12 Budget-Friendly Ways To Make Your Home Extra Cozy This Winter

‘Tis the season to be cozy! With the dropping temperatures and the falling of snowflakes, there is no better time of the year to burrow down in the comfort of your home and spend a few months hibernating. Before you do so, we rounded up 12 expert-approved ways you can make your home extra cozy this winter that don’t cost a fortune. 

Incorporate Anything Faux Sherpa

Nothing screams cozy winter style like a faux sherpa. “This fabric is a huge trend right now which means it’s easy to find a custom pillow, chair, sofa, or even a sectional in this incredibly soft and cozy fabric,” Chicago-based designer Caitie Smithe from Walter E. Smithe explains. 

Toss on Throw Pillows

Nothing reads quite as cozy as an abundance of throw pillows, points out Christiane Lemieux, co-founder and CEO of The Inside. “Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and play with print—the beauty is that they can be easily and affordably swapped in and out with the changing of the seasons,” she explains. “Whether you’re lying by the fireplace or snuggled on the couch, there’s nothing quite like being surrounded by pieces that make you feel good both inside and out.”

Add Extra Fine Bed Linens

Nothing screams cozy like a great set of sheets and comfy pillows. “If there is one thing to splurge on, it’s where you sleep every night!” says Smithe. In addition to the mattress, Smithe suggests high thread count bed linens and extra comfy pillows. “It will not only improve the way you sleep, but it will improve your days as well!”

Don’t Forget a Throw

One of the easiest ways to cozy up your home for the season is through layering textiles. “I love to add a throw to the foot of my bed and treat myself to a new one almost every year,” David M. Bazner, interior designer. He explains that he looks for them in much the same way he does a cozy cardigan. “I know I’ll wear it almost every day from December through the new year—something fashionable, but practical.” Lemieux also suggests investing in cozy throw blankets—and opting for luxe textures. “Layer on a cashmere throw blanket for a guarantee that you won’t be venturing outside anytime soon,” she says. 

Add Some Floor Coverings

The best way to warm up cold wood floors is by adding lots of cozy rugs and floor coverings—and don’t think you have to stick with one texture. “This is an opportunity to make your feet warmer and bring color, pattern, and softness into your home,” says Smithe. In the winter, adding some small sheepskin rugs can really make your space next level cozy. 

Dress up Bare Tables

Another budget-friendly trick is to accessorize your tablescape—one of the most overlooked canvases for inspired design—according to Lemieux. “There’s something incredibly cozy about gathering the people you love most around a table in your most meaningful place.” 

Adjust Your Lighting 

Lighting can have a huge impact on your mood, so you should take that into consideration before screwing in your lightbulbs. A wellness lighting brand called Brilli recently launched Brilli’s Wind Down light bulbs, which simulate the soft glow of natural evening light minus the disruptive blue light that can interfere with restful sleep. These light bulbs can be used anywhere in your home where you want to achieve an ambient environment to help you relax, unwind, and prepare for sleep.

Let There Be (Candle) Light! 

Another way to warm up any space is with candles. “If you have room for candlelight, you can group candles onto a pretty tray, and have a moveable fireplace,” suggests Noel Gatts Founder of Beam + Bloom Interiors. “The ambiance of firelight can’t be beaten.”

Pick a Cozy Scent

Inhaling the sweet smells of winter can seriously set a cozy scene. Whether you opt to do so with an aromatic candle, essential oil diffuser, scent-infused pine cones, or other scented decorative items, choose a comforting fragrance to keep you company on cold nights. 

Infuse Some Tunes

Along with scent, sound is another often neglected element in a home, according to Noel Gatts Founder of Beam + Bloom Interiors. “Smart speakers, like Google Home, are affordable and allow you to play your favorite tunes throughout your home,” Gatts says. 

Bring the Outdoors In 

Plants in pretty plant pots and are a great way to add character and comfort to a home without a huge price tag, says Gatts. “You can use them for symmetry by flanking a fireplace or a piece of furniture, or you can do little bunches or gatherings of them in corners to add height and warmth,” she says. An added bonus? They clean the air, calm the senses, and create a little lush environment indoors.

Don’t Forget That Final Layer of You

Since a home is where the heart is, the coziest spaces are filled with pieces of yourself. "Accessorizing and that last layer can be the best way to tell your personal story,” says Kellie Sirna, the CoFounder of Studio 11 Design. She suggests finding pieces and accents that are local to nostalgic places or collecting art and trinkets from the places you visit can give the room the personalized feel you are looking for.