You can start taking down the fall decor after Thanksgiving in anticipation of the winter holiday season. Keep in mind that you should pair holiday-specific decorations with more holistic decor befitting the entire winter season. For instance, Christmas decor might have to come down after December 25, but you should have plenty of other generally wintry decorations to compensate for their loss.
Winter decor entails any decorations appropriate for the entirety of the winter season, whereas holiday decor refers to things like Christmas trees, menorahs, and other holiday-specific items. The latter are only appropriate during the holiday season itself, whereas winter decorations fit every day from December through February. There’s some overlap between the two categories—for example, a Christmas wreath can double as a winter wreath so long as it doesn’t have any additional Christmas ornaments adorning its interior.
Winter means more time spent indoors, so you might want to make house decor as homey as possible. Try out these cozy winter decorating ideas: 

1. __Area rugs__: Lay out some rugs befitting the snowy season for cozy living room decor. From light brown burlap to snow white faux fur, the focus should be on using [rugs](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-rugs-from-sliding) that can mimic the look of the chilly outdoors while inspiring a sense of homelike warmth alongside the rest of the interior.
2. __Candles__: Your central heating unit and fireplace might be what keeps you warmest in winter, but the flickering flames and scented wax of [candles](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-candles-at-home) do just as much to usher in the overall feeling of the season. Consider using white or light blue candlesticks and candle holders to reflect the icy temperatures.
3. __Ornaments__: Holiday ornaments come down midway through winter, but you can put other, more all-encompassing winter decorations up in their stead. Place snowflake ornaments above your fireplace or make your own miniature snowmen out of styrofoam as a DIY winter decor idea.
4. __Table centerpieces__: Brighten up your tablescapes with centerpieces worthy of the wintertime. This can mean a set of silver candles or a vignette of pinecones and faux snowballs on your dining room or coffee table.
5. __Vignettes__: Craft your own vignettes as DIY projects. Vignettes are small collections of decorations, often in baskets, that evoke a specific look or style. For winter, include candles or appropriate greenery fitting the general winter color palette.
6. __Wall art__: Craft your own wintry wall art if you please—a painting of hot cocoa or sledding might fit the bill. Just make sure to use winter-appropriate paint colors. If you’d rather avoid DIY winter decorations, there’s plenty of printable winter wall art on the market, too.
7. __Wreaths__: Place a white and green winter wreath on your front door to replace its red and green Christmas counterpart. It’s a nice way to keep the entryway seasonal without feeling too dated once you’re in January and February.
Decorating for the winter months is simple. Follow these four winter home decor tips to make your house hum with the spirit of the season: 

1. __Decorate beyond the holidays__. There are two winter months beyond the major holidays, so be ready to decorate with more general materials for the remainder of the season. Better yet, use a mix of holiday-specific decorations and wintry decorations so that when you take down the former you still have plenty of winter decor in place.
2. __Focus on your fireplace__. You’ll likely spend plenty of time in front of your [fireplace](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-decorate-a-fireplace) during the cold winter months, so that’s the perfect place to add some winter living room decor. Stack some white birch logs by the fire or set ornaments on your winter mantel. If your home lacks a fireplace, you might have some other central feature that you wish to showcase, such as a bay window area or a piano.
3. __Put out some greenery__. It’s possible the natural elements you use to decorate your house might well be the only greenery you and your neighbors see for a few months throughout this season. For your front porch decor especially, try leaving out some evergreen foliage.
4. __Use a winter color scheme__. Use winter white, light blue, or bright silver for your winter needs. The goal should be to reflect or at least complement how the outside world looks indoors. Any accent colors you include—such as green, red, or a brighter blue—will make a powerful visual impact, so remember that a little goes a long way.
Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home. 
When December rolls around, an interior design makeover can turn your own home into a winter wonderland. Learn more about how to decorate your house for the winter months with seasonal decor.

When December rolls around, an interior design makeover can turn your own home into a winter wonderland. Learn more about how to decorate your house for the winter months with seasonal decor.

11 Winter Decor Ideas: How to Decorate for the Winter Season

You can start taking down the fall decor after Thanksgiving in anticipation of the winter holiday season. Keep in mind that you should pair holiday-specific decorations with more holistic decor befitting the entire winter season. For instance, Christmas decor might have to come down after December 25, but you should have plenty of other generally wintry decorations to compensate for their loss.

