Christmas is over – are you looking for how to create a cozy home to see you through the winter? Winter whites are the way to go! Check out inspiration below for winter decorating ideas for after Christmas – in winter white!
A White Winter: A Decor Dream Come True
There’s nothing more dreamy and magical than a white winter. You might live in a climate where this is the norm for you.
I’m in East Tennessee, and it’s not totally uncommon to get snow in the winter months of January and February (occasionally in December, too!). It usually doesn’t last too long (the blizzard of 2023 would be an exception – I was iced in my house for 11 days!) but it sure is pretty to look at (and doesn’t inconvenience our lives too much. Usually!)
Either way, there is nothing stopping me (or you!) from creating a white winter wonderland in my own home!
Today I’ve got pictures, tips, and ideas for helping achieve all your white winter dreams! These are ideas are classy and elegant, and nothing cliche about them!
Easy Tips for Using Winter White Decorations
Here are a few suggestions for creating your white Christmas dreams.
1| Varying Shades of White
You don’t need to use pure white for every piece. That will cause your home to look one dimensional and even a little bland.
You can mix in all different shades of white – pure white, warm whites, linen, cooler white.
2| Thoughtfully Add in Other Colors
There are several colors that work really well to accent your mostly-white winter decor
Metallics work well with whites – silver for more cool tones that blend and gold for more warm tones that contrast. Metallics complement white beautifully.
You can also subtly add in other colors.
Greens provide contrast and keep things crisp, organic, and fresh. All those Christmas greens you have up (minus the reds) – keep them around through the winter! It helps keep your decor from being lifeless and flat.
Light blues softly blend with white, while providing a subtle contrast.
Neutral colors such as beige or gray or black can add some texture and depth to your white color palette.
3| Layer in texture
It’s great to use a variety of different materials to create depth.
You can use metals, natural elements (such as whitewashed wreaths, stems, flocked trees, or pine cones), and different fabrics. White fur, cozy knit blankets, fuzzy pillows are all PERFECT for cozy winter whites!
You can (and should!) use a mix of these materials in your vignettes, whether they are on a mantel, open shelving, dining table – anywhere and everywhere!
4| Use Generic Home Decor in White or Shades of White
While you’ll probably have actual white Christmas decor, such as candles, stockings, ornaments, take a look to find what household decor that you have that is white!
Non-holiday white candles, white baskets, white trivets, white trays, white lanterns… the list is endless.
Don’t be afraid to upcycle what you have and/or paint it, rather than purchasing all brand new!
It’s also a bonus if you have white as part of your home decor color scheme – white walls, furniture, curtains, etc.!
5| Look for Winter Decor Among Your Christmas Decor
Think about snowflake motifs, frosty pines, icicles, birch trees and logs – not expressly Christmas but you may have used them to add a gorgeous wintery accent to Christmas decor.
OK – let’s get to these gorgeous ideas!
25 Elegant White Winter Decor Ideas (Non-Christmas January Decorations)
A gorgeous white tablescape with hints of metallic accents, a white runner, along with white trees is an easy way to create a winter wonderland table.
A sideboard or buffet is a great space for a white winter vignette. I love the light blue accents that skillfully accent the blue furniture. So tastefully done! The tree is subtle enough that you can choose to leave it up all winter!
This is a great example of mixing varying shades of white along with some soft metallic touches. A few trees in shades of white - this can be displayed virtually anywhere!
This predominantly white mantel is cozy and charming and has layers of texture! The white-washed mirror, the wood trees - once your remove the white stockings, that mantel can stand alone as a white winter display. It's not hindered at all by the leafy green garland, which adds vibrance and life. The white decor is complemented by the white walls and furniture, creating a true winter wonderland.
This mantel also has the cozy whites, but mixed in with some creams and even shades of light blue (which is a subtle complementary color to the whites). Notice the white flowers on the mantel as well -an appropriate precursor to spring! Once those stockings are packed up, it's a cozy little nook!
I love that even white dinnerware can contribute to this theme! These pieces, along with other winter decor, are artfully displaying this vintage cubby cabinet! If you don't have one like, arranging white dinnerware in a hutch, crate, or open shelf is another way to go! The other white pieces on top of the cabinet accent it perfectly. You can easily swap out a framed Christmas print for a winter-themed one!
Here's a great example of using those white dishes and servingware as white winter decor! It looks festive with a fluffy white wreath hanging on the outside, as well as icy blue tones mixed in. Those soft blues are a subtle pop of color that completes the look.
This is a stunning example letting your white dinnerware and serving dishes do all of the heavy lifting! Just add in a few classy accents like fresh cedar and a mini-bottlebrush garland, and it's classy and perfect!
