Decorating For Winter The Easy Way

Now that the holidays are over and I removed and stored all my Christmas decorations until next year, it was time for me to figure out how to give some new energy to my living room and kitchen for the winter months.

Corner of living room decorated in blue and white and fur throws.

Back in November, I went in search for blue fabric.

blue accent in area rug in living room

I wanted it to make pillow covers for the sofa that would pick up the blue accents in the area rug in my living room.

Blue Nova color for 2024 by Benjamin Moore paints.

I forgot all about my plan for the fabric over the holidays. Then last week I read about Benjamin Moore’s color of the year and remembered that I bought the fabric.

I am not one to jump on the bandwagon when the tastemakers of color forecasting tell us each year what colors will dominate design.

I rarely like any of the color picks, but this year I was happy to find out that a pretty color of blue by Benjamin Moore, called Blue Nova is one of the 2024 colors forecasted.

Blue in general is a color that I can get behind. My bedroom is blue and white and blue and green is the color scheme in one of the guest rooms. Then there is the hallway that I refer to as the “Hallway of Darkness” where blue is a dominant color.

In the past I have used blue in my living room and kitchen, but usually only in the summer.

blue cross hatch fabric from JoAnns Fabric on a sofa pillow.

Changing the color accent in a room is fairly easy when the basic color scheme is neutral. This is one reason, I like to keep the color scheme of living room and kitchen neutral so I can change the look up seasonally or on a whim with whatever color I want so it never gets stale.

blue and white living room

To cozy up the color for winter that runs more on the cool side, I added lots of candles and fur throws and pillows. At night the living room is very cozy, just how I like it.

Once I got the no-sew pillow covers made and put them in place, I shopped my house and gathered up anything that I could find that was blue. I didn’t have a lot, but just enough to make a difference.

Open white shelves in kitchen decorated with blue, white and brown items.

I had fun placing and moving the items in the rooms until I liked what I saw. I even found one item, a small blue ceramic planter that I have had forever as an exact match to the Benjamin Moore Blue Nova color.

I mixed in a few brown accents on the open shelves in the kitchen to warm the overall feel of the shelves.

side table with X design from HomeGoods. Book on top At Home on the Water.

When at HomeGoods over the holidays I bought this X-Side table as a Christmas gift from me to me. Everything else I used to add new energy into the spaces, I already owned. If it was blue, I used it.

White kitchen with blue accents.

For the rest of the kitchen, I placed blue and white plates in the plate wall and hung blue dish towels on the towel bar.

White kitchen with blue accents.

The blue accents were subtle, but an effective way to update the rooms. I didn’t even have to pick up a paint brush to make the changes.

If you are looking to re-energize a room in your home, consider choosing a favorite color or a trending one and add touches of it around a room to add new energy when a room starts looking stale to your eyes.

Adding an accent color to a room is also one way to make a change that doesn’t require a long-term color commitment.

Lastly, if using a favorite color, you may find that you already have decorative items in the color that you can gather and use in new ways in your home. Shopping your house for the items to add a new accent color to a room won’t cost you a thing.

Decor Resources

DIY Decorating Projects Shown

Winter home decorating ideas using the colors blue and white.

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14 Comments

  1. Love the blue and white! I also read the bedroom link that you referred to. What is the plank flooring in your bedroom?
    Thanks!

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Lulu – The wide plank flooring in my bedroom is from Select Surfaces bought at Sam’s Club. The color: Urbanwood. You can read more about it in this post: https://bit.ly/2Wl4Mel

  2. I like the blue accents. Blue is always an accent color in my home, love it. I want to thank you Diane for all the work you put into your blog and sharing your creative ideas. I have taken inspiration from you many times. I like to have more treasures visible than you but I follow the same principle of neutral with color layered in.

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Thanks Elise for taking the time to leave me a nice note. :-) I love when readers tell me about their style as we each should live life fully in our own style. XO

    2. I always look forward to your Sunday emailed “In My Style” articles! You always have a positive, cheery outlook and great decorating ideas! I also enjoy your Walmart finds and Amazon suggestions!
      Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!

      Wendy

  3. Looks so cozy! Where did you get your sofa, or couch as my family called it growing up! Is there a difference? It looks soooo comfy!
    On another note, I thought I recall a post you did about changing your web hosting platform. I hope that’s the right terminology. I’m in the planning stages of a website and have so much, make that everything to learn. It’s not decor related, but you are an inspiration!

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Susan – My sofa is from Pottery Barn. Here is the link to it: https://bit.ly/3vEhnyM It comes in different sizes and you can choose the color and fabric for the slipcover. I did change my blog host. If you are starting a website I would highly recommend going with BigScoots. Whatever you do, don’t go with BlueHost. If you ever have any more blogging questions, just let me know.

  4. Love the blue additions and the blue and white!

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Thanks Margaret – I wasn’t sure at first how I was going to decorte after the holidays. Reading about the color Blue Nova was the inspiration I needed.

  5. Love the rug! Where did you get it? Perfect touch of blue in it.

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Barb :-). Thanks. I hope you had an enjoyable time over the holidays with the family. Happy 2024! XO