I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. The holidays were a joyous time for us, and I’m always a little sad to see them slow down. Right now I’m getting the house organized and working on some winter decorating ideas starting with the family room.

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To me winter decorating is all about creating a welcoming retreat by pulling in those elements that say, “let’s get cozy”. Here’s a short list of what I used in the family room to warm up the space.

 

Winter Decorating Ideas

• throw blankets
• pillows (similar to mine)
• glass bottles  (similar to mine)
• candles
• books
• greenery

 

 

You may be thinking the throw blankets and pillows makes sense, but why glass bottles? On the days when we have even just a little sunshine, the glass bottles reflect light and brighten up the room so much. If you have mirrors, they will do the same thing especially in the middle of winter.

 

 

The bottles also have the same cheerful green and blue colors as the art work which I wanted to repeat in the room.

During some of my down time over the last couple of weeks I painted more book covers and updated some wooden candlesticks too.

 

 

I wanted to display the candlesticks together on the mantel for something structural, plus I just like their shapes. To make them coordinate a little better I sanded the shorter dark gray candlestick and applied Cerusing wax from A Makers’ Studio with a dry brush.

After working the wax into the crevices, I let it set or cure for about 30 minutes to an hour, then used a clean cotton cloth to buff off some of the wax to create a soft muted luster.

 

 

I also applied Cerusing wax to the tall candlesticks as well.  I didn’t necessarily want them to match, but they do coordinate better than they did before. They now have a soft aged patina, which is something you might find in an upscale boutique.

I’m still tweaking the mantel and plan on adding a plant or orchid to finish the look. The candlesticks add a structural element to the mantel that I really like. I’m wondering if I should add candles. What do you think?

 

 

On the books I used some of my favorite paint colors such as Little Black Dress and  a Southern Gentleman from A Makers’ Studio. If you would like to see all the products click on A Makers’ Studio. For a tutorial, see the post How To Paint Book Covers.

My poinsettias are still thriving but were moved to other containers so I could repurpose the French style metal box. I love the gray metal and how well it looks on the coffee table. It now holds few books, a glass bottle and a boxwood wreath for greenery.

 

 

Like the candlesticks, I also modified the French metal box by painting over the red trim that outlined the top edge and corners. Now I have a one of a kind container that blends in better with my decor.

Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest. The boards are updated daily with seasonal inspiration that you can use right now!

 

 

Can you guess who called dibs on the chair next to the fireplace with the awesome throw? Yep it was me!

This is going to be a great year and I’m so glad I have you to share it with. I’m in the process of planning and scheduling decorating projects, so let me know what you want to see more of this year. Leave a comment for me, I love hearing from you.

Cheers!

For more winter decorating ideas see How To Create A Cozy Winter Bedroom.

©2019 Winter Decorating Ideas post first appeared on Thistle Key Lane™.