Baby, it’s cold outside! Keep chills away with these
warm decorating ideas. 
BY ELIZABETH BEELER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEAN ALLSOPP | STYLED BY ROSE NGUYEN



    While Alabama winters rarely bring snowflakes, they don’t qualify as balmy either. Create a cozy retreat in your home this season with a few tips from designers Mandi Smith and Melissa Singleton of Interior Staging Services. Whether your room is small or spacious, the right elements will have you snuggling fireside in no time.
    The professional home stagers had chilly weather in mind when outfitting this handsome study, selecting natural wood for the walls and floor. “Wood brings warmth to a room, no matter where it is applied,” says Melissa. Ambient lighting casts a soft glow onto the rich walnut paneling, textured fabrics and artwork, while an earth-toned oriental rug finishes the space, ensuring this room feels just as good as it looks.       
    To counteract the dark paneling, the pair outfitted furniture in neutral fabrics that brighten the space. “It’s about balance,” says Mandi. “If your walls are a deep hue, go with light-colored fabrics.” The team also suggests upholstering large furniture in solid fabrics, adding interest with patterned pillows, bold artwork and accessories. “Invest in your main pieces and change out less expensive items with the season,” says Mandi. Choose textured fabrics, such as cut velvets and chenilles, to add depth and disguise everyday wear and tear.
    A series of wood-framed sepia-tone photographs personalize the room and complement its palette. “We went with sepia prints rather than black-and-white to match the wood paneling and further the overall warmth,” says Melissa.  She mixes and matches frame sizes at random but maintains cohesion through frame style and matting. The overall look is fresh and bright, and photos can easily be changed as your family grows.
    If you don’t have wood paneling in your home and don’t want to splurge on it, try painting walls a darker hue. But keep in mind that the deeper the color, the smaller the room will feel, so be sure to pick a space with plenty of natural light to balance the effect. Pile on layers of soft blankets and nubby fabrics and you’ll be ready to hibernate in style.