How to make your house cozy for Christmas

Tis the season to be cozy! While some of us have been in Christmas mode since November 1st, December has now officially started, and Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You is already climbing the charts: the time is nigh to start decorating our homes for the holidays.

This year’s vibe? Maximum coziness. Whether you’re on hosting duty or enjoying the comfort of your home by yourself, there’s nothing like a healthy dose of festive warmth and comfort to get us through the cold months.

Without further ado, make yourself a hot chocolate and put on some Christmas tunes: here are our eight tips to make your house cozy for Christmas.

A cozy space without blankets or pillows? Unimaginable! Throws and cushions are fundamental parts of any warm and inviting space. For Christmas, update yours to match the seasonal vibe: heavy fabrications—like wool or cashmere—, festive plaid, and wintery colours—from the traditional green and red to icy and modern blues and whites—are the way to go.

A cozy house needs to be an experience for all five senses! Here’s where candles come in, adding a touch of magic with their warm light and inviting scent. Use a seasonal scented candle as a centrepiece for your coffee or dining table. If scented candles aren’t your jam, candlesticks on your mantles will add an equally relaxed vibe.

Speaking of the five senses, have you stocked up on Christmas drinks and snacks for your guests? A beautiful set of mugs is the perfect vessel for all the warming teas and hot chocolates you will serve this holiday season. When shopping for crockery, you don’t necessarily have to go super seasonal: a classic, retro-inspired white set of mugs is as seasonless as it is cozy.

A long day of lounging around basking in the Christmas atmosphere has you feeling peckish? A rustic charcuterie board is perfect for channelling that ski resort vibe from the comfort of your living room, while a selection of cheeses, nuts, fruits, and jams makes for a decadent seasonal snack.

Poufs are a great addition to a cozy living room: they allow more guests to join the party and contribute to the cozy vibe by making literally every corner more comfortable, floor included. Just like with the blankets and throw pillows, go for heavy and seasonal fabrics to amp up the winter wonderland feel. Don’t forget to pair your comfy new seats with the perfect rug!

The right lighting is fundamental to creating the perfect vibe: you never want your living room to feel like the doctor’s office, let alone around Christmas time! To ace the right cozy feel, consider swapping out your regular lightbulbs for warm-toned ones: low-level warm light is proven to encourage relaxation. And don’t forget string lights! Nothing screams Christmas like fairy lights decorating every corner: mantles, bannisters, windowsills… everywhere!

Now, for the pièce de résistance: the tree! No cozy Christmas decor would be complete without the Christmas tree, a beacon of soft, warm light and seasonal cheer. The best way to achieve a Pinterest-worthy Christmas tree is to stick to one aesthetic when it comes to decorating: modern, rustic, English countryside, confection-inspired, vintage, minimal… the choices are endless! Find a Christmas aesthetic that feels both cozy and true to you, and get to decorating!

No matter if you live alone or if your only children are your fur babies, every member of the household deserves their own stocking. Even if you don’t have a fireplace, tuck cozy and mismatched stockings around your home to make it even more inviting. And don’t forget to stuff them with gifts from Santa!

Original content: Zeinab Saidoun