Interior stylists share their winter warmer trends

As soon as winter hits our wardrobe gets an overhaul.

The puffer jacket comes out of hibernation and, for a split second, we consider an impulse purchase of touch-screen gloves.

The same stay-warm-at-all-costs logic is applied to a lesser extent to our domestic interiors.

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At home we simply crank up the heater while making a mental list of which of our friends are worth leaving the house for on a winter’s night. But a change in season is a good opportunity to mix up our interiors and add warmth in
new ways.

“In Australia we spend so much more time indoors during winter, so you really want your home to feel comfortable, warm and cosy,” says interiors stylist Claire Delmar.

Making the styling switch from warmer to cooler months can be achieved by simply adding layers to existing decor. Bonnie Ashley of homewares and textiles studio Bonnie and Neil suggests investing in a quality throw and moving it around the house.

“Throws are a simple addition that can be used to inject a pop of colour and texture but also have that cosy factor for lounging under on cold winter days,” she says. “They’re also a versatile piece that can be used in different rooms from the couch in the lounge or placed at the foot of your bed.”

Interiors stylist Simone Haag alleviates the dreaded feeling of waking up to a cold house by making the bedroom warm and toasty. “Swapping bed linen to darker tones can make a big difference,” she suggests. “I also love putting a little lambswool rug next to the bed so it’s the first thing you step on.”

Clever integration of darker colours and tones can promote an intimate atmosphere without feeling all-encompassing. Delmar encourages us to play with “deep rich greens, lush velvets for texture and pairing darker tones with soft pastels.” Meanwhile, Haag’s winter palette is a mix of olive and maroon.

For a relatively cost-effective change in scenery, Haag is all for repainting the bedroom a darker colour. “We just painted our bedroom a Haymes’ grey called Dark Moves,” she says. “It was a fairly inexpensive and efficient way to change the mood for the season.”

Similarly, Delmar recommends using your walls as a winter backdrop. “Adding textures to the walls can really make the space feel more welcoming,” she advises. “A stucco render in a darker tone will create the feeling of warmth.”

Working as a textile designer, Ashley leans towards statement, print-heavy soft furnishings to ensure interiors have a bright touch on dreary days. She suggests layering the couch and bed in throws and cushions “in complementary colours and mixing patterns in rich hues”.

Another winter fabric high on Ashley’s rotation is linen, which she uses for the majority of her homewares range. “It works well in all seasons, it’s cool in summer and retains heat in winter.”

For a heavy duty fabric with interest, Delmar says she is “loving boucle for its knotted texture”.

Smaller, practical changes can also assist the at-home seasonal transition. “Switch to chunky towels, use lamp lighting instead of overheads and invest in a good doormat for when your feet are muddy from the rain,” says Haag.

“Winter is about enjoying the little things such as the lovely fire, a warm drink, cosy throws and toasty sheets,” Haag says. “It’s embracing the time to nurture yourself by shifting your interiors.”