Winter Inspiration

by Margaret Cabaniss

We finally put away the Christmas decorations at my place last weekend — much later than the rest of the world, judging by the Valentine’s displays that are seriously everywhere already — but it still felt way too early for me. No season is packed more full with distinctive sights, sounds, foods, and general merriment than Christmas…and it all comes to a screeching halt on December 26. Putting away all the coziness and cheer of the holidays just feels like giving in to the long and dreary months ahead — hunkering down to wait out the cold until spring.

Rather than succumb to the winter doldrums this year, I decided to poke around for some inspiration to remind me of all the ways that this season can be just as cozy and lovely now as it was in December — even if it doesn’t come with carols and a tree.

Taking down fading greenery and staring at the bare walls underneath can be a depressing venture — but Leah puts in a good word for embracing the spare and simple loveliness of winter light. It is the time of year for turning over a new leaf and clearing out the clutter; why not focus on that same lightness at home? Rather than feeling cold, these clean, bright rooms are a breath of fresh air after the craziness of the holidays. (Images swiped from Leah’s blog and Pinterest board.)

I remember spending many toasty hours by my parents’ coal stove as a kid, drying my feet after a long day of tromping in the snow. A good fire in the fireplace is still one of my favorite things.

I like piling up blankets in any available spot in the house to spread the coziness around:

After the Christmas crush, there’s a real dearth of parties and fun events on the calendar. (For whatever reason, Presidents’ Day just doesn’t cut it…) But this is the perfect time of year to plan something low-key with a few friends; we’re all cooped up inside anyway, so why not enjoy the time together? I always love brunch, and a lazy, frosty Saturday morning is the perfect time for lingering over something warm and delicious. I want to be at this meal (via Kinfolk) right now:

To me, the food this time of year is always cozy: I’ll drink tea — particularly those chai lattes I mentioned last fall — like it’s going out of style. A simple dish like Kitchenist’s potato leek soup is warming and filling without weighing you down (not something you can say about most Christmas treats). And these baked eggs (via Shoot to Cook) would be perfect for the aforementioned brunch:

Of course, you don’t have to stay indoors… This winter picnic put together by the BBB Craft girls over at Design*Sponge brings all the coziness along for the ride. (Naturally, no winter picnic would be complete without a bottle of something warming thrown in for good measure.)

I’m feeling better about winter already.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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Tagged as: decor, parties, winter