Author: Christabel Chubb

Winter is near – the air is crisper, the sun sets earlier and the jumpers stashed in the back of your closet make their annual appearance. To escape the chill of the months ahead, too, you will probably find yourself staying indoors and curling up in bed with a mug of hot chocolate and a good, long book. Because of this, it is vital to transform your bedroom into a winter oasis, full of warmth, cheer and relaxation. We’ve rounded up the best design ideas from the H&G archive to cosify your bedroom for winter. Consider ambient lighting While great lighting is crucial any time of year, in winter, it is perhaps in winter when great lighting is truly essential. The winter months bring with them long, dark nights and afternoon sunsets, which can be jarring. In your bedroom, especially, creating a beautiful lighting scheme with ambient lighting (think floor lamps, candles and glowy fairy lights, and, designers’ favourites, candle sconces) maximises the room’s cosiness and turns it into a true retreat from the cold, pitch-black outdoors. Additionally, for those especially affected by those 4.30 sunsets, investing in a ‘SAD’ (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamp – which mimics sunlight – may be worthwhile. Wrap up in blankets Ollie Tomlinson Is there anything better than bundling up in a gigantic, oh-so-soft blanket? Fuzzy blankets and cashmere throws are crucial to amping up the cosiness of a winter bedroom. Quilts and eiderdowns are also having a moment, and this throwback to our grandparents’ decorating style feels particularly welcome in a difficult winter. Investing in high-quality textiles, too, adds to the decor of your room and adds a touch of sumptuous elegance to staying warm. Welsh blankets are one of our favourite styles; their traditional styles can bring much-needed colour and texture to a bedroom. As for bedding, consider a brushed cotton set of sheets for added warmth. Jan Baldwin Feel the glow of candles While you now know that great ambient lighting is essential for a winter bedroom, candles, too, are just as important. Candles give off warmth, add glow and, should you opt for those of the scented variety, engulf your bedroom in your favourite smells. Consider candles whose scents are reminiscent of winter: cinnamons, pine tree or citrus scents are perfect. The spare room in shop-owner Alastair Hendy’s restored Tudor home has beds under the sloped roof, creating a perfectly cosy small bedroom, lit by the light of a single candle. Paul Massey Warm up your room with a great paint colour Interior designer Philip Hooper’s masterful blend of the classic and contemporary has given this late-Regency house in Hampshire a greater sense of harmony and dignity. The walls in the main bedroom are covered in ‘Strie’, a linen-silk blend from George Spencer Designs. Michael Sinclair For those seeking to winter-proof their bedroom to the fullest extent, re-painting a bedroom is the perfect next step. Paint colour adds warmth to your bedroom’s palette, transforming your room into a warm safe haven. Certain colours (think beiges, creams or paints with sateen-y finishes) better help to reflect light – so important during those dark winter days, whereas other colours, such as darker greens or blues, can make a room feel more intimate. Wallpaper, too, can add cheerful personality to the bedroom. Make your bed more inviting Studio Squire designed a contemporary bed tester for the primary bedroom of this cottage, using fabrics from Guy Goodfellow, Marvic and Claremont. The velvet bed throw is from Toast. Christopher Horwood Spending so much time indoors can make anyone develop cabin fever. Beat it by kitting out your bed for winter. Choose embroidered throw pillows with festive, winter themes to add to your holiday spirit. Adding extra cushions and making extra space for books on your nightstand are two simple steps to creating a cosy reading nook on your bed; for morning people, by laying down a fluffy rug at the side of your bed grounds your room and ensures a great, soft start to your morning. At The Fife Arms in Braemar, Scotland, this bedroom known as ‘The Artist’s Studio’ draws on the decorative style at Charleston in East Sussex. Benjamin Edwards In this London project by Veere Grenney, the bed has curtains in ‘Blenheim’ by Michael Smith. Woodwork in a deep, olive green and brass finishes make the space feel luxurious and cosy. Mark Anthony Fox If you have a four-poster bed, or are considering buying one, drape it in fabric to create an enveloping place to sleep. We love tartans and plaids at this time of year; their woollen texture is perfect for chilly nights. For a small bedroom, the box bed has to be the most attractive thing on a winter evening; these charming nooks where you can draw the curtains and hide away are exactly where we’d want to be when the temperature drops.