After Christmas Decorating Ideas: Cozy Winter Decor

Simple ideas for decorating after Christmas while still keeping your homes cozy winter feeling

After Christmas is officially over I give myself about a day to take down all the “Christmas” decor…

It’s a tight schedule I know, but while the Christmas decor is merry and joyful it can also be overstimulating. So once Christmas is over I like to go ahead and just take it all down.

The only thing about removing everything merry and bright is that sometimes the house feels a little cold and plain.

So instead of just packing everything away I leave a couple of key pieces and add just a few things to give the house all the cozy winter vibes without feeling Christmas-y.

Here are some of my favorite ways to decorate for winter after Christmas

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Removing the Christmas Part of Decor

After Christmas Decorating Ideas: Cozy Winter Decor

Obviously the true Christmas decor gets taken down. All the stockings, red ribbon, and anything involving Santa.

Some items can remain though with a few changes. For instance, removing red berry stems from wreaths or greenery can make the arrangement look like winter decor instead of Christmas decor.

Removing the ribbon from smaller trees is also a great way to make them winter themed and not Christmas themed.

This one might be controversial but I remove all the ornaments and tinsel and leave the bare tree up in our bedroom until after the new year. The cozy lights are just so comforting and bare trees count as winter decor in my book.

Check out my favorite Christmas storage solutions here!

Keep the Glow

There is nothing cozier than candle light in the evening.

I like to keep a mix of flameless candles out all winter long, because if it’s going to be dark by 4:30 I want to at least feel cozy.

The flameless ones have been my go-to choice with a toddler running around plus I really like being able to set them with a timer and not worrying about turning them on and off.

Last year I DIY-ed these simple wood house candle holders that I love to use during winter.

We also love to relax with our wood burning fireplace in the winter.

These homemade fire starters make it easy to start a fire and leave the house smelling amazing!

Plus the logs double as decor (here’s a secret in our old house the fireplace was gas and I still displayed real logs as decor).

Wood logs are the perfect winter decor and can be faux or real, display them in a basket or metal bin for the perfect fireplace accent.

Changing Up the Mantel

If you want to leave your garland up all winter that is completely acceptable. Just remove anything red in the garland and take down the stockings.

If your mantel looks too bare add in some books, candles, or pine cones.

Garland that is plain (not covered in red berries or flowers) is still very true to the winter season and there is no reason you can’t enjoy it for longer if that’s what you want to do.

This year I removed our garland though and went for a simpler look by adding some gold candle sticks and keeping this small tree up.

Winter Greenery

For my after Christmas winter greenery I pack away anything that has a red berry attached and leave the rest.

Adding greenery (real or faux) to a room gives it life and warmth.

I do in general save the floral stems for spring but that doesn’t mean your greenery has to look plain or boring.

Juniper and Cedar are my go to stems and for a little extra oomph I like to add dried Eucalyptus to the bunch.

You could also throw in some berry branches like these, the blue berries are a perfect soft winter shade.

Adding pine cones is another great way to add texture and color to centerpieces or stems. The best part is that pine cones are free when you live on 18 acres surrounded by trees.

How to Clean Pine Cones for Decoration:

If you are using real pine cones for your winter decor be sure to clean them first.

Start by brushing off any visible dirt or debris, then soak them in a solution of warm water and white vinegar for about 30 minutes to kill any bugs.

Then bake them in the oven at a low temperature (around 200°F) for 1-2 hours to fully dry them out and open them up.

If you don’t feel like scavenging around the yard for real pine cones, here is a really nice and realistic faux option.

Adding Cozy Textiles

Winter is the time for all things cozy, especially when it comes to fabric.

Plush throws and pillows are a great way to add texture and color to a room.

The more neutral the color, the longer it will last seasonally.

When adding color I like to stay with deep greens and blue hues, true to a winter color scheme.

Knit and plush textures are my go to for the winter months because they add dimension to the space and are also super cozy!

Setting up a woven basket by the couch or between chairs is a great way to add winter decor that’s also functional.

Display Winter Artwork

If you are wanting to add character and interest to a space, winter prints are a great option!

You can find some of my favorite free printable winter prints in the Southern Yankee DIY VIP Gallery and either print them yourself or send them to CVS/Walgreens/OfficeMax and have them printed for you.

Prints are an easy way to add color and interest to a room and can be printed for really cheap.

I love to use ornate frames I find at thrift stores to display the winter prints on our bookcases or hang them on our new staircase gallery wall.

You can also find your own free printable artwork off public domain and museum websites.

Adding in a Winter Scent

Cozy winter homes don’t have to just look cozy, they can also smell inviting.

Essential oils are an easy way to achieve a winter smelling home.

Some of my favorite essential oils to use in winter are:

Pine essential oil– With its fresh and woodsy scent, can evoke the feeling of being in a winter forest.
Cinnamon essential oil– Cinnamon is a warm and spicy aroma, and can add a touch of holiday cheer to your home.
Vanilla essential oil– This is a sweet and comforting fragrance, and can create a sense of warmth and relaxation.

When using essential oils, you can add a few drops to a diffuser or mix them with water in a spray bottle to create a DIY room spray.

When I am finished baking my pine cones for decoration I add a few drops of pine essential oil for an added scent boost.

Simmer pots are another one of my favorite ways to create a wonderful smelling house. Plus they look so pretty, they basically count as decor too.

Here are some of my best simmer pot recipes!

Decorating for Winter Not Christmas

Those are just a few of my favorite ways to keep our home cozy after all the Christmas decor is put away.

How our home feels in the winter months is especially important to me because being stuck inside and living in what feels like 17 hours of darkness makes me feel a little seasonally depressed.

But the glow of candlelight and warm blankets make it a little more bearable, anyone else feel that way?

Regardless of how you choose to decorate for winter (or any month) choose things that make your heart happy, there are no rules except the ones you make, it is your house after all!

Let me know how you beat the winter blues and what your go to decor picks are.