The winter months take their toll on everything. Our hair dries up, or gets wet and goes frizzy, our fingers go numb, and our days get shorter. Thankfully, one of the few comforts to keep us going is the thought of a warm and fuzzy home. Yes, home sweet home, and these are our tips for making sure it’s as snug as possible!

Plants: Fresh, vibrant and radiant, real plants are an easy way of brightening your environment. Go for something like the Arrowhead, Parlour Palm or Rieger Begonia: they are great for closed spaces and will add a dash of colour wherever they’re put. Make sure you put them in a well-lit place and water them accordingly - ask at your local garden shop for hints and tips about taking care of these beauties. And, don’t forget, they’ll provide you with clean air, if nothing else - HA!

Lanterns: There’s nothing more comforting and wintery than lanterns. They look amazing on dinner tables and sideboards; and they come in metal, glass and, for the truly tasteful, crystal. Be sure to have extra candles on hand to swap the burnt out ones with, and keep that nice, warm glow going until summer is back in our midst.

Rugs: Warm, fluffy and colourful; round, rectangular or misshapen - you gotta love a nice rug. Rugs can truly jell a room together, particularly because they make use of those hard-to-fill empty spaces in the middle of the room. They’re also a great way of adding colour quickly and, if you look for the right supplier, reasonably. Plus you may even save on heating bills thanks to the warmth underfoot.

Photographs: It’s a psychological thing, surely, but having photographs of momentous occasions and happy times around you will brighten up your mood and with it your ambiance. Invest in some nice frames and pop your favourite photos in them. They are sure to be a focus point the next time you have people over - ‘Where was that?’ ‘Who’s that at the back?’ ‘Oh my God, you met Brad Pitt?’ – It’s boasting without even trying to, fun times!

Mirrors: It’s the oldest trick in the book, and once it’s out there you’ll think it so obvious you’ll want slap yourself for not thinking about it before. Mirrors add lots and lots of light to any room; they reflect the light coming in from outside, lamps and even your electronics. They’ll make any room brighter and will even make it appear bigger. So forget the light at the end of the tunnel, you’ve got it on your wall!