Heavy curtains, warm rugs: small changes that make a home feel cozy this winter

When the evenings get dark early, many people feel the urge to make their home warmer, both in temperature and in mood. The good news, according to interior designers, is that it rarely takes a renovation. A handful of small changes, most of them involving textiles and light, can transform a room within a weekend.

Start with the windows

Heavy curtains are the single most effective change, says Riverton interior designer Maja Holm. Thick linen or lined cotton curtains that reach the floor stop drafts, hold in heat after sunset and soften the hard lines of a room.

Close the curtains as soon as it gets dark and you can feel the difference within half an hour. It is the cheapest insulation you can buy.

Maja Holm, interior designer

She recommends hanging the rail a little wider and higher than the window frame, so the curtains do not block daylight when they are open.

Warm the floor

Cold floors make a whole room feel colder. A large wool rug under the sofa and armchair creates an island of warmth and absorbs sound, which makes a space feel calmer. Wool is naturally hard-wearing and resists stains better than many people expect.

If a large rug is too expensive, two smaller ones layered at an angle can work just as well, Holm says.

Rethink the lighting

The overhead ceiling light is the enemy of a cozy evening. Designers suggest at least three sources of soft light at different heights: a floor lamp beside the armchair, a table lamp on a sideboard, and something low, such as a small lamp on a shelf. Bulbs marked “warm white” give a gentler, more golden glow.

Add touch and texture

Throws, cushions and a knitted blanket over the arm of the sofa invite people to sit down and stay. Mixing materials — wool, linen, velvet, wood — adds depth without clutter.

Finally, Holm advises keeping things simple. “Cozy does not mean full,” she says. “Clear one surface, put a lamp and a book on it, and you already have a corner you want to sit in.”