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Amy Collins-Walker
An experienced lifestyle journalist and interior stylist (with work published in magazines, newspapers and online), Amy is the senior features writer at Australia’s leading interior design and renovation site Interiors Addict.
When not searching for the perfect word or image, Amy is a passionate interior stylist.
Trends we can’t get enough of
Just because we’re in the depths of winter doesn’t mean we can’t have fun redecorating our homes while the temperatures plummet. From the many charms of cottagecore to the health benefits of biophilic design, and tips on how to style with layers, here are 5 winter trends that we simply can’t get enough of.
Biophilic design: Connect with nature indoors
The technical term for design and architecture that focusses on our innate human connection with nature, biophilic design has swept the globe over the last few years, particularly as more people are living in cities than ever before. Recognising that we are hard-wired to seek out connections with nature as it makes us feel good, and benefits our health, biophilic design is centred around bringing the outdoors in.
While Australians are known across the globe for our love of outdoor living, it’s a habit that we struggle to maintain in the cooler months for obvious reasons. Given icy evenings, windy days and increased rainfall have us spending much more time indoors, it pays to bring some natural elements inside to sustain that natural connection.
The indoor plant trend has been going strong for a while now, possibly because a potted plant is the easiest way to bring nature indoors. Celebrated for their health benefits (including stress reduction and air purification), some studies have even shown that plants can increase productivity. But potted plants aside, you can get your nature fix by introducing flora in other ways — fresh cut flowers, garden cuttings and even sculptural branches (with or without leaves) are all excellent indoor options.
Consider hanging artwork or photography, that celebrates the natural environment, painting a feature wall in a soothing green shade or installing a water source such as a fountain or pond. They’re all great ways to help you tap into the nature-based trend.
Finally, if a large window looking out to a green space is just not possible in your home, there are other less obvious ways to increase your connection with nature. Consider hanging artwork or photography, that celebrates the natural environment, painting a feature wall in a soothing green shade or installing a water source such as a fountain or pond. They’re all great ways to help you tap into the nature-based trend.
Layer up: Textured layers add visual (and real) warmth
You only need to spend five minutes scrolling Instagram to realise that textured layers are having a moment in the winter spotlight. Just as summer calls for its own lounge room temperature adaptations (hello air conditioning!), so too does winter. The ideal season for cosy couch hangs and rainy-day sleep-ins, the aim is to make your living room and bedroom as inviting and warm as possible, with layers central to the look.
Not only do layers play an important role in keeping us warm, but they also add a sense of all-important visual warmth too. And this season, on-trend layers come in the form of jersey, flannelette, chenille, velvet and faux fur.
The perfect place to experiment with layers is in the bedroom, especially if you’re keen to create a bed that screams ‘get in here!’ Plus, switching out your summer bedding, for a winter set, is not only practical but it’s a great opportunity to play with different looks.
Practical as well as increasingly good-looking, the weighted blanket can be incorporated easily into the layering trend. Weighted blankets use deep pressure stimulation, which is thought to stimulate the production of the mood-boosting hormone serotonin, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and increase levels of melatonin — the hormone that helps you sleep. Great for anxiety sufferers and insomniacs, the weighted blanket has really crossed over into the mainstream this winter and may be just the thing to help you improve your overall sleep quality.
Cottagecore
The perfect partner to a pandemic, it’s easy to see why the cottagecore aesthetic has come into its own this winter. A crowd-pleasing look, and welcome antidote to long-running minimalism, there’s something so cosy, comforting, and nostalgic about the trend, which is what makes it ideal for the cooler months.
Interesting to look at from a social and cultural perspective, cottagecore harks back to simpler, pre-pandemic times with its celebration of agriculture and handmade arts and crafts. Evoking a humbler, more sustainable existence, it’s thought that the look is partly driven by a backlash to the digital onslaught of our daily lives. It’s also perhaps a natural response to spending so much more time at home.
And while cottagecore vibes can be seen on the fashion scene (think large collars and peasant dresses), and in the world of food (who are you if you haven’t made a loaf of sourdough from scratch?), its impact has certainly been felt in interior design where it merges traditional, classic, farmhouse and eclectic elements.
Interesting to look at from a social and cultural perspective, cottagecore harks back to simpler, pre-pandemic times with its celebration of agriculture and handmade arts and crafts. Evoking a humbler, more sustainable existence, it’s thought that the look is partly driven by a backlash to the digital onslaught of our daily lives. It’s also perhaps a natural response to spending so much more time at home.
