We cut down our tree this past weekend, and I’ve been adding little touches of Christmas to the house ever since! Nothing says “seasonal” more than bringing whatever is currently growing (or dormant but still beautiful) inside your home! At this time of year, I try to make our home extra cozy and “hygge.” Here are a few tips:

1. Hang homemade garlands and swags of foraged greens! Put them everywhere! Simple instructions for a homemade swag at the bottom of this post.
2. Think about lighting. Switch out cooler light bulbs for warmer ones and have candles lit, especially at nighttime. I have a few scented candles, but they can get overwhelming fast, so sometimes I just cluster a few taper candles on higher surfaces and tables throughout my home.
3. Put welcome candles in your windows! I don’t LOVE the way these look from the inside during the day, but boy, there’s nothing cozier than driving through town and seeing welcome candles in everyone’s windows! And it’s magical to pull into our driveway in the evening and see all our candles on. Love keeping this tradition that my nana and mom both taught me.
4. Make homemade potpourri and have it simmering all day long. I have been working on the perfect stovetop “potpourri” recipe using a combination of water, citrus, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves. This is maybe not the most efficient way to make your house smell like Christmas, but it’s so natural and delicious. You could just do this when you have company, to save electricity.
5. Keep a cozy blanket (or two) in a basket next to your couch. I always have blankets next to the couch, but in the winter I make sure there are extras and that they’re super cozy, fuzzy blankets! And I love offering them to guests; few things make you feel more at home and at ease than a blanket to snuggle on the couch.
6. Switch out your living room throw pillows for some yummy dark velvet ones! My sister Christina and friend Jen always do this, so I ordered these from Ikea. Dark green, lush velvet pillows. Yum.
7. Use a tablecloth. It instantly elevates and warms up your time around the table, even if you’re by yourself! Our kitchen table is a cold (albeit beautiful) metal Army work desk, so using a tablecloth makes our small space feel so cozy and welcoming!

As promised, here are the [simple] instructions for making a wintry swag:

These little wintry swags are perfect for spreading throughout the house…hang them on doors, windows, corners of mirrors…everywhere! They’re simple to make: just forage some wintry greens (I used Blue Spuce clippings from our tree and cedar from the side of the road), and whatever else you might find outside this time of year. My friend Marina had given me a bouquet of winter clippings from her garden, which is where the hydrangea and red berries came from. Joe picked the gorgeous wild grapes, cedar, and prickly teasel (at least I think it’s teasel).

Once you have your foliage and greens, just start clipping smaller sections (about 10″ – 14″). Then begin to arrange them in a cluster in your hand until you have a look you like! Tie together using twine, then wrap with your favorite wintry ribbon. Mine is from the Hearth and Hand With Magnolia line at Target! One of the only items I allowed myself to buy!

How are you making your home extra cozy this winter?

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