air quality but also add life to your space. Consider plants that do well indoors during cooler months, such as snake plants, pothos, or succulents. Place them in decorative pots that match your color scheme.
  • Use Pinecones and Seasonal Accents: Pinecones, acorns, and small gourds are perfect for fall and winter decor. Use them in a centerpiece, add them to a wreath, or place them in a bowl on your coffee table for a festive, natural touch.

6. Incorporate Wood and Stone Elements

Wood and stone add an organic warmth to your home that feels particularly comforting in fall and winter. These natural materials are versatile and add depth to your decor.

  • Wood Accents: Wooden furniture, wall shelves, or picture frames add warmth to any room. If you have a fireplace, a reclaimed wood mantel can make it a stunning focal point. Wood tones from light oak to dark walnut can work with various color schemes.
  • Stone Details: Stone adds texture and an earthy feel that’s perfect for colder months. Consider adding stone elements through decor pieces like marble trays, stone coasters, or a natural stone coffee table. If you’re up for a more extensive change, a stone accent wall or tile backsplash is both cozy and timeless.
  • Use Faux Wood Beams: If your home has high ceilings, adding faux wood beams can bring a rustic, cabin-like warmth to your space. This feature can add architectural interest and makes larger spaces feel more intimate.

7. Decorate for Function and Style

In the fall and winter, make functional pieces part of your decor. Items like blankets, baskets, and trays serve practical purposes while enhancing your cozy aesthetic.

  • Blanket Baskets: Place a woven or rattan basket near your seating area filled with blankets or throws for easy access and a homey touch.
  • Trays for Warm Beverages: Use decorative trays on coffee tables or kitchen counters to display mugs, hot chocolate mix, or seasonal spices. This makes it easy to grab a warm drink on cold days while adding a cozy touch to your decor.
  • Display Books and Board Games: Stack a few books on a side table or keep board games on display for easy reach. This encourages relaxation and makes your space feel like a hub for connection and cozy moments.

8. Make the Fireplace a Focal Point

If you have a fireplace, it’s the perfect centerpiece for fall and winter. Adding decor around the fireplace can make it an even cozier element in your home.

  • Decorate the Mantel: Style your mantel with seasonal decor, such as candles, dried flowers, or small potted plants. This creates a festive, inviting atmosphere.
  • Create a Cozy Fireplace Seating Area: Arrange a few chairs or a bench around the fireplace to create a cozy nook for enjoying the warmth. Place a soft rug or throw nearby to enhance the comfort of the area.
  • For Electric Fireplaces, Add Ambiance: If you have an electric fireplace, use it as an ambiance piece. Many electric fireplaces have adjustable settings, allowing you to control the warmth and light. Pair it with candles and soft lighting to enhance the cozy effect.

With a few seasonal changes, you can transform your home into a warm and inviting oasis perfect for fall and winter. By using warm colors, layering textures, incorporating natural elements, and enhancing lighting, you can create a cozy space that’s ready for cooler days and relaxing nights. Whether you’re hosting friends, spending time with family, or unwinding with a good book, these tips will help make your home a comforting retreat all season long.

Decorating For Fall

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Put away the white linen, beach towels and cool toned accessories. It’s fall and it’s time to breakout the corn husks, pine cones and other harvest decorations. Here are a few simple ideas:

Decorate a bookshelf with pressed leaves and pumpkins.

Hang a corn husk wreath.

Display green apples and acorns in apothecary jars.

Spray paint pumpkins silver and white. Make sure you use a variety of sizes. Display them on your mantle with pine cones. This is a very elegant look.

Decorate your dining room table by placing a row of pumpkins and gourds. Add a tall vase filled with wheat.

Fill your votive candle holders with pumpkin or squash seeds.

Make leaves out of decorative scrapbook paper. Glue them to branches for a whimsical look. Display the branches in tall glass vases.

Fill an old tool box with candles, clementines and pine cones.

Hollow out gourds and use them as vases for fall flowers.

Put single leaves, either pressed or fresh, in small glass vases or use old lab beakers — look for them at antique stores. Replace leaves as they brown.

Put together a colorful outdoor fall display using a sturdy wheelbarrow as a base. Fill the wheelbarrow with ornamental cabbage and peppers, grasses, chrysanthemums, flowering zucchini and other seasonal plants. Fill the wheelbarrow with soil and insert the plants loosely, or tuck containers into the wheelbarrow, making sure to fill in the gaps with more plants.