So, if you’re keen to embrace this trend in your abode, there are a few key items for the checklist. First up, think about expanding your indoor plant collection as lush greenery is key to the look. Then you’ll need to bring in some nature décor (think wall art featuring calming, country scenes) and plenty of muted, pastel tones.
Then, you need to think about reducing the technology side of things; for instance, is a TV necessary? Next up, incorporate vintage furniture and homewares, a bunch of fresh (or dried) flowers, and plenty of soft natural fabrics like linen and wool. Add a gingham blanket and some vintage tableware and you’re well on your way to nailing the vibe.
Soft lighting to beat the winter blues
Proving just how impactful light is on our mood, seasonal affective disorder most often impacts people in winter with symptoms including fatigue and depression. The lack of sunlight in winter can certainly be harsh, with many houses feeling rather gloomy during the day, but there are plenty of ways to remedy this without resorting to filling the room with harsh downlights.
Softly glowing pendant lights, chandeliers and lamps are a great way to illuminate a space while making it feel more inviting. Currently trending, pleated paper and textile shades are perfect for imbuing a space with soft and cosy light and warmth. Also, if you have any exposed bulbs in your home, switch them out for some vintage decorative ones for a much warmer glow.
In other lighting news, the wall sconce is back. And whether you opt for a minimal or decorative iteration, they look super stylish beside a bathroom mirror, either side of a bed or above a mantlepiece. Multiple wall sconces, scattered around the home produce a soft, ambient lighting feel and while this look is mostly for homeowners, there are a surprising number of plug-in wall sconces available for renters too.
Softly glowing pendant lights, chandeliers and lamps are a great way to illuminate a space while making it feel more inviting. Currently trending, pleated paper and textile shades are perfect for imbuing a space with soft and cosy light and warmth. Also, if you have any exposed bulbs in your home, switch them out for some vintage decorative ones for a much warmer glow.
Clusters of candles, of different shapes, heights and colours, not only illuminate a space, but they add an element of interest to a room. In fact, candles en masse make a stylish centrepiece for a dining or coffee table and is an easy look to create — just grab an existing round platter and load it up with candles of varying heights and voila! For those with safety concerns, the new-wave battery-operated, flickering LED candles look surprisingly authentic too.
For areas in the home, like the kitchen, where task lighting is often more necessary in winter, it can be harder to create mood. While we’re naturally inclined to turn on all the downlights, LED strip lighting creates a more ambient space — a nice, soft alternative, it looks fabulous beneath open shelving in a kitchen.
The firepit: Maximise outdoor time in winter
Given Australians have a bona fide obsession with indoor/outdoor living, it follows that the outdoor room continues to grow in popularity. No longer simply home to a barbecue area and a couple of sun loungers, the backyard (or even just deck), has become a legitimate ‘room’ complete with sofa, coffee table and accessories. And contrary to what you may think, it’s a room that can be used in winter too; especially with the addition of a firepit.
From roasting marshmallows to imbibing in your favourite red, a firepit seems to invite people to gather around. A great way to spend a chilly winter’s night, it’s also a fabulous way to make use of your backyard in the cooler months. And in welcome news for enthusiasts, the popularity of the firepit has resulted in increased availability with many sizes and configurations available in both portable and built-in form. Popular options include the wood burner, the chiminea and the natural gas firepit.
From roasting marshmallows to imbibing in your favourite red, a firepit seems to invite people to gather around. A great way to spend a chilly winter’s night, it’s also a fabulous way to make use of your backyard in the cooler months.
With an opening on the front, and a chimney on top, the chiminea is typically made from a heavy ceramic material. This is a great choice for those looking to add a pop of colour to their outdoor room as most chimineas can be painted.
For those sensitive to burning wood, a natural gas fire pit is a great choice. Built into the ground, or even a tabletop, this type of fire pit is connected to natural gas which has the added benefit of never running out of fuel.
Ultimately though, whatever style you choose, be sure to put your firepit in a place that is protected from the wind and pair it with some comfy outdoor chairs and festoon lighting for a truly inviting scene.
More in-store at Early Settler
Visit Early Settler in-store or online to discover more winter trends. And learn how to get the light just right for every mood and occasion.
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