10 Ways to Make the Cool Season Cozier
Warm up with these ideas for making the cooler months even more comfy-cozy, from your home to your travel destinations.
Light a fire
Of course, one sure way to make a room feel cozy is to literally turn up the heat. Something about a fire crackling signals it's time to settle in for a while. If you don't have a fireplace, group candles in several places in a room and light them for a similar glow.
Mull wine
Fill your home with the heady aroma of Zinfandel and pomegranate juice warming with spices. When guests walk in the door, they'll feel instantly welcome.
Recipe: Mulled Pomegranate Red Wine Punch
Braise meat
Break out the dutch oven and get ready to slowly simmer an inexpensive cut of meat until a fork slides right in.
Arrange some amaranth
Amaranth's velvety flowers come in richly saturated harvest hues, and they hold their colors and shapes even when dry. Snag some from your garden, florist, or local farmers' market to add a dash of passion to a seasonal bouquet.
Snuggle up amid the snow
Two-story cabins with stone fireplaces, hazelnut risotto, a fire-side pool game--there's lots of coziness to savor at the Emerald Lake Lodge in Field, B.C. Tucked onto a 13-acre peninsula jutting out into its eponymous lake, the lodge is refreshingly wifi-and-TV-free, leaving you lots of time to soak in the Candian Rockies after a day of playing (or skiing) in the deep, soft snow.
More: 12 cozy winter lodges
Plant a pot of gold
Orange-striped blades of grass, apricot-tinged leaves with purple undersides, and matching gold containers add a burst of warmth to an entryway, garden, or an indoor living space.
Add white lights
For a soft glow at night, wrap tree trunks and branches with strands of white lights. It's the ultimate wintertime look that transcends holiday hues.
More: 19 outdoor lighting ideas
Warm up at your own backyard campfire
A built-in firepit is the hub of any outdoor gathering, and it can also set the mood for a romantic evening in your yard.
More: 38 ideas for fire pits
Plot your escape
The best way to stay cozy this winter? Trade the winter wonderland for a warming winter vacation, like, say, kicking back in an ocean-front hammock in Mexico, or soaking up the iron-red rocks of Sedona, Arizona.
More: 10 warming winter trips
Heat up your nightcap
The perfect ending to a dinner party? Brew some dark hot chocolate and serve it on a tray with add-your-own nut liqueurs and gourmet marshmallows. Our favorite combo: E. Guittard Grand Cacao Drinking Chocolate ($9) with Nocino della Cristina walnut liqueur (about $30).
More winter drinks
