FIVE WAYS TO WARM UP FOR WINTER

However, if our homes aren’t the most warming and cozy places to be, it can be a dash-from-the-bed-to-the-shower situation every morning, permanent sock wearing trendsetting, ordering pizza in every night type of season, too.

There’s nothing better than enjoying your “me” time and relaxing when it’s a bit too nippy outside to want to leave the house – so make your home the place to be this winter!

Not that you need any convincing to cancel all of your brunch plans and stay home with Netflix …

The best way to make your home feel warm and comfortable is by adding in a little light! The amber glow of a crackling fireplace is fine, but if you don’t have a fireplace, what then? A lovely scented candle or a lamp perfectly paired with your living room décor can go a long way to giving the allure of warmth in your lounge and living room – and how cute is this little night light for the little ones?!

Tahaa vanilla caramel Glasshouse candle – from Peter Alexander | Your Home and Garden orb lamp from Farmers | Dream Cloud nightlight from Acquisitions

Stay snug with fluffy, furry and fun rugs and cushions that exist to bring you maximum lounging comfort during winter. Invest in some great slippers and they’ll have you feeling great and relaxed. Hot coffee is also necessary at any time of the year (let’s be honest, here) but particularly when it is cold! We adore these gold spotted mugs, perfect to brighten the crockery shelf, your coffee table, and your mood. With these snug buys, this winter you can traipse between your sofa and bed with a fab throw in tow, wherever you go!

Haven Gallery Exotic faux fur and  Your Home and Garden Lustre cushions from Farmers | Hush Puppies Lazy slippers from Hannahs | Gold spotted mugs from Stevens

Literally. The single best and most relaxing part to any day should be your shower or your bath time. It’s pretty amazing that just a bit of steam and water can have you feeling so damn good from the inside out! Throw in some bubbles, scented shower cream or a lovely loofah, and you’ve got the recipe for true warmth and winter happiness!

Ginger bath oil from Lush | Ethique body polish from Life Pharmacy | QVS Luxe shower cap from Life Pharmacy | Almond milk and honey shower cream from The Body Shop | Spa of the world Egyptian bath from The Body Shop

Chilly nights call for winter bites! And if you haven’t invested in a slow cooker, you must. Not only are slow cookers the perfectly lazy way to make dinner – and enough for guests or leftovers!  – the recipes and outcomes are just phenomenal. Think soups, curries, pulled pork, casseroles – yum! So warming, filling, and perfect for a chilly winter evening. They’re so great that Whitcoulls has book recipe after book recipe dedicated to them, even! The options are endless. Our faves? Slow cooked duck leg with confit jam or slow cooked chicken with tapenade.

Davis & Waddell electric multicooker from Stevens | The Mediterranean Slow Cooker Cookbook and Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cookbook from Whitcoulls | Caramelised onion and maple confit and roasted red pepper and port tapenade both from Stevens

If summer looks like pretty pastels, palm prints and ferny fronds, then winter looks like arctic animal prints, faux fur, chucky poufs and ottomans, and potted succulents. Bring the chilly season to life with gorgeous winter homewares which add a feeling of texture, bulk and warmth to your lounge and living areas. You can always put away the fluffy rugs when daylight saving rolls around again!

Highland cow canvas | Faux fur rug | Potted succulents | Grey ottoman – all from Kmart

Now our homes are delightfully cosy and ready for winter, but where’s that TV remote?!