Many thanks to Evelyn Long for her article, 9 Glittery Winter Wonderland-Inspired Design Ideas. Be sure to read Evelyn’s bio at the bottom.
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Once the holidays are over, a bare home after days of it decked out in festive decorations can be bittersweet. Why not use this as a chance for a winter refresh? Take the magic of the snowy outdoors indoors to give your home a sophisticated, non-holiday theme from January through March. From shimmering colors and glittery decor to cozy textures, turn your home into an elegant and cozy winter wonderland-inspired retreat with these design ideas.
1. Embrace an Icy Color Palette
Crisp whites, soft grays and icy blues often reflect the quietness of winter. Use them throughout your home to bring the season indoors. Layer various tones of white, such as snow, cream and ivory, in textiles to create depth and warmth. For example, combine a crisp white duvet and a cream-colored knit blanket for bedding.
Add a focal point to accentuate the winter color scheme. If you have blank walls, consider creating an accent wall with removable wallpaper in frosty or dusty blue to give silvery and white decor the perfect backdrop. You can also use art to tie the entire palette together. Find prints with designs that feature your chosen colors or abstract winter landscapes.
2. Layer Shimmering and Frosted Textures
Once you incorporate the cool color palette, textures are what help make the space look stylishly elegant. The goal is to mimic the way light interacts with ice and snow. Consider these ideas:
- Use frosted glass vases for bare branches.
- Elevate mantel and table center pieces with shimmering candle holders.
- Achieve a beautiful dappled glow with silvery mercury glass votives or candle holders.
- Decorate with faceted glass objects that catch and refract light like ice crystals.
Look for materials and pieces that catch the light and create a “frosted” look, reminiscent of a winter morning.
3. Introduce Twinkle Lights Everywhere
Capture the “magical” element of the season with string lights that create a shimmering snow effect or imitate the flickering of a warm fire. Twinkle lights on copper or silver wire are ideal for a winter wonderland-inspired design, as they’re easy to bend and shape. Here are some creative placement ideas beyond the usual:
- Coil the lights inside a glass cloche or tall glass lanterns with faux snowballs.
- Drape them along the top of a bookshelf or around a large floor mirror.
- Weave the lights into a centerpiece on the dining table.
- Use battery-operated versions on wreaths or in small vignettes where plugs are inaccessible.
4. Use Mirrors to Amplify Light and Sparkle
Mirrors can make a space feel larger and amplify light, which is crucial in the darker winter months. Consider these ideas for different styles and effects:
- Place a large statement mirror with a silver or champagne-colored frame over a mantel or console table to create a stunning focal point.
- Create a gallery wall of small, mismatched mirrors in vintage-style frames to create a beautiful, fragmented light reflection.
- Double the glow of a collection of candles by using a mirrored tray as their bas
5. Decorate with Bare Branches and Faux Snow
Bring the outside in with natural elements that reflect the stark beauty of winter. Forage for fallen branches, ideally from birch trees, which have white bark. Clean them off to remove any dirt, and then you can leave them natural, spray paint them with a matte white or silver finish, or dust them with glitter spray. Arrange and display them in a tall, frosted vase.
Decorating with faux snow is also fun, but be careful not to overdo it. To keep it elegant, create a “just-fallen snow” effect by lightly dusting “snow” on a mantelpiece, along a table runner or inside a clear glass vase or lantern.
6. Keep Your Wonderland Draft-Free
While your home might look like a frosty wonderland, it certainly shouldn’t feel like one. A truly cozy home is a draft-free one, so ensure your windows and doors aren’t letting the cold in and the heat out. Invest in door sweeps or draft stoppers for your doors.
Winterize windows using window insulation kits, weatherstripping and caulking. Be sure to prepare early, as many caulks require temperatures above 40° Fahrenheit to properly cure. You can also use thick, heavy curtains in icy blues and soft grays to retain more heat inside your home.
7. Create Cozy Corners
Add hibernation hubs throughout your home with plush, soft textiles. Design them based on your needs and interests. For example, if you love reading, your cozy nooks must have these essentials:
- Comfortable seating: An armchair or chaise lounge piled high with pillows is comfortable and luxurious.
- Luxe textiles: Faux-fur throws, chunky-knit wool blankets and velvet or cashmere pillows in your icy palette help keep the home warm while looking stylish.
- Good lighting: A floor or table lamp with a soft-white bulb keeps the cozy vibe strong.
- A touch of winter nature: A small plant or a vase of branches on a nearby side table accentuates the natural feel.
8. Hang Glittering Snowflake and Star Decor
Resource: Casart Repositionable Flower Power Wall Mural
Snowflakes and stars are universal symbols of the winter sky and season, and they’re separate from specific holidays. Add decor with these motifs to spruce up your home design. Here are some ideas for inspiration:
- Hang metallic star garlands from the ceiling for a winter wonderland-inspired interior.
- Attach 3D paper snowflakes on window frames using clear fishing line for a “floating” effect.
- Put up art prints that feature celestial or snowflake designs on your walls.
- Use a small, subtle star projector to cast a magical glow on the ceiling during evenings.
Make hanging decorations stand out with a deep blue or an ombre gradient backdrop in the form of wall murals, wood wall art or wallpaper.
Resource: Casart Removable Daylight Ombre Gradient Wall Mural
9. Curate a Winter Scent-scape
Scent is tied to memory and mood, making it a powerful layer in creating a fully immersive winter wonderland-inspired atmosphere. Consider integrating these wintery scent profiles into your home:
- Crisp and fresh: Eucalyptus, peppermint and clean linen
- Woodsy and grounding: Fir, cedarwood, balsam and pine
- Warm and spicy: Scents with notes of amber, sandalwood and frankincense
Explore ways to add these scents into your home, such as frosted essential oil diffusers and soy or beeswax candles in sparkling jars. If you’re using candles, group them on a mirrored tray for visual impact.
Embrace the Winter Sparkle
Breathe new life into your home after the holidays by turning it into a glittery winter retreat. Try an icy palette, layer textures, use lights strategically and stay cozy. You can draw inspiration from these ideas or experiment with the aesthetic. Ultimately, aim to create a space that feels both stylishly seasonal and deeply comforting.
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Additional posts & resources:
- Ways to Use Holiday Decor through Winter
- 12 Ways to Embrace a Warmer Interior This Winter
- How to Create a Cozy Winter Wonderland Retreat for Cold Days
- We’re Falling for These 6 Trends That Create a Warm & Inviting Space
- Designs that Brighten the Winter Blues
Many thanks to Evelyn for her insightful article on ways to create a pinterest dorm on a budget.
About the author:
Evelyn Long is an interior design expert who uses emerging trends to help every homeowner discover their perfect style. Her work, regularly published in the National Association of Realtors, I+S, and DecorMatters, offers readers actionable tips for blending the latest looks with their personal taste. As editor in chief of Renovated Magazine, Evelyn is committed to making great design accessible and tailored to every individual.
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