Our Guide to Cozy Winter Home Essentials & Gifts

While the colder months bring all the joy of snow days, wooly sweaters, and holiday cheer, it can also be a challenging time of year. The darker mornings and evenings can make us feel tired and sluggish, and the colder weather leaves us wanting to hibernate indoors all season long.

Luckily, there are tons of ways to brighten your mood over the winter season! Whether that’s through winter home essentials, winter gifts for your loved ones, or simply getting outside (yes, even when it’s freezing!), we’re all about embracing this wonderfully cozy season and enjoying all it has to offer.

So, if you’re finding yourself missing the summer sunshine, you’re in the right place. We’ve got the ultimate guide on how to prepare for a dark winter and stay happy, healthy, and cozy.

Let’s dive in!

Warm up from the Cold with Cozy Winter Gifts

Did you know that gift giving has been proven to boost our oxytocin and endorphin levels? Yep, sending winter gifts to a loved one (or treating yourself!) is a great way to make yourself and those around you feel happy and loved.

Here are just a few of our favorite cozy winter gifts…

Beautiful Blooms

Fresh flowers are guaranteed to brighten up any room in your home and are one of the best gifts for cold weather.

While flower bouquets might conjure up images of spring, that’s exactly why they should be a permanent feature in your home this winter! Flowers are a great way to bring a little bit of nature inside, which is just what we need when stuck indoors on a gray day.

Plus, if you opt for winter blooming flowers, your bouquet is sure to maintain its bright colors and stay fresh for ages.

Not only do they make a space feel cozy & comfortable, but they’re also proven to help us keep a positive outlook and our moods up! (click here for some science)

A few winter blooms to choose from:

• Carnations: Come in a variety of colors, are hardy, and long-lasting
• Anemones: Beautiful, sophisticated, and lovely – the epitome of a winter bloom!
• Roses: Because there’s just something about a deep red, velvety Freedom Rose that really hits the spot in the wintertime.

Indoor Trees

You might think we’re biased when we say indoor trees are winter home essentials, but they really do offer tons of health benefits.

They can help with everything from lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, and boosting your immune system to creating a positive mood and improving sleep.

Winter Gift Baskets

Is there anything better than a winter care package?

If you’re looking for the perfect way to make a loved one smile this winter, look no further than a thoughtful gift basket.

Whether you go for fruit, chocolate, or relaxing bath products, a care package is the perfect way to show your family and friends how much you care. Smiles guaranteed!

Prepare for a Dark Winter: Winter Home Essentials Checklist

When it’s cold outside, you want to feel as cozy as possible. Here are just a few winter home necessities to add warmth and comfort to your living space.

Fluffy Throws and Heated Blankets

There’s nothing better than a big fluffy throw or heated blanket. Snuggling up under one of these when relaxing on the sofa or as an extra layer on your bed is the perfect way to stay warm and cozy this winter.

Starting with a personal favorite:

UGG® Classic Sherpa Throw Blanket in Ceramic: This blanket has to be one of the softest, warmest throws ever. (It even beats a weighted blanket, swear.)

Coming in at a close second, Faux Fur Ombre Throw from West Elm: The epitome of elegance and luxury, this blanket takes cozy to the next level – and makes you feel like you live in Buckingham Palace, so that’s cool too.

Pretty Plants

Don’t underestimate the power of houseplants. They’re a surefire way to beat the winter blues!

Why, you ask? Plants have been proven to produce fresh air and help eliminate unwanted toxins inside your home. What’s not to love?

Houseplants are the perfect way to make your home feel a little more, well, homey!

“What kind of plants should I get?”, you may ask.

Check it out:

• Newby plant parent: 5 Indoor Houseplants for the Brown Thumb
• Seasoned plant parent: 5 Unique Houseplants for the Green Thumb

Just figure out what type of light and care will work best for you and your home, then buckle down & set yourself into #cozymode!

Cozy Candles

Candles are one of the best ways to add warmth and coziness to your home. And there’s no better time to light a candle than on a dark winter night!

Candles made with essential oils are also a great way to boost your mood and create a relaxing atmosphere. #goodvibesonly

Check out these game-changers:

Crystal Geode Aquamarine Candle: If you love geodes, crystals, or nature, there couldn’t be a better candle for you. So sparkly, so dazzling – we can’t get enough.

