In the summer months you may want to be surrounded by cool colors to help you feel cooler. In the winter months, it’s the opposite; you want to find creative ways to “warm up” your living space to counteract the cold outside. Use some of these ideas to help your living spaces feel warmer this winter.

Many people don’t have furniture for the different seasons of the year, but you can use some creative ways to change the look of your home without spending too much money. Start with finding slip covers for the couch in a warm, solid color. Slip covers add visual warmth, as well as tangible warmth while relaxing on them.

Add sunny colors to your décor. Even though it’s cold outside, by bringing bright, sunny colors into the room, it will appear to be warmer. Orange is a hue you see during the summer; find pillows you can place on your couch. It will also be helpful to find warm, snugly blankets you can toss across the sofa so you can warm up while watching television or enjoy reading a book.

Some homes have fireplaces and lighting a fire will bring both real warm and perceived warmth to a room. If your home doesn’t have a fireplace, you can get the same effect by setting out and lighting a number of candles. Place them together on a table to give the illusion of a fireplace, or set them around the room to add heat and light to various areas. Remember, however, to use the candles only when someone is in the room for safety.

Potpourri is another way to add warmth to your living space. Place spicy scents such as cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, frankincense, and myrrh around the home. The smells will warm up the area and stir up feelings of comfort.

Place plush area rugs on an otherwise cold floor. This will warm up the room almost immediately and help add texture and dimension to your room. People may even take off their shoes or slippers to feel the carpet under their feet.

Add some extra lamps to the room you want to warm up. Use incandescent light bulbs to add warmth as well as light. Lamps also provide task lighting or a more intimate feel to the room whereas overhead lighting can be cold and impersonal.

Take time to bake something. Not only will having the oven on while baking actually help heat the home, the smell of cookies, bread, or pies wafting through the air will make the home seem more comforting. And who can turn down home-made cookies, fresh bread, or pie when it’s cold outside and they’re ready to eat?

You can find creative ways to “warm up” your living space during the colder months. If you’re able to use some of these ideas to help warm up your home, you may want to take pictures to help you remember what you did this year so you can repeat it in years to come.