Since moving from Texas to New York I’ve been learning to perfect the art of a winter night in.
When faced with the prospect of piling on the layers and heading out into the dark-by-5 night, the warmth of my living room is becoming more and more attractive.
As a result, I’ve been longing to make a few updates to my living room, and Jessi Afshin’s soft and feminine space is just the inspiration I’ve been looking for. Here are a few easy ways to cozy up your space for these long dark days of winter.
Switch off the lights.
I’m normally someone who likes to open all the windows and turn on all the lights when I can – bring on allll the brightness. But lately, I’ve been luxuriating in switching off the overhead lights and creating a cozy environment lit solely by lamps, candles and the glow of my Christmas tree. If you don’t have a tree, you can still string lights like Jessi did around her mirror – copper twine fairy lights work best for this because they’re very thin and light.
Puzzling.
One of the great surprises of my 2019 was that I discovered a deep love for puzzling. I chalk it up to the millennial desire for less screen time, but there’s nothing quite as soothing to my mind these days as spending an hour or two completely absorbed by a puzzle.
Set the sofa.
In the winter time I like to think about setting my sofa the way I think about making the bed. Are there enough fluffy pillows? How do the materials feel against my skin? Is there a warm blanket within reach? Reflective fabrics and textures like velvet and satin are another way to bring light and sparkle to a room.
Set the floor, too.
If you have friends over for your night in then it’s always helpful to have floor pillows, a comfortable rug, and spare pillows on hand. Jessi’s room is primed for floor seating, and she even included some sparkle in her rug. I personally prefer to sit on the floor around the coffee table (while puzzling!), it just feels more casual and comforting.
Analog music.
Today we get our movies, information, socializing, entertainment, and work done on screens. For a cozy night in, I like to look for any way I can log off, and that includes music! Records are one way I enter the analog world in my home. Yes, they do require a few steps (like flipping the record halfway through) and limit your music selection, but sometimes there’s beauty in those small moments.
Shop the post:
Terrazzo mirror Anthropologie, round velvet pillow Urban Outfitters, round satin pillow Urban Outfitters, pink table lamp cb2, Forbidden Fruit puzzle Piecework, mohair throw Serena & Lily, faux metallic hide rug Anthropologie, twinkle lights Terrain, Ari Lennox record Urban Outfitters.