Nuts are as easy to decorate with as they are good to eat. Anchor a candle inside a hurricane lamp. Experiment with different varieties of nuts and a selection of clear containers.

Nestle a candle in popcorn kernels or other seasonal materials such as candy corn or colored clear round stones.

Don’t forget to break out the rich, warm colored throw rugs, pillows and rugs. Light a fire, pour a glass of wine and enjoy autumn.

Happy Fall Decorating!

Bright Ideas on Lamps!

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Harris Beach Model

Lamps are some of the finishing touches you will purchase for your room when decorating. However, do not discount their importance to your room’s design. The right lamps can bring your room together perfectly. There are three main types of lamps to choose from—table lamps, floor lamps, and hanging lamps. Depending on the space you are decorating, the look you are going for, and how much light you will need the lamp to provide, one of these three types of lamps should suit your space.

The first thing you will want to do when deciding on what lamp to purchase is the size of the space it will be going. If it is a table lamp, be sure to measure your table so that you don’t get a lamp that overpowers it, or is too small to even be noticed. For hanging lamps and floor lamps the principle is the same thing, you will just be considering a different area.

Next, you will have to decide what kind of design you want for your lamp. There are so many choices out there and it can seem overwhelming but before you begin browsing sit down in the room and look around you. What is the theme of your design? Do you even have one or is it more eclectic than that?

Consider that glass bases will look lighter in your space and can work really well with modern designs. Wooden and metal bases offer a heavier feel to them and work well in more traditionally decorated rooms. The only way you’ll know what style to look for is to decide what will work best in the room.

Finally, you will want to figure out what the function of the lamp is. If your lamp is going to be the main source of light in your room, then you will want to go for a lamp that is both brighter and larger. A floor lamp or hanging lamp would work well in this situation. If your lamp’s purpose is more for bedside reading at night you should look for softer lighting like a small bedside table lamp with a low glow. These three steps should help ease your lamp buying process.

Do-It-Yourself Christmas Décor for the Whole Family

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It is Christmas time, and we are getting to spend more time with our loved ones. Use this opportunity to help build memories by participating in fun activities featuring creative DIY Christmas décor. Plus, you can let the children join in to make it an all-around fun family activity. Enjoy the spirit of Christmas throughout your home with these five simple DIY Christmas décor ideas:

Ornaments

There are hundreds of fun ways to decorate your tree. You can color-theme your ornaments, add candy canes, pictures, garland, and so much more. Personalize your tree, even more, this year by adding your own bulbs. Get the family together, and have everyone can paint their own bulbs. You can draw cool patterns or funny pictures. This idea is an excellent activity for the whole family. Plus, you will have the memory for years to come.

Mini Wreaths

Mini wreaths are fun, festive décor pieces that you can be used throughout your whole home. Plus, there are hundreds of creative ways in which you can make these wreaths. From rosemary, pinecones, cranberries, marshmallows, and even garland, you can let everyone put their own original spin on their wreaths.

Decorate the Stockings

Decorating your stockings is another excellent way to prepare for the holidays. You can even make stockings for your pets and get creative. Use glitter glue, paint, and other artsy accessories to personalize each stocking! After you are all done, make sure to display them on your fire mantle for everyone to see (and for Santa to find)!

Paper Snowflakes

Are you looking for an expensive do-it-yourself project? Try making paper snowflakes. Simply fold a paper into fourths and cut out a unique design. When you are done, hang your snowflakes around the home with string to make your own Christmas wonderland.

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread men and houses are fun for all ages. Let everyone decorate and create their very own gingerbread man/woman. You can all work together, putting your own touches onto the gingerbread house as well. Display the house and cookies and enjoy eating them after the holiday!

These fun activities can help you start getting into the holiday mindset. Use this time to bond and spend time with your loved ones. These activities are great and fun for the whole family. What are some of your favorite seasonal projects? Let us know below in the comment section and remember to subscribe!

