As the holidays come and go and you start dreading the day you have to take down your decorations, don’t fret! There’s no rule that says you have to pack up your winter decor on New Year’s Day. In fact, with the weather turning colder in January, that’s the time you really need to keep that warm, festive glow indoors. Today we take a look at how you can add warmth and sparkle to your decor throughout the chilliest season on the year. Read on for some cozy winter style ideas that will comfort you throughout the coldest months…

The Warm Glow of Lights

Glowing lights: they’re not just for Christmas! In fact, some people leave them up all year long. If that’s not your style, you can at least leave them up through the winter. This painted Christmas light DIY from A Beautiful Mess involves spray painting the green cord of a holiday light strand. The new gold cord really upgrades an ordinary winter decoration, making it the perfect mantel decor solution!

Not into using the fireplace? Maybe someone in your family is allergic to ash and soot, or perhaps you just don’t want to deal with maintaining the fireplace. No problem! You can still purchase some logs for decoration, then add a warm glow with a strand of battery-powered lights. We’re loving the look of this fireplace setup from Design Love Fest. And how about that garland?! More on garlands in the next section…

Candles are an easy way to create a warm feel in your interior. Use them on the mantel or at the table! And don’t forget the power of a shiny candle holder to add sparkle. Below we see a beautifully styled vignette via Camille Styles:

Don’t forget about the outdoor lights! Why take them down when you can use them to illuminate an outdoor seating area? Plus, you can enjoy the twinkle of lights from indoors as you gaze out the window on a chilly evening. [photo from vgzarquitectura y diseno]

The Festive Feel of a Garland

Let’s talk about garlands, shall we?! We often wait until the holidays to display them, but they’re a great way to keep the festivity alive throughout the winter. Let’s start with garlands that sparkle! This holographic garland DIY from Paper & Stitch is definitely eye-catching in all the right ways:

A Beautiful Mess has done it again, this time with a DIY Mylar Pom-Pom Garland that’s as easy to make as it is bedazzling. And who doesn’t love the warm sparkle of metallic gold in the dead of winter?!

Here’s another fabulous garland idea from Paper & Stitch, this time using oversized wooden blocks! Acrylic paint helps create a geo effect, making this garland perfectly on trend and perfectly in style well beyond the holidays:

The Joy of Entertaining

Often after the holidays, there’s a bit of a letdown when the joy of parties and gatherings is replaced by cold and calm winter evenings. But you can keep this joy alive by continuing to gather friends and family, or at least experiencing the fun of food preparation and presentation throughout the year’s coldest season. Start by making your kitchen a cozy and enjoyable place to be! Strategic lighting goes a long way, as does an enticing setup that makes you want to cook on a chilly night. [photo from Hobsons Choice]

Having a fully stocked bar cart at the ready will remind you of those cheerful holiday evenings and encourage you to continue the festivity by inviting friends and family over for a cocktail! Below we see a colorful bar cart styled by Sugar & Cloth:

And setting a beautiful table throughout the winter makes even the coldest of days bearable, especially when the warm tones of a flickering votive take center stage. [photo from TEA2 Architects]

Here’s to winter as spectacular as the holidays!