Cozy woman legs in knitted winter warm socks, sweater and checkered plaid drinking hot cocoa or coffee in mug, during resting on couch at home. Christmas holidays with candle, decor and cookies

12 Budget-Friendly Winter Upgrades That Will Instantly Cozy Up Your Home 

It's cold outside, the days are short, and the holidays are here. All that means it's winter, the season for snuggling up at home.

I love winter as much as summer for the cozy opportunities it brings. There's nothing quite like being safe and warm in your castle while the weather rages outside.

My tips to cozy up your home are all on my winter upgrades list because they're budget-friendly and, in many cases, instantaneous. Go on, you know you want to!

1. Up the Texture

different textures prints color throw pillows on folded sofa bed next to basket with throw blanket cozy room depositphotos id 226228644
Image Credit: Depositphotos.

Add texture for seasonality and depth. Nothing suggests cozying up like a fleecy blanket or cable knit pillow. These textures evoke memories of winter and add a splash of interest to your decor.

Choose fabrics in colors that remind you of winter. I love the jewel colors of Christmas — rich ruby red, emerald green, and silver. Perhaps add a little sparkle to your texture, too, for a luxury upgrade.

2. Drape Fairy Lights

An inviting bedroom with a cozy bed, a window showcasing a plant, and a string of lights illuminating the hardwood flooring. Interior design meets art in this charming space
Image Credit: YAY Images.

I remember my Dad adding fairy lights around the house for the holidays, back in the day when a bulb was always blown and had to be replaced. Nowadays, fairy lights are LEDs, come in many colors, and can be recharged or battery-powered.

Drape them around a window for contrast against the dark sky, over a mantlepiece, in a bowl, or along your dining table. Wherever you add fairy lights, they will bring ambiance and a touch of magic.

3. Add a Rug

view of unidentifiable person kneeling on floor as the roll out a neutral cream rug in front of a green sofa decorate stage house depositphotos id 253662028
Image Credit: Depositphotos.

Just one well-chosen and placed rug will lift a room for winter, especially if you have wooden or tiled floors. A thick pile you can sink your toes into is the best rug choice for the season.

Aim for a neutral color that works with the rest of your decor, and choose a rug woven from high-quality wool. Wool is the best insulator against the cold and will give your room a warm and relaxing vibe.

4. Upgrade your Bedding

A bed styled with a neutral color palette, featuring white and beige pillows and a light brown throw blanket. The soft textures create a warm, inviting fall ambiance.
Image Credit: Depositphotos.

When we think about being cozy, bed is one of the places that springs to mind. Snuggling on cold mornings and taking an afternoon nap during the holidays are good excuses for buying winter bedding.

Brushed cotton and flannelette are the best choices for winter bedding. The brushed cotton finish raises the fluffy fibers, so they trap warm air in between. Brushed cotton has this effect on one side and flannelette on both.

5. Add a Throw

sofa with throw pillows
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Throws are so versatile and budget-friendly. I rotate mine with thin cotton throws for summer and thick, nubbly ones for winter. I add one to each chair, more for effect than anything else!

Pick textured designs in winter colors, or go for a traditionally wintry pattern like plaid, stars, or snowflakes. Drape if your decor (and OCD) allows, although I like to fold mine in perfect rectangles to fit the backs and arms of chairs.

6. Infuse a Winter Scent

Stock Photo ID: 2006606270 Essential oil aroma diffuser humidifier diffusing water particles in the air copy space
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

There are many ways to make your home smell lovely, from burning incense and candles to adding plug-in diffusers with essential oils and using room sprays.

Pick a scent that evokes the season, like cinnamon, apple cider, gingerbread, cranberry, eucalyptus, and orange. Most diffuser manufacturers also offer ready-blended scents perfect for the season.

7. Use Faux Fur

Woman with faux fur rug in bedroom, closeup
Image Credit: Depositphotos.

I love the luxury and indulgent element of faux fur in a room. It brings an instant warmth and richness and evokes a cozy feeling, especially if added throughout a scheme.

I use faux fur for small bedside rugs and as dining chair pads in winter. The pads actually cover both the seat and back area, fixes in place with ties, and are non-slip, making them a quick and easy seasonal upgrade for your dining room.

8. Bring on the Candles

Autumn, fall, pumpkins, candle, Halloween.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Groups of candles are a natural way to bring warmth and atmosphere to your home during winter. It's not just about the light and scent but the candle holder or jar, too.

Groups should share similar scents or it can feel very muddled, but I do like to mix up the design with an eclectic selection of modern and old-fashioned jars and holders. For a sleeker look, go for modern jars in tonal colors.

9. Decorate Your Coffee Table

Two lit candles in amber jars sit on a rustic wooden tray, surrounded by dried lavender and folded knit blankets. The warm ambiance evokes the cozy feel of autumn evenings.
Image Credit: Depositphotos.

You might have a stash of things you bring out each year or make a collection of just-picked pine cones and berries, but a simple coffee table ensemble brings an extra layer to your seasonal decor.

A bowl of homemade potpourri infused with natural oil works well, or you could bring small succulents and cacti from the yard that won't survive winter. Or, you could go more elaborate and make a coffee-table centerpiece with seasonal foliage and candles for real impact.

10. Use Soft Lighting

Lighting, lamps, living room.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

You can achieve a more cozy and intimate environment with soft and warm lighting. This could be as easy as swapping your bulbs for warm white, at around 3,000 kelvin, for a homely yellow glow.

You can also fit lamps with semi-opaque or opaque shades to further diffuse the light. Moving around lamps to darker areas helps a room feel more inviting and is a quick fix as winter descends.

11. Swap Out Curtains

woman opens blackout curtains to let light into room
Image Credit: Depositphotos.

Whispy, floaty voiles are perfect for the long, hot days of summer but lack warmth in winter. Once the nights draw in, it's time to hang heavier curtains that offer protection and insulation.

Thick curtains with thermal lining are great for keeping out drafts. Materials like velvet, chenille, and wool offer the best insulation and add texture. Pick floor-length curtains for maximum impact and coziness.

12. Bring the Outside In

Tangerine tree with fruits in terracotta pot on windowsill at home. Calamondin citrus and houseplants, mint herb, lemon balm. Indoor gardening concept. Citrus plant for interior. Selective soft focus
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you miss being in the yard during winter, add houseplants to your home or bring in exotics and succulents in pots, which will thrive in the central heating.

I have a gorgeous Bird of Paradise plant that comes in every year and occupies a corner in my living room and a small collection of succulents in a tray that I add to the sideboard in my dining room.

Author: Izzy Nicholls

Writer for The Gap Decaders. Expert in European travel, road trips, motorhome & RV travel, overland travel, van life, adult gap years and how to live the dream!

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