Winter is on the way. The holidays can mean having lots of family and friends over to your house, so it’s time to get your home ready for it. The stresses of the season, winter depression and less daylight hours can all bring you down. Plus if your home is small, you can start to feel trapped and things can get cluttered with all the extra coats, hats, gloves and boots lying around. Start now and turn your little cabin into a cozy little safe-haven that is inviting to you, your family and your guests. Have a warm cozy winter this year. Use decorating tips and lighting schemes to accomplish a stylish, organized environment, even in a small space.



First, get organized. Get yourself some high quality wooden hangers for those heavy coats and start with your coat closet. Organize hats, gloves and scarves in small drawer cabinets or in over-the-door closet organizers. Shoes should be about the only thing on the floor of your closet. Get rid of coats that you never wear and store formal ones in a spare bedroom. You can also use the top shelf of your coat closet to store them in boxes or collapsible bags. Once everything is in place, you’re ready to tackle the entryway of your home.

Provide a bench or cozy seat by the door to invite guests to take off their shoes. A discreet shoe rack or organization cabinet will give everything a place to go and make your guests feel at home. Use warm lighting in this area to make it relaxing and inviting. A small lamp or low watt soft light bulb will do the trick.

If you have a fireplace, you’re in luck. There’s nothing like a fire to warm the spirit and relax the mind. The warm glowing light is perfect for drawing you into its warm aura. Provide seating around the fire and coasters on the hearth for mugs of hot chocolate or tea. If you don’t have a hearth, small end tables on either side will let people know that this is a place where they can sit and relax. If you don’t have room for chairs in this area, decorative floor pillows or fluffy rugs will invite people to sit.

Use upward lighting on the walls to accent family pictures or art. Use downward lighting, like from lamps or hanging lights, to direct people towards areas where you want them to mingle. Use lots of soft textured fabrics to add to the coziness of the area. Throw blankets and plush pillows make any room look more inviting, even if you have stiff leather couches. Busy patterns can make a room look smaller, so stick to discreet patterns and solids when decorating. Dark colors can make a room cozier, but if the space seems small already, make sure that your accents are light and don’t add to the darkness of the space. Large mirrors can open up a space and reflect soft light around the room.

Use your creativity and imagination when decorating your small home. Personalize it to your taste and keep comfort in mind. Making the space usable and less formal will make your home feel like a retreat away from the cold this winter.