By Julia Szabo
Modernizing the wintry interior is a specialty of Arhaus, whose furniture designs ensure that cozy stays contemporary, and cool warms the aesthetic heart as efficiently as a wood stove.
“My philosophy is longevity over seasonality,” says Maggie Gienger, head of interior design at Arhaus. “For instance, a classic chair in a warm, neutral tone can be draped with a plush, gorgeous faux-fur throw in the winter. When spring comes, switch the throw out for a lightweight blanket to keep things cozy.”
Just like clothing, your home’s wardrobe benefits from inspired layering to stay thermally efficient and timeless: “Layer your decor to help set the mood,” Gienger suggests. “Pile on your favorite textures and colors during the winter, then you can scale back in the warmer months. Fill vases with seasonal elements and incorporate candles and soft lighting. Don’t be afraid to embrace color. Forest green and cranberry can add warmth and visual interest, and make spaces even more inviting. Our Griffin Swivel Chair in Evianna Olive velvet is a prime example of that.” Indeed, Griffin’s sleek silhouette amps up the sultriness of any tableau, whether traditional or transitional.
During the winter months, the bed becomes a vital oasis. To maintain a sleek, modern boudoir vibe, take a cue from Arhaus, the expert in dreamy bed styling and materials for cold nights: “When we think about redesigning our home, the bedroom often gets the back burner,” Gienger says. “However, this is the place to get creative because it’s so personal. A velvet upholstered bed, like our Kinnan bed in Vance Forest, or our Wyller channel-stitched bed in Banks Taupe, is a modern and oh-so-comfortable option for winter. You can even keep your existing bedding and add our sheepskin bolster pillows, or our Italian alpaca boucle blanket for luxurious warmth.”
Arhaus offers a few guidelines for building elegant and cozy winter spaces. “Faux fur is a must-have for the season,” Gienger says. “If that’s not your aesthetic, a change in materials can help. Shearling, hair-on-hide, leather and boucle increase the cozy factor. Warm wood always lends a touch of nature-inspired beauty to spaces.” Additionally, Gienger points to two more “alluring, natural materials” that—surprisingly, considering how cool they are to the touch—also raise the aesthetic temperature in a room: marble and naturally oxidized steel.
With brilliant counterintuition, Arhaus taps into deep-blue hues, a universally cooling palette, to warm up its signature wintry interiors. “I love how we’ve embraced blue for the season as compared to the traditional red-and-green motif,” Gienger says. “It’s a serene tone that pairs well with gleaming accents and wood pieces alike. In general, try pairing warm and cool colors in your spaces.” Inspired tonal synergy results when “black furniture is paired with brown furniture, or blue furniture with black-and-brown accents.”
As for the dilemma of how to incorporate individual, personal collections—e.g., mirrors, antiques, lighting fixtures, photographs, fine art—in an unfussy manner that won’t overheat an interior with clutter, Arhaus offers a simple solution. “We pride ourselves on offering furniture and decor that’s expertly crafted to last,” Gienger says. “Our Hattie cabinets are the perfect showcase for your favorite curiosities or everyday essentials. Store and protect what’s important on their shelves, or display your sturdier finds atop a gorgeous open surface like our Ubud console. Many of our styles are inspired by antiques discovered during our global travels. So, your treasures will blend seamlessly with ours.” arhaus.com