A Cozy Winter White Nook

Do you like having a personal nook in your home to relax in? I know I do. Having a special area to enjoy a time of personal repose is beneficial for mental wellbeing. This is especially true now that winter has started leaving people housebound more and often struggling with the gray, cold days. As much as I love fall and winter sometimes the days are a bit depressing. So, in response to this I have been working on a cozy, winter white nook for our home for our family to hang out in. Today I want to show you how it’s coming along.

Since we live in a forest our home does not get a lot of natural light inside, especially in the winter. The last few years I find myself craving light a lot more, so I’ve naturally drawn to a part of the house that gets the most light. In our living room we have an area with a bay window that is a natural “cozy nook” which I have been working to fill out. You probably noticed that it is snowing outside in the picture. The snow finally showed up this week and it’s beautiful! The peaceful whiteness is so inspiring and soothing at the same time. So of course, having a nook to watch it snow makes sense!

Having the right seating is essential. We all have our own criteria for comfy seating. Maybe your idea of comfort is a plump couch or a big bean bag. It doesn’t matter. The point in to like what you are sitting on because if you don’t there’s no point. Whatever you choose make sure it’s comfy because a hard, straight back chair doesn’t serve the purpose here. The papasans were what I chose for our nook because I like their bowl shape which allows for a body to curl up in it.

The papasans are a new thing for us that I lobbied for when Pier 1 had their Black Friday sale. When I saw them I knew they were perfect cozy seating for all the guests that would be coming over the holidays. And the price was an amazing $99 for the whole chair! My hubby was not immediately sold on the idea, but later surprised me with two of them after work. He now loves them because you can curl up in comfort. My daughter’s best friend even slept in one when she stayed the night! The papasans also give a bit of international flair to our look which is important in our mixed culture family.

Atmosphere is another component in a cozy nook. As I wrote above light is something we like in our nook, so the bay window was picked. Do you like light or dark? Are there certain parts of the house you like more than others? Our nook not only offers the light we crave, but it is centrally located which we personally like. It offers a comfy place to chat if someone comes in, so we didn’t want it hidden away somewhere. However, you may prefer a nook that is more private, so it’s up to you!

Decor is often more important than we realize. Decor affects our perception of a room. It can welcome us in or be uninviting. It can be peaceful or jarring. However, any reactions to decor depend on the person viewing and it will look different for everyone. Keep in mind that the colors we choose also affect the mood of a room as well as ourselves. Certain colors are known for promoting certain emotions. I chose white and cream because they are clean and remind me of a blank slate. This helps my creative process because I am in a “clean palate” without other distractions.

However, I did include green plants in our nook to make things pop out more. The succulents give the area a natural and wholesome feel. Using an assortment of white planters and vases mixed things up while still staying in the winter white theme. And to soften the look long white peonies were put in a large floor vase. You can never go wrong with blooms!

Do you like softness? Fabrics bring a natural softness to an area which can be very relaxing. White fur was one thing I wanted featured in this nook because it is so cozy. The papasan cushions are white fur along with the throw pillows. And to complement the white fur I created some window treatments with flowing, sheer, winter white fabric.

Additionally, aromatherapy candle such as the winter mint peace candle above are a nice item to put in your nook. Additionally, special pictures and other things can fill out your new cozy space. When creating a personal nook start with what is important to you in a nook and go from there. Choose colors, area, decor, etc. to suit those needs. And most of all, take time to enjoy it!

Enjoying the snow in our cozy, winter white nook and staying warm in my new, oversized, chunky, winter white sweater!

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