When Should You Start Decorating for Winter?

Winter decor entails any decorations appropriate for the entirety of the winter season, whereas holiday decor refers to things like Christmas trees, menorahs, and other holiday-specific items. The latter are only appropriate during the holiday season itself, whereas winter decorations fit every day from December through February. There’s some overlap between the two categories—for example, a Christmas wreath can double as a winter wreath so long as it doesn’t have any additional Christmas ornaments adorning its interior.

Winter Decor vs. Holiday Decor

Winter means more time spent indoors, so you might want to make house decor as homey as possible. Try out these cozy winter decorating ideas: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Area rugs: Lay out some rugs befitting the snowy season for cozy living room decor. From light brown burlap to snow white faux fur, the focus should be on using <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-rugs-from-sliding' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-rugs-from-sliding","linkCopy":"rugs","category":null}'>rugs</a> that can mimic the look of the chilly outdoors while inspiring a sense of homelike warmth alongside the rest of the interior. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Candles: Your central heating unit and fireplace might be what keeps you warmest in winter, but the flickering flames and scented wax of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-candles-at-home' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-candles-at-home","linkCopy":"candles","category":null}'>candles</a> do just as much to usher in the overall feeling of the season. Consider using white or light blue candlesticks and candle holders to reflect the icy temperatures. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Ornaments: Holiday ornaments come down midway through winter, but you can put other, more all-encompassing winter decorations up in their stead. Place snowflake ornaments above your fireplace or make your own miniature snowmen out of styrofoam as a DIY winter decor idea. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Table centerpieces: Brighten up your tablescapes with centerpieces worthy of the wintertime. This can mean a set of silver candles or a vignette of pinecones and faux snowballs on your dining room or coffee table. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Vignettes: Craft your own vignettes as DIY projects. Vignettes are small collections of decorations, often in baskets, that evoke a specific look or style. For winter, include candles or appropriate greenery fitting the general winter color palette. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Wall art: Craft your own wintry wall art if you please—a painting of hot cocoa or sledding might fit the bill. Just make sure to use winter-appropriate paint colors. If you’d rather avoid DIY winter decorations, there’s plenty of printable winter wall art on the market, too. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Wreaths: Place a white and green winter wreath on your front door to replace its red and green Christmas counterpart. It’s a nice way to keep the entryway seasonal without feeling too dated once you’re in January and February. </li></ol>

7 General Winter Decorations

Decorating for the winter months is simple. Follow these four winter home decor tips to make your house hum with the spirit of the season: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Decorate beyond the holidays. There are two winter months beyond the major holidays, so be ready to decorate with more general materials for the remainder of the season. Better yet, use a mix of holiday-specific decorations and wintry decorations so that when you take down the former you still have plenty of winter decor in place. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Focus on your fireplace. You’ll likely spend plenty of time in front of your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-decorate-a-fireplace' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-decorate-a-fireplace","linkCopy":"fireplace","category":null}'>fireplace</a> during the cold winter months, so that’s the perfect place to add some winter living room decor. Stack some white birch logs by the fire or set ornaments on your winter mantel. If your home lacks a fireplace, you might have some other central feature that you wish to showcase, such as a bay window area or a piano. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Put out some greenery. It’s possible the natural elements you use to decorate your house might well be the only greenery you and your neighbors see for a few months throughout this season. For your front porch decor especially, try leaving out some evergreen foliage. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Use a winter color scheme. Use winter white, light blue, or bright silver for your winter needs. The goal should be to reflect or at least complement how the outside world looks indoors. Any accent colors you include—such as green, red, or a brighter blue—will make a powerful visual impact, so remember that a little goes a long way. </li></ol>

4 Easy Winter Decorating Tips

Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home.

Ready to Give Your Space a Chic Update?

When December rolls around, an interior design makeover can turn your own home into a winter wonderland. Learn more about how to decorate your house for the winter months with seasonal decor.

When December rolls around, an interior design makeover can turn your own home into a winter wonderland. Learn more about how to decorate your house for the winter months with seasonal decor.