Positive Vibes Crystal Energy Candles: The name speaks for itself – for de-stressing and positive vibes only.

Your Go To Mug

There’s something about winter that just makes a nice, steaming cup of tea or hot chocolate sound so good.

Whether your go-to is tea, hot chocolate, hot cider, or coffee – a good mug makes everything better.

This new Ember Mug²: Metallic Collection from Ember is a smart mug that allows you to set your preferred drinking temperature, so you can enjoy your hot drink—just the way you like it— from the first sip to the last drop! (Plus, it comes with a handy dandy charging coaster).

This Floating Mug features a clever handle to coaster design that not only looks sleek and modern but is safe for tables and hard surfaces. You’ll never need to go searching for a coaster again! 

Comfy Clothes

Blankets are all well and good – but wearing your blanket like a cape is definitely not the most functional, if you MUST leave the couch, that is.

The obvious solution? A robe, right?

This Ombre Tipped Faux Fur Robe from Pottery Barn is not only incredibly warm and soft but makes us feel like kings & queens of the castle.

If you want something a little more unique, wearable blankets are where it’s at:

The Comfy Dream Lite Oversized Wearable Blanket, also known as The Comfy for short, contains all the loveliness of a blanket without adding any thick layers – plus it has a hood…what more could you ask for?

Staying Positive on Dark Winter Days

Winter = less sunlight and vitamin D. This can affect our moods, leaving us feeling down and lacking in energy.

In fact, some people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder—a type of depression that is triggered at certain times of the year, particularly during the winter. If you think that might be you, it’s definitely worth a chat with your doctor.

But if you’ve simply got a case of the winter blues, here’s how to stay happy in the winter and overcome the gloominess this season can bring.

Get Outside

Our top tip is to get outside whenever you can. While it may be chilly, there’s no better way to boost your mood than soaking in some natural light and spending time in nature. Throw on some layers, a hat, and a pair of gloves, and you’re good to go!

Spend Time With Your Favorite People

Another way to stay positive on dark winter days is to prioritize spending time with your favorite people. After all, our loved ones help us feel understood and accepted, give us a sense of belonging, and can really brighten our moods when we’re feeling down. There’s nothing more important than connection with other people.

Get Your Bake On

Ahh, the smell of cinnamon on a cold winter’s day. You can’t beat it.

We’ve got your standard cinnamon buns & snickerdoodles, but let’s kick it up a notch!

Ahh, the smell of cinnamon on a cold winter’s day. You can’t beat it.

We’ve got your standard cinnamon buns & snickerdoodles, but let’s kick it up a notch!

So there’s cinnamon rolls, and then there’s cinnamon roll COOKIES.

Yes, cookies. Do it, you won’t be disappointed.

Ever tried Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Bites? No? 

Why, they’re the perfect breakfast, dessert, or snack!

And gosh darn-it are they easy & perfect for popping!

Warm Up with a Relaxing Bath

Nothing like a nice hot bath to warm you up in the winter!

We don’t know about you, but a bath isn’t a bath without at least a few bubbles…ok, fine, maybe more than just a few, but don’t come for us.

Some of our favs:

• Milk + Honey’s Bath Soak Blend Nº 08: Because, let’s be honest, you can’t really do better than Eucalyptus & Lavender when you’re trying to relax. 
• Herbivore’s Calm Soaking Salts: Himalayan pink salt-infused bath water with vitamins and minerals? Sign us up!

Create Your Winter Oasis

As we retreat indoors during the dark winter months, it’s worth turning your home into the perfect winter oasis.

Lamps and fairy lights are a great way to add a little magic to your home and brighten those dark winter evenings.

Planning fun indoor activities with your loved ones is another great way to beat the winter blues. There’s no better winter activity than grabbing a bag of popcorn, cuddling up on the sofa, and enjoying a cozy movie night together.

There’s something so vibey about small rustic home accents and warm neutrals that just screams, “take a nap!”

The best part? It can be as simple and low-key or luxurious and extravagant as you want it to be.

Something as simple as a rustic blanket ladder like this one or a little more pricey like this Aldwin Coffee Table with a liftable top for extra storage will do the trick! 

Another way to add warmth and texture to your home is fresh plants! Houseplants can add a pop of color to your space— especially if you choose a flowering plant. 

Looking for the best gifts and winter home essentials to help you stay cozy? Explore our range of winter gifts and flowers today.