Winter invites us to slow down. As the days grow shorter and the light softens, our interiors become places of retreat, warmth and joy. Designing for winter is not about hibernation or stripping spaces back. It is about layering, comfort and creating rooms that feel welcoming, expressive and deeply lived in. The most successful winter interiors feel generous. They embrace texture, colour and craftsmanship, offering a sense of ease the moment you step inside. We like to say winter interiors are a bit like Christmas jumpers. The more texture, the better.
A rug instantly transforms a space in winter. It anchors a room, softens sound and provides tactile comfort underfoot that bare floors simply cannot offer during colder months. Layering rugs works particularly well, such as a patterned dhurrie over a larger woven base, or a richly coloured rug paired with furniture that allows its character to shine. Rugs should feel generous in scale, extending beyond furniture to help a room feel grounded and inviting.
Lighting is essential to winter living. As daylight fades early, rooms should glow rather than glare. Table lamps, floor lamps and shaded lights are far more flattering than overhead lighting alone. Warm bulbs and a variety of light sources create intimacy, drawing the eye around a room and encouraging a sense of calm.
One of our favourite ways to create atmosphere is with our Rockin’ Robbin Chandelier, which casts a beautifully soft, intimate light while adding sculptural presence. Fabric shades introduce an extra layer of softness, while pools of light at varying heights bring rhythm and warmth. In winter, lighting should feel like a gentle embrace, never harsh and never stark.
Blankets and throws are both practical and decorative. Draped over a sofa arm, folded at the end of a bed or layered on a window seat, they signal warmth before they are touched. Wool, cashmere, alpaca and quilted cotton each bring something different, and mixing them creates a collected, lived in feel. Winter is no time to shy away from pattern or colour.
Winter interiors should be experienced through touch as much as sight. Upholstery choices matter, with wool and soft weaves instantly elevating a room’s warmth. Cushions in varied shapes encourage lingering, while seating should feel indulgent rather than formal. Comfort, after all, is a form of luxury.
Curtains play a powerful role in winter interiors. Heavy, lined drapes insulate, soften acoustics and frame windows with a sense of theatre. Rich fabrics, whether patterned, embroidered or deeply coloured, add gravitas and create a cocooning effect once drawn at night. Curtains in winter have one very important job. Keep the cold out and keep the drama in.
Ultimately, winter design is about emotion. By layering rugs, lighting and textiles with confidence, interiors become not just practical but joyful spaces that invite you to linger, gather and feel truly at home.
If a room does not make you want to curl up with a blanket and cancel plans, it is not doing winter properly.