Cosy Country Cottage Soft Furnishings for the Winter Season
Winter has a way of bringing everyone back to the heart of the home (or the cottage!). Families gather and socialise in the living room, while hearty roast dinners bubble away in the kitchen. At this time of year, it’s more important than ever to make your cottage feel cosy and warm, and ready to welcome everyone in from the cold.
Preparing your cottage for the winter season is about creating spaces that feel comfortable and lived-in, where people can kick off their boots and gather around the fire after a cold winter walk. Country cottage soft furnishings play an important role here, adding warmth and softness in the spaces where it’s needed most.
Here’s how you can use winter soft furnishings to make your country cottage feel even cosier this season.
Cottage decor ideas using winter soft furnishings
1) Layer cushions for warmth and personality
One of the simplest ways to refresh your room for the winter season is to layer cushions across your sofas, armchairs, and window seats. We like to pair different cushion patterns and textures, like linens and wools, and finish with a cosy knitted throw for those evenings spent curled up beside the fire with a glass of wine.
The secret to successful pattern mixing is to keep your colour palette tight – ideally 3-4 shades. This allows you to be playful with florals, geometrics, and stripes, without making the room feel cluttered. Our made to measure cushions are designed to be layered, so you can easily build a combination that feels relaxed rather than overly styled.
Discover 5 easy ways to style made to measure cushions for a cosy winter home in our dedicated blog post.
2) Create pools of light with patterned lampshades
Lighting plays a quiet but powerful role at wintertime. Rather than relying on overhead lights, we recommend scattering table lamps on sideboards, shelves, and windowsills around the room to create soft pools of light at different heights.
Patterned fabric lampshades are a great way to introduce colour and texture to your room, without having to commit to larger upholstered pieces. Our Pretty Maids, May Blossom, and Little Fern designs work particularly well at this scale, adding charm and character to those darker corners.
3) Draw the curtains on those winter draughts
When the temperatures begin to drop, curtains become one of the most important winter soft furnishings in the home. Thick, interlined curtains help to keep the warmth in and draughts out, and are the perfect way to add visual interest and softness to your room.
Our made to measure curtains are interlined with a soft, fleecy bump between the face fabric and lining. This gives them a beautifully weighty drape and a cosy, thick feel, making them a practical choice as well as a decorative one. Patterned curtains are especially effective in winter, bringing character to rooms that might otherwise feel cold and bare.
Winter colour combinations to try at home
Winter is the perfect time to explore softer colour combinations that bring warmth to your space without feeling heavy. A palette of Peach, Lichen, and Ochre feels calm and grounded, making it ideal for creating a welcoming country cottage atmosphere in the winter months. For example, you could combine our Lattice Leaf design in Ochre & Lichen with Fern & Dragonfly in Lichen, and add some soft accents of Little Fern in Peach for balance and warmth.
The other approach is to choose deeper shades that feel rich and cocooning. If you’re drawn to darker red and pink tones, you could pair our Fruit Garden fabric in Damson, Light Kale & Winter with Simple Ticking Detail in Kale and Pretty Maids in Damson & Winter for instant cosiness.
Bring your home together with our country cottage soft furnishings
Want your cottage to feel cosier and warmer as we head into winter? We offer a range of made to measure country cottage soft furnishings, including cushions, curtains, lampshades, and quilts, that will make your space feel comfortable, lived-in, and ready for the season ahead. Simply choose your favourite fabric from Vanessa’s nature-inspired collections, and sit back while we bring your one-of-a-kind piece to life!
FAQs
How can I make my home feel cosier for winter without redecorating?
Introducing winter soft furnishings is one of the easiest ways to make your home feel cosier during the colder months without redecorating. Adding extra cushions, putting up thicker curtains, and introducing more table lamps with fabric shades brings instant warmth and cosiness to your space.
Which soft furnishings make the biggest difference in winter?
Curtains, cushions, and lampshades are the soft furnishings that make the biggest difference in winter. Interlined curtains help to keep the warmth in, while layered cushions and fabric lampshades add softness, colour, and a welcoming glow to your room.
Can country cottage soft furnishings work in more modern homes?
Yes, country cottage soft furnishings add warmth and character to both traditional and modern homes. They help to soften the space, bringing a sense of comfort and individuality without overwhelming the room.
We sell fabrics exclusively designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott, along side small, bespoke collection of Made to Measure items which includes curtains, blinds, sofas, footstools, chairs, headboards, and quilts, all handmade specially for you by master crafts people.
