DECEMBER 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 59
COZY DECOR
WARMING UP THE HOUSE FOR WINTER
BY ARLENE GROSS
As winter marches on and the thermometer
dips ever lower, you’ll want
to hunker down at home. Instead of
turning up the heat to warm up your
abode, consider a few decorating
tricks to create both a warmer feel
and cozier look to your surroundings.
WARM GLOW FROM COLOR
Forget the standard white painted
walls and opt instead for a creamy
white hue, like Chantilly Lace from
Benjamin Moore, advises Christine
Conte, owner of the eponymous Christine
Conte Interiors, of Huntington.
“Go warm and enveloping with Sherwin
Williams’s 2021 color of the year:
Urbane Bronze,” Conte says.
When choosing a warm paint color,
consider the paint’s undertones, advises
Donna Sheehan, owner of Inner
Sense Interiors of Bellport.
Warm white tones that have a touch
of yellow or peach undertones add
warmth, as opposed to the crisp, colder
feeling of a pure white room, adds
Sheehan.
“You may be interested in painting
a room blue, which is considered
a cool color, but, grey or yellow
undertones in some blues can add
warmth, giving it a very cozy feeling,”
says Sheehan, adding that
Benjamin Moore’s Aegean Teal is a
perfect example.
Light bulbs in the soft white range –
2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin — can give off a
warm and yellow glow, notes Conte.
“This light creates a warm and cozy
feeling when used in living rooms,
dens and bedrooms,” Conte explains.
COZY, COMFY FLOORS
Darker stains on wood floors tend
to warm up a space, but nothing
compares to combining any type of
flooring with area rugs to add warmth,
notes Sheehan.
“Aside from defining a space and
protecting underlying flooring, area
Large area
rug adds cozy
feel & warmth
to floor.
rugs unquestionably add warmth and
coziness to a room,” explains Sheehan,
adding that carpeting is a good option
for rooms where people go barefoot or
children play, such as bedrooms and
playrooms.
THE LAYERING EFFECT
To bring light and warmth into your
home, layer your window treatments
with a combination of shades
and drapery panels.
“The drapes can be pulled back
during the day to let in sunlight
and warmth, then closed at night,
providing cozy privacy and to help
prevent heat from escaping,” says
Conte.
Layer soft, stylish throws on sofas
and chairs and add smaller throw
rugs on floors for an instant feeling
of warmth and charm, Conte adds.
EMBRACE ARTWORK
The absence of any artwork in a room
renders the space bare, cold and uninviting,
avers Sheehan.
“Artwork adds interest and warmth
– it can hug your walls and bring you
in,” Sheehan says. “It can define areas,
break up expansive space and create
a mood. A gallery of photos/artwork,
when properly placed, can make a wall
feel dressed, even cozy.”
Noting that walls take up a lot of real
estate in any room, Sheehan advises,
“It would be foolish to forget about
addressing such space when trying to
create a warm environment. Add art
to tell your story and create a mood.”
DETAILS, DETAILS
Wooden display objects, such as
bowls or beads, can create an organic
warmth in a space, advises Conte.
“Incorporate objects made from warm
metals, like brass or those with an antique
or patina finish, to add a warm
vintage and heirloom feel to a room,”
Conte says.
Store summer linen and cotton pillows
and switch to velvet and bouclé
pillows rich with texture to add a
cozy and soft layer in any room, Conte
remarks.
“Using high-quality soy candles with
fragrances such as Ski Chalet, Tipsy
Bourbon, and Fireside S’mores will
help create a cozy atmosphere,” adds
Conte.
INSIDE JOB
Courtesy Chris Conte Interiors, photo by Nicole Larson
Adjustable
shades and drapes
let in sunlight & keep
warmth in.
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