This mantel has all the gorgeous winter whites (helped along with the white walls and mantel itself), with a more modern touch - bottlebrush trees in varying white shades along with gold candlesticks. The birch logs add another layer of white as well as contributing to all the other touches of nature. Once the stockings are removed, you have a refreshing minimalist winter mantel in white and gold themes.
White winter ceramic houses is another way to create this winter white theme in your home! This looks charming on top of a table or on a shelf or anywhere you display your village. And if your village isn't white, that's nothing that a little paint can't solve.
This table is soft and gorgeous! I love the crisp white runner, the fluffy faux snow, and the white place settings. And it looks just beautiful against that white hutch.
If a full white tablescape feels like too much for you, you can just create a white winter centerpiece! Use a white placemat, a rise and white winter decor such as trees and a polar bear - it's just lovely, especially if you want a monochromatic look.
Here's another idea for a centerpiece that's inspired by nature; lush greens, fluffy white reindeers, frosty icicles. The cozy candles warm up the whole scene. I love the different materials and textures playing so nicely together here!
A coffee table is a wonderful space to create a vignette using white decor. I love all the textures in this display - the rough, frostly pine trees, the soft cone trees, the birch candles mixed with the white ones... this is soooo cozy.
This table shows how subtly white mixes with gray and how you can incorporate that color pallet for a white winter! Silver is also another complementary tone in the same color family, while keeping with the white theme.
The bedroom is another space to make a white winter wonderland. Even if you don't have white wall or white furniture, a white bedspread really will do the trick! Add in other white winter decor, such as wall art, and you can create a cozy refuge all season.
By mixing neutrals with white, you can create a very soft color palette that is relaxing and soothing, all through the house. Experiment with different locations, such as hookboards, shelves, and other nooks, to create soft white and neutral vignettes.
I just love the result of this mantel. These particular shades of white have an absolutely vintage vibe to them that create such a cozy and nostalgic display. The open frames, the sheet music, even the mirror all bounce different shade of white using gorgeous antique winter decor. This is so elegant and classy. Even when the stockings are packed up, it's still so elegant and cozy.
A mix of various winter white wall art can be very effective for creating a white color palette! Layers of different art (and it doesn't have to be specifically winter-themed) can be used to design a white theme. Mixed with other white decor, the whole effect is seamless.
A tiered tray is a subtle and easy way to add in white winter decor. This DIY tray is created in a white antique style and pieces of white decor, which can either be explicitly winter or evergreen decor that happens to be white! A win all around!
If you have a sideboard with lots of space and you love cozy farmhouse styles, look slowly through this display!
Birch trees with snowflakes, a tiered tray with sparkly white and metallic ornaments, white pines, white serving ware, frosty winter greens in a white vase... Yes, you can get away with keeping out those silver and white ornament fillers, if you choose!
This is skillfully designed and displayed for dining room white winter decor!
I just love how this looks. It's a wonderfully subtle way to add in white winter decor without overwhelming the space. And if you're fortunate enough to have a chandelier with hanging glass teardrops, well, you've got the makings of a spectacular display. However, this idea will look amazing with just about any chandelier.
If you want a touch of whimsy for your white winter decor, this one is absolutely it. I love EVRYTHING about this display. The hanging beads, the snowflakes, the fluffy white wreath... this is SO artistically executed! All you need to do is removed the 'MERRY' letters, and it can absolutely be left alone to its perfection.
I'm really drawn to the soft, cozy textures in this display. The cotton braided wreath, the furry white blanket. White winters don't have to be cold - it can absolutely be warm and toasty, too!
Now how about this for your white winter decor?!? I just LOVE that these are all DIY decorations - AND, they are all made of PAPER! That's it - just one ream of paper and you can transform any space in your home into a magical winter wonderland like this.
More Winter Decorating Ideas
I hope you found ideas you loved!
If you’d like more winter decorating inspo, take a look below!
Cozy and Chic Winter Decorating Ideas for the Living Room
25 Best Cozy & Classy Winter Porch Decorating Ideas
21+ Cozy, Easy, & Elegant Winter Tablescape Ideas
Get Cozy this Winter with 30 Fantastic Mantel Ideas
35 DIY Winter Wreaths (Easy Non-Christmas Ideas)
40+ Cozy DIY Winter Decor Ideas (Farmhouse Style)
Cozy Rustic Farmhouse Winter Decor Ideas
How to Decorate for Winter after Christmas, Farmhouse Style + Before & After Pics
Easy Minimalist Winter Decorating Ideas: Uncluttered & Yes, Cozy
Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
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