Seasonal Decorating for Dummies

Everything I know about decorating I learned from living in a 250-square-foot studio, my first New York apartment. Just figuring out how to sleep, cook, dress, shower, and entertain within the same 15'x15' space required creativity (although I admit I never achieved the same degree of resourcefulness as my neighbor—the one who used his iron to press his clothes and make grilled-cheese sandwiches). But learning to keep the place looking good was an even tougher challenge.

My cramped digs weren’t the only decorating problem I faced. I also had to contend with my new home city’s four distinct seasons—which left me needing both a boot rack for drying my snowy winter footwear and curtains that wouldn’t occlude my window air-conditioning unit. There was also my state of perpetual broke-ness—which meant I couldn’t just breeze over to Crate & Barrel for window treatments.

So, I experimented. And—if I may say so myself—I came up with some seasonal decorating strategies that weren’t half-bad. In fact, even though I have square footage in the four digits now, and can swing a trip to a nice shelter shop every once in a while, I still use the same few tricks to spruce up my apartment when the weather starts heating up or cooling down. Maybe you’ll want to try them, too.

When the days get colder, make your fabrics warmer. I’m talking about aesthetics as well as insulation here. Swapping your cotton blanket for a down comforter when the temperature plummets is definitely practical, but it can also make your bed look like a pile of lumpy potatoes. Warming up the colors and textures of your bedding, though—for example, throwing an inexpensive, jewel-toned velvet duvet cover over that comforter—can make your bed look like an inviting, cozy nest (and give you an extra layer of warmth, too). You can winterize your couch or chairs in the same way; if those moss-green loose-fit slipcovers from Pottery Barn are out of your price range, there are cheaper knockoffs available online. Draping your sofa with a pretty chenille blanket works, too. And never underestimate the power of pillows: if you’re crafty, stitching up some cushion covers in rich-colored satin, paisley or faux fur is a snap. (If you’re not, do like me and make for