Tips & Tricks for Decorating Your Coffee Table

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Most living rooms are traditionally set up with seating, some end tables, and your coffee table. However, how you decorate your coffee table can say a lot about your style. If you are looking to spruce up your living room, it can be the perfect place to start. Here are some general rules to consider when decorating your coffee table:

Less Is More

Your coffee table is very exposed, and this makes clutter on your table more noticeable. If your coffee table is already home to your remotes or magazines, you may want to consider finding these belongings a new home. Less is more when it comes to decorating your coffee table. You want to add just enough to make a statement without adding clutter.

Complement Color Palette

Your décor may not be the highlight point of the room, but it can enhance your design. Choose décor that complements your overall design, and try to keep your color ratio to the room in check with your décor.

Rule of Threes

When decorating your coffee table, consider the rule of threes. It can be visually-appealing to have three pieces of décor. These should be offset to make a triangle shape. Additionally, you should have a variety of sizes for your décor. Consider having a large, medium, and small element for your design to look complete.

Coffee Tray

Coffee trays and coffee tables go together like salt and pepper. Find a stylish coffee tray to help the aesthetics of your table. While being stylish, they should also provide a functional aspect to the room and can be very convenient to access.

Seasonal Change

Help keep your home fresh and up-to-date by adding seasonal décor. You will want to try to make your décor complementary to the season. In fact, the coffee table is the perfect spot in your living room to swap out with seasonal décor regularly. From Christmas to Easter and everything in between, your coffee table is the ideal place to showcase your décor.

Your coffee table provides a realm of possibilities to help spruce up your design, so make sure you are facilitating this useful piece of furniture in your home. We hope that these tricks will bring your coffee table to the next level. Let us know some of your favorite décor pieces in the comments below, and make sure to subscribe.

Create Cozy

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-074 - Copyit’s not hard to make your family room to feel cozy and welcoming like this one. Here are some suggestions to bring the cozy into your home.

Darker Walls: You may have heard that darker walls make a room feel smaller. Not true. Instead, dark walls make you feel more secure and enclosed. The dark grey wall in the back adds warmth even though it is a cool color. It also provides a nice contrast to the bright windows.

Comfortable Upholstered Furniture: Getting comfy is an important part of feeling cozy. This plush sectional offers plenty of room to sit or stretch out. Throw pillows add comfort. You can tuck one or two under your head or at your feet on the coffee table.

Floor and Table Lamps: Ceiling light fixtures alone can’t add the ambiance that floor and table lamps can. Set your ceiling lights at a low level and turn on the lamps to create a cozy feel to any space.

Low Furniture: The television, coffee table and console are all close to the ground. This means that you can sit on the floor and still access everything. It’s an inviting space for lounging.

Carpeting: The choice of carpeting or a large rug adds softness to a room. Once again, a comfy soft flooring surface invites lounging on the floor.

Make your family room a place where friends want to linger. Create a cozy space for relaxing and fun evenings with guests or just family. Visit the models at Warner Groves at Morrison Ranch for a closer look.

An Inviting Dining Table

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-065 - CopyWhen you’re planning the look of your dining area, there are a lot of elements that make the space inviting. Here are a few tips to make your dining area catch people’s attention.

The perfect chandelier: More even than the table itself, the right chandelier makes a dining space stand out. You want something that reflects the style of the space. You also want to make sure that it is the right size for your dining area and your table. It should also hang at the right height – not so low that it shines in your diners’ eyes, but not as high as most ceiling-mounted fixtures. Generally a chandelier should hang 32-40 inches above the table. It should be just large enough to light the table’s surface without lighting the diners.

The right dining chairs: If you want your guests to linger after dinner for an enjoyable conversation over dessert and coffee, pay careful attention to your dining chairs. Make sure they will be comfortable for at least an hour or two. Look for nice padding on the seat and maybe the back, and make sure the backs lean so that people aren’t forced too upright. Be sure to sit in any potential dining chairs for more than a few minutes before you make your choice.

Accessories that add interest: When you are not actually dining, look for a table centerpiece that helps link the table to the chandelier. These tall flowers do the trick in this photo. But when you have guests for dinner, put this arrangement on your island and keep any centerpieces low enough to converse across the table.

Colorful table linens and white plates: This rule is not written in stone, but many chefs swear that food looks better on white plates. Color in your table linens adds interest and personality to your table.

Stripes make a Splash

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two-striped-bedspreads-webWhen you’re planning a child’s room or a guest bedroom, patterned fabric provides a great way to add pizzazz without spending a lot of money. And for generations, one of the smartest patterns to choose is a stripe.

