Winter is soon approaching and although thanks to global warming its arrival is delayed until late December, one is beginning to entertain the thought of warm fuzzy sweaters and cold nights tucked in bed. Carefully dressing your home for winter is just as important as organizing the winter closet. Linen shirts and swimming suits are retired and yet as is always the case, the struggle is to fuse practicality with beautiful form when contemplating heavy woollen items or dark tweed. And we're not just talking sweaters now. Living the cold life Living rooms and kitchens play bigger roles during the winter: nights spent indoors are more frequent and kitchens churn out stews, cookies and other warm comfort foods. The emphasis should be on making your living room warmer, regardless of whether you're fortunate enough to have an old working fireplace or are simply relying on an electric heater. As the nights get colder, consider a cashmere throw or your child's baby blanket strewn across your living room couch. You'll either be adding a touch of casual elegance to the composition of the room, or a nostalgic memento that would be more inviting to your child to join you in the living room if watching some old home videos. Add some candles to your coffee table at night, or small colorful bowls filled with nuts or marshmallows: cheap purchases that invoke a sense of life in the room. If you were intending to buy a new couch or simply planning to reupholster an old one consider upholstering the couch in an off-white color that could be then dressed according to the season. Accessorize with maroon, purple or navy pillows for winter and coral or turquoise for summer. Off-white is a versatile color, especially if the weave of the material happens to be a heavy cotton. It adds some warmth whilst still being breathable and light for warmer days. Some fabrics on the market have designs that incorporate velvet patches, and nothing can add more warmth or sophistication to an old couch than a new body. Whoever said furniture has to be as frumpy as its owners in the cold months? Try to avoid the attitude of defeat. Just as you attempt to insure you don't go out looking too bulky in your multiple layers, ensure that your living room is also looking sleek and stylish. Don't shy away from colors, although, you should take the opportunity to use a palette that is darker than the lighter colors and flowery patterns of summer. Where to shop Shop around for material from either Wikalit El-Balah, an area located behind the World Trade Centre on the Maspero Corniche or stores such as Artissimo in Garden City, a furniture gallery that also carries fabrics and wallpaper by upscale British and Italian designers. Wikalit El-Balah requires a bit of haggling with shopkeepers, whilst Artissimo may inspire you to pair different fabrics such as tweed with modern patterns. Take advantage of accessories that allude to the wild. Furniture store Elements in Mohandiseen carries vases made from large horns set on a metal stand. Strikingly modern, these vases might not necessarily be made for water to be poured inside them, but they do lend themselves beautifully to daydreams of ski vacations in Aspen. Cocoon London, also located in Mohandiseen, carries some interesting accessories. A lamp shade with a long spiraling horn as a lamp stand continues the fantasies of snow, skiing and mountain wildlife. A strikingly red coffee-table would add energy to a room just as one starts to feel tired from the cold and colorless nature of winter nights. Smaller and shorter square coffee-tables set in asymmetrical orders allows for space to place food and hot chocolate within easy reach of everybody gathered in one room. Accessorize your home with paintings and pictures that emphasize the notion of fast motion and energy. Cocoon London carries artwork and prints by young talented artists and photographers. Who knows, you might be interested in purchasing the next Gazbia Sirry. If seriously contemplating purchasing a work of art, consider the overarching emotion and sentiment of a piece when selecting a piece. A work of art should enhance your mood and the spirit of your home. If you want to invest more serious money into fine art, visit Safar Khan in Zamalek, an art gallery that exhibits the works of established artists as well as some of Egypt's oldest and biggest names in the art world. Kids too Bathrooms and bedrooms should be kept warm to protect children's precious toes. Consider small woolen rugs if their floors are normally bare or large, and bright shaggy carpets that are appealing to walk on barefoot. Oriental Weavers have been producing some excellent rugs recently in bright colors that would add life to any room, young and adult alike. Also, their focus on quirky textures adds a decorative flair to such a basic winter time necessity. To dress one's home for winter doesn't necessarily require expensive efforts. You should focus on creating an environment that is physically warmer through the use of different materials with varying patterns and textures; yet also, an ambience that calls out for your family and friends to gather together, enjoy some good food and huddle together for some warmth. You never know, we could have a really cold winter this year. I would start setting up that old fireplace if I were you. Addresses: Elements: Midan Amman, Mohandiseen. Oriental Weavers: Have multiple locations across Cairo and rest of Egypt. Artissimo: 1085 Corniche Garden City. Second Floor. Cocoon London: 11 Ibrahim Ossman street, off 77 Shehab street, Mohandiseen. Safar Khan: 6 Brazil Street, Zamalek.
