Sarah Davies at FLOELLA Interiors: Trends to Warm Up Homes This Winter

It’s that time of year when we bid farewell to summer and start to embrace the colder months ahead. Our home becomes even more important at this time of the year. We spend more time inside, hunkering down and starting the Christmas countdown, which often means having more visitors in our homes.

At this time, when so many of us are looking to refresh and update our homes in time for Christmas, it’s important to think about ‘Longevity’ – thinking about what you want to achieve and making sure it’s going to stand the test of time. A great room design is one that can evolve through the seasons and be updated and kept fresh without having to completely re-do a room every few years. For independent retailers and buyers, this reflects the way customers shop seasonally – seeking pieces with longevity that can be layered into the home year after year.

SPACE

Think about how rooms are used, if customers want spaces to unwind and relax, they should design them to do just that. In bathrooms especially, layered lighting allows dimming and softening of the space to create a relaxing atmosphere while bathing. Wallpaper can provide a cosy, homely look, and when sealed to prevent moisture ingress, it combines personality with practicality. Wood-effect tiles bring warmth to a room but remain functional, while washable rugs that double as bath mats add texture and comfort.

Retailers can highlight these as practical yet stylish lifestyle products that customers are increasingly seeking out in autumn/winter.

JOINERY

Joinery can take on multiple roles, not only for storage and display but to incorporate seating or snug corners perfect for relaxing. Lighting is key in creating mood and atmosphere, particularly during the darker months. These joinery zones allow customers to use cosy fabrics for seating, scatter cushions, and throws that bring additional texture and colour to the scheme. Independent buyers can use these ideas to select complementary accessories and soft furnishings that work beautifully as seasonal or add-on sales alongside larger furniture pieces.

This also points buyers towards sourcing layered lighting, cushions and textiles – all easy add-on sales that bring warmth and texture into customer homes during the colder season.

EMBRACE COLOUR

Customers are becoming braver with colour. Feature walls are giving way to bold all-over shades and pattern, making rooms feel cosier and more inviting with plenty of drama. For those hesitant to go full pattern or strong colour, textured wallpapers with neutral backgrounds and subtle patterns offer a softer alternative while still making a strong impact. Adding panelling to painted walls is another way to introduce texture and interest, but it’s important to match panelling styles to the age and design of the home. 

Retailers can respond to this trend by stocking a wider range of colourful and textured accessories, helping customers experiment confidently with bold interiors in smaller, manageable ways.

COLOUR BLOCKING

Colour blocking adds warmth and drama and can also be used to zone areas. Using large painted arches in warm colours brings depth to walls and grounds furniture, shelves, or mirrors that might otherwise look lost in an empty space. 

This design approach can inspire retailers to create in-store displays using strong colour backdrops, showing customers how to zone rooms and visually anchor pieces, a powerful merchandising tool that sparks ideas and increases engagement.

MIXING PATTERN & TEXTURE

Playing with texture and pattern is especially important when we are thinking about our homes through the winter months. In the summer we are all about embracing the light through the windows and letting the fresh air in, but in the winter months when it’s dark and cold we are really all about creating lots of these warm, welcoming and cosy spaces. Think about igniting all of your senses.

• Smell – Candles are a must in winter for me. Invest in good quality ones with scents that match the season and you won’t be disappointed.

• Touch – Add into your scheme throws to cuddle up in, mixing colours and pattern – fold over the back or arm of a sofa so they are easily usable to cosy up in when needed. Winter cushions are also great to pull out every year – draw on a bolder, richer colour from your room scheme to add drama but still look in place with the room design (velvets, wools and faux furs would be great options).

• Sound – Not something you would associate with your interior but really important too. Remember what we want from our home is to feel happy, relaxed, inspired and even energised – maybe all of these at different times?

By thinking across these senses, retailers can offer well-rounded seasonal ranges that encourage repetitive sales and gifting.

Hopefully, you have been inspired to think about how your customers will be preparing their homes for the colder months ahead. For independent retailers, these insights highlight exactly what shoppers are looking for this season, from cosy textures and layered lighting to bold colour and pattern. By bringing these ideas into your ranges and in-store displays, you can spark inspiration, encourage seasonal add-on sales, and position your shop as the go-to destination for festive home styling.

To hear more from Sarah Davies, join her at Top Drawer AW25 on the Retail Revealed Live Stage for Living a Colourful Life – Harnessing Colour and Interior Design to Drive Retail Success. In this interactive session, Sarah reveals how independent retailers and buyers can use the psychology of colour to create memorable store experiences, engage customers, and boost sales with authentic design that reflects your identity.

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