There are so many ways to make your home feel welcoming and cozy throughout the winter! While many Canadians will follow the tips below as part of their Christmas, Hanukkah, or other winter celebration, anyone can use these tips to quickly make their home feel warm and happy. Try some of these the next time you are bothered by the darkness and/or cold outside.
Creating warm lighting. While the sun sets very early during the winter, that doesn’t mean you have to spend the winter in the dark! Create a cozy environment by using many different lamps to create a warm glow in the different areas of your home. Using smaller lamps, instead of one big ceiling light, creates a welcoming and peaceful feeling across your home.
Use your fireplace. If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, consider buying some wood and starting a fire in it to make your home feel extra cozy. Remember to have your fireplace and chimney cleaned by a WETT technician every year, however, and never go to sleep or leave the house before your fire is completely done, or you risk starting a house fire. For some more fireplace safety tips, visit this link.
If, like most of us, you do not have your own fireplace, don’t worry! Online fireplaces can also be very cozy, and they do not require any work to get started. You can find fireplaces on your TV on the Shaw channel (Channel 10 on December 24 and 25) or on Netflix during the month of December.
Light some candles. Candles are also a great way to bring warmth and coziness into your home. Buy scented candles with warm winter scents such as vanilla, cedar, pine, or incense if you’d like to scent your home. If you do not like too many scents, buy natural beeswax or coconut oil candles instead.
Play “warm” music. Winter is a great time to have your radio or computer play music that makes you feel warm and happy. For many Canadians, Christmas carols are their favourite winter music, but any kind of music that makes you feel mellow and happy is a great choice at this time of year. Western artists from the 1950s and 60s are well-known for their warm sounds (check some of them out in the list below). Which artists from your home country do you like to listen to when you want to feel cozy?
Decorate with plants. Bringing some plants into your home throughout the year is an easy way to reduce your stress and help you get more work done, and on top of that, they look beautiful! Living plants can also remind you of spring and summer, when the world is green and alive.
Wearing Cozy Clothing
Watch out for “Cabin Fever”!
While we have just shown you many ways to stay warm and have fun inside during the winter, you should try and get outside for a short walk or for some fun activities every once in a while. Yes, even when it is a little bit cold! If you stay inside all of the time, you risk getting “cabin fever,” which is a feeling of being restless, annoyed, and easily angered – no fun for anyone! It’s easy to give yourself cabin fever when you stay inside too long and don’t get enough fresh air and sunlight. Try to get outside for at least a little bit of time each day. Go for a walk in your neighbourhood or play with your kids in the yard – we promise that hot chocolate tastes much better when your cheeks are cold anyway!
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TIES is located on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy comprising the Siksika, Piikani and Kanai First Nations, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley First Nations. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.
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