For the love of LAYERS

Beloved blankets, bedding, cushions and even rugs — all of these are the key to creating a cocoon against the cold, and there's no better time to start crafting one than now.

- BY CHRISTI NORTIER

BEAUTIFY THE BED

Layering your bedding will not only keep you cosy, but will bring you a sense of comfort every time you see it. It's time to bring the winter duvet out of storage and, if it's cold, your winter sheets too. Be brave and veer away from white-only linen – just make sure you stick to a colour scheme to keep it cohesive and harmonious.

Your mind might immediately go to adding more scatter cushions, but first consider extra pillows. Look beyond the standard pillow size and, if it fits, incorporate a layer of queen or king size pillows (it’s a thing!). Then look to unique decorative cushion shapes such as large euro-, bolster- or lumbar pillows covered in a handful of different textures and colours. If your other half protests all these pillows, then be sure to have a basket or ottoman handy to store the cushions in at night.

To show off your beautiful winter linen, fold your winter blanket in half and place it at the bottom of the bed. Drape a super soft blanket or quilt over it for an extra layer of luxe.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but it’s worth bringing in some “hard” materials such as wood or stone to balance the bedroom.