If you’re drawn to dramatic interiors, winter colour palettes offer the perfect opportunity to embrace rich contrasts and sumptuous materials. Pair dark, enveloping tones with bright jewel-like accents, and layer traditional tartans, warming wool, and luxurious velvets to create a space that feels both sophisticated and inviting.
Traditional Tartan for Timeless Warmth
There’s a reason why traditional tartan is so often chosen for the upholstery in luxurious hotels, it just looks so right on a fireside chair. With a glass in one hand and a book in the other, you’ll soon be far away from the wintry world outside. Bring the look into your home with our Ollaberry & Roxburgh fabric, which fits the bill perfectly. Meanwhile, this Samphrey check in the Belmont colourway adds the perfect hit of warmth to contribute to a dark winter colour palette. Contrast it with curtains or even wall fabric in dark and cool neutral textures (or paint, as seen here), that will complement the traditional tartan but still allow it to shine.
Layer Rich Winter Colours with Luxe Cushions
Cosying up with a pile of luxurious cushions is the only way to spend a cold, dark night. For a striking yet timeless winter look, introduce rich tones and nature-inspired motifs, as shown here with our Jungle Rumble cushion. Its jewel-bright parrot and lush foliage bring a dash of colour and escapism to the season, offering warmth and wonder even on the chilliest evenings. This expressive print works beautifully on a cushion, but don’t hesitate to use it on a statement chair or headboard to bring depth, personality and a touch of exotic charm to your winter scheme.
Make a Statement with Dramatic Headboards
When it comes to headboards, we always advocate going for something that makes a statement. Frame the bed with a design that is bold both in its size and in its look. This dramatic printed velvet (Nightfall in Blackout colourway) is a wonderful example, depicting a fantasy forest under a dramatic black sky. Don’t be afraid to use true winter darks in the bedroom where winter colour palettes help to create a relaxing vibe, conducive to rest and relaxation. As the seasons change, you can transform your scheme from summer to winter colours with graduating shades of bed linen, from soft summer pastels to a winter palette of deep and bright tones.
Escape to the Slopes with Winter Wallpaper
Wallpapers are now designed to do so much more than sink into the background. You can use them to add interest and personality to your walls, as well as transport your mind elsewhere. And where better to escape than to the slopes? Create a cool winter look with the Off-Piste wallpaper, which was derived from a 1950s document we discovered in a French archive. Winter colours such as light grey, cool blue and white are beautifully offset by bright red, yellow and green as the skiers enjoy the snow. If you like the idea of a fun print but are nervous it will overwhelm the room, choosing one with a monochromatic background, like this one, will stop the wall feeling too busy. When you step closer, though, you’re rewarded by fantastic pops of colour that really evoke the winter palette of a snowy day.
Add Opulence with Jewel-Tone Velvets
When you want to add richness to a scheme, look no further than velvet. This luxurious fabric is inherently glamorous, but it’s also hardwearing, so is a perfect choice for living room curtains and upholstered furniture. The nature of the finish of velvet means that it allows vibrant colours and patterns to shine. As such, if you’re seeking to bring brilliant winter colours such as cobalt blue, fuchsia or emerald to your scheme, velvet is an obvious choice. As a beautiful example of this, our Monkey Puzzle velvet is hard to beat. It features a print that takes you to a tropical paradise in its design, via the contrasts of a true winter colour scheme with its bright blue and black colourway. And if you’re now inspired to introduce velvet into your interiors, don’t miss our eight simple ways to decorate with velvet.
Bring Comfort with Cosy Wool Textures
Nothing warms us up like wool, which is why it’s everyone’s go-to choice not only for cold-weather coats but for winter furnishings too. A woven wool fabric, such as our Faroe collection of herringbone wool chenille, combines classic English style with natural warmth, making it perfect for winter interiors. Look no further than Faroe for the jewel-like colours key to true winter colour palettes or the acid tones that are the highlight of a bright winter scheme (the lime colourway is a classic bright winter contrasting hue, for example).
Style Jewel Tones with Crisp Winter Whites
To bring the essence of true winter to your interiors, contrast is key. Begin with a base of cool shades of white, which, to be authentic to this winter colour season palette, should have grey or blue undertones. These are hues that remind us of the depths of winter, with its snowy landscapes and black-as-night bare trees. Then, the contrast comes from a pop of bright colour – whether that be a hot pink or a vibrant red. A great way to achieve this is by painting your walls in a cool white, such as Strong White from Farrow & Ball, and choosing a really vibrant upholstery fabric for your furniture. Our Omega IV in Pillarbox works perfectly against the pale wall, with additional interest provided by the white frame detail on the cushions and seat. One tip: if your room is north facing, a true winter colour palette could feel a bit too chilly, so reserve this scheme for spaces that benefit from some sunshine.
Warm Up with Kilim Textures and Rich Neutrals
When the winter months come round, we crave both light and warmth as an antidote to the cold nights. Introducing woollen throws and cushions will bring welcome cosiness to the sofa, but also think about what lies beneath the blankets. Choosing an upholstery fabric that adds warmth through both colour and texture will help to elevate the whole scheme. A classic woven kilim fabric is a wonderful choice: it mimics traditional kilim carpets and brings subtle, organic tones to curtains or furniture.
For a similar artisanal feel with a slightly softer, more contemporary character, consider Genie by Linwood. Its intricate, tapestry-style pattern offers a rich blend of earthy and jewel tones, making it perfect for winter schemes. Pair warm shades of burgundy or blackberry with cool winter hues of deep green, midnight blue or charcoal to create a layered look that feels inviting, grounded, and quietly luxurious.
True winter interiors celebrate contrast, depth and comfort – with fabrics that bring richness and warmth to even the coldest season. To explore velvets, wools, tartans and jewel-tone designs suited to winter decorating, browse Linwood’s fabric collections and order samples to begin your scheme.
FAQs
How can I keep wool upholstery clean? It’s easy only to think about cleaning upholstery when something has been spilt, but to keep the fabric looking at its best, regularly vacuum and turn the cushions to prolong their life. When there’s been a spillage, avoid spot cleaning at all costs and call in the professionals. Go to a dry cleaner who specialises in upholstery and who you can trust to take care of your furniture. For more advice and insider tips, read our cleaning blog.
How can protect wool upholstery fabrics from moths? If you’ve had a moth infestation anywhere else in the house, you will want to stop it spreading to your wool upholstery. One of the most effective treatments, which avoids the use of harsh chemicals, is a moth box or decoy from specialist company, Total Wardrobe Care. These are a trap with a sticky board coated in the female moths’ pheromone, which attracts the male moth and stops them reproducing. Place one in each room in a dark corner, where moths would otherwise breed undisturbed, and keep track of how many are caught. Hopefully this will also work as a prevention technique to keep these pests away from your upholstery.