Layered accessories warm home for winter

"All things on Earth point home in old October: sailors to sea, travelers to walls and fences, hunts to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, and the lover to the love he has forsaken." Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938), American novelist, "Of Time and the River" (1935)

It's beginning to cool off here in Southern Nevada and I've had several inquiries about how to "winterize" one's décor. Given the fact that we do live in Southern Nevada and not in North Dakota, our winterizing is a little different. But it's October, nonetheless, and the season is changing.

While we don't have huge snowfalls and blustery, freezing cold temps (well, not as a rule), when the seasons change, it's just natural that we want to make some changes inside also. And it does get chilly here, downright cold, some would say.

True decorating divas have a lot of accessories that they rotate during the year. I have to admit that I do have some; but, I don't believe I've reached diva status yet!

When it's hot outside, we tend to declutter. Having fewer things around makes us feel cooler and not smothered by our possessions. When it gets cooler, we bring them back in. "Nesting" is just a natural instinct.

If you are lucky enough to have things stowed away in the closets that you bring out for different seasons, or even if you have to buy a few things, making your home cozy for the Southern Nevada winter is oh, so easy.

* Woolly throws and plump pillows say warmth to me. Snuggling into goose down pillows and covering up with a yummy wool afghan or knitted throw will instantly warm you. Floor pillows in front of your fireplace set the stage for a winter's evening also.

* Change out your bed linens from cool colors to warmer ones, i.e., take the baby blue comforter off and replace it with deep red, purple, burgundy, green or something in the brown family.

* Replace wall art with quilts or fabric wall hangings.

* Adding area rugs over your carpet, or switching out a natural rug such as sisal with a wool or fabric rug is a great winter switch.

* Putting area rugs in your kitchen and bathrooms are welcoming for bare feet.

* By placing table runners on your tables and chests, you are creating a layering effect, and consequently, warming up the space. Your choices are endless and it's an inexpensive fix.

* Now is also the time to bring out the candles. For some reason, candles in the summer don't seem as effective. In the winter they provide a warm glow and atmosphere. Safety is key here; if you have concerns about fire danger, buy flameless, battery-operated candles that look the same and produce a nice aroma.

* Windows let in a lot of air, even in the best insulated homes. Putting up curtain panels over your vertical blinds, or on any window for that matter, will help with the energy bills and warm the room.

These are simple and inexpensive steps you can take to make you want to settle in for our long winter nights. We may not be as cold but we certainly are as dark as the Dakotas, and anything you can do to warm up your home will make it that much sweeter.

Carolyn Muse Grant is the editor of Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Check out other decorating tips in Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine, which is published the first Saturday of each month. Send questions to cgrant@reviewjournal.com.