This photo showcases two different approaches to stripes for bedspreads and matching pillow shams. With today’s bedding stores and online options, you can pick up a bedspread and sham set, often with a matching dust ruffle, for less than $100.

Stripes are a fun choice. They also offer a lot of flexibility. You can pull out one color for the walls and use the others for accessories. Notice that both of these bedrooms focus on one strong color note drawn from the bedspreads.

On the left, the bedroom captures the spread’s gold and white tones in the artwork, while the walls themselves take that same gold and lighten it to make the space colorful without being overwhelming. This looks like a boy’s room, and most boys won’t be comfortable with too much color on the walls.

The other bedroom is geared toward a girl, and one who is not afraid of color. Notice how the artwork chosen brings out every color in the striped bedspread. While you’re not always fortunate enough to have that happen, take advantage of accessories and other elements in a bedroom to pull the stripe colors into the space.

Now in these two bedrooms the stripes provide the only patterned fabric. But one nice thing about stripes is that they leave the room open to other patterns. You could add several floral-patterned pillows in the same tones to the room on the right and it would still work. Another geometric pattern would suit the bedroom to the left.

When you want to introduce pattern to a room, it’s smart to choose stripes. They provide a safe way to be a little daring, because they always work well.

Touches of Luxury

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touches-of-luxurywWhen you’re planning your master bedroom, it doesn’t take a lot to make it feel like a luxurious getaway. This bedroom isn’t large, but some thoughtful touches help to create just the right place to relax. Let’s take a look at the choices that make this room work so well.

Color: By pulling a number of related neutrals in the room, the look is soft and inviting. There are a few lighter and darker tones for contrast, but the majority of colors are mid-tones that work well together. This is a smart approach for a medium-sized space, creating a unified feeling.

Texture: From the upholstered headboard and matching benches to the curtains, throw pillows and plush carpeting, everything in this room is soft and inviting. This softness encourages you to sit or lie down and rest.

Patterns on patterns: The mix of patterns in the bedclothes creates a feeling of abundance and extravagance.  The mix of large and small pattern florals with the plaid keeps the bedding from feeling too busy.

Matching elements: The nightstands, lamps, and benches come in pairs, setting a symmetrical pose that creates a sense of serenity. Symmetry leads to relaxation.

Mid-tone wall color: A darker wall color makes a room feel cozy and warm. This golden brown keeps this bedroom inviting and ready for sleep in the evening. Windows let in plenty of light during the day when you want it brighter.

How would you like this bedroom for your own? For an in-person look, come and visit Cooley Station. We’ve got some great ideas for your new Fulton Home.

Finishing an Empty Space

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finishing-an-empty-spacewWhen you move into a new home, you may find that there are walls or corners in a room or at the end of a hallway that feel empty. Take advantage of those spaces to create a mood that matches your personal style.

Maybe you have a yearning for retro furniture and accessories. Or possibly there’s a secret ultra-feminine girly girl inside you that would love to hang a wreath of dried flowers and stack antique hatboxes on a spindle-leg table. Or you may go in totally the opposite direction with a contemporary sculpture sitting on a sleek mirrored dresser. This photo shows one interesting choice from the Capital model at Seaboard in Cooley Station. Let’s take a look at the design decisions made here.

Dresser: This piece of furniture might have been used in a family bedroom once upon a time and is no longer needed. Or it could have been purchased at a consignment store. The finish might be original, but if you found a piece and liked the lines it wouldn’t be difficult to refinish or paint something like this. Another option would be to decoupage the front of the drawers with old maps, flower plates or other images. It’s also easy to change out hardware to get just the look you want.

Mirror: A mirror is always a good choice when finishing up an extra space. Everyone appreciates the chance to make sure they are looking their best, and mirrors add light and space to every room. This mirror has extra interest thanks to the framing. It has the appearance of an oriel window, which makes it inviting and worth an extra look.

Accessories: Chances are you have some extra items that you would like to display. Look for a mix of heights, colors and textures that will suit the space.

Finally, consider all the extra storage you’re giving yourself with those drawers. That might be the perfect place to store table linens, extra towels or out-of-season sweaters. We can all use extra storage. Above all, have fun with these surprising spaces and make them your own.