Martha Stewart Winter Decor: 14 Cozy Looks That Stay Up Long After Christmas Is Packed Away

Martha Stewart winter decor is the answer to that empty feeling when the Christmas boxes go back into the attic. The tree is gone, the house looks bare, and January still has weeks of cold, gray days ahead. Instead of leaving the rooms plain, you can borrow the calm, polished look that made Martha a household name: white flowers growing in moss, birch branches in old crocks, silver glass catching the light, and soft wool everywhere you sit. None of it is about Christmas, so it can stay up until the first spring bulbs pop. Most of these ideas cost very little, use things from the yard or the thrift store, and take one quiet afternoon. Pour a hot drink, pick your favorite, and let your home feel fresh, bright and cozy all winter long..

Martha Stewart Winter Decor on a Silver and White Mantel

Martha Stewart winter decor starts where the stockings used to hang. Clear the mantel, then layer a tall crock of birch, three white amaryllis in mossy pots and a row of silver jars, with a few pinecones tucked in between. A plaid throw on a bench below makes the whole wall feel warm. Martha Stewart has spent decades showing that a simple palette of white, silver and green looks expensive without trying. Which shelf in your home could get this calm, snowy makeover..

You will need: a tall crock or vase, birch branches, potted white amaryllis, moss, silver or mercury glass jars, pinecones, a plaid wool throw.

How to make it: 1. Clear the mantel and wipe it clean. 2. Put the tallest piece on one side, then the flowers in the middle and the jars in a loose row. 3. Fill small gaps with pinecones and drape the throw on a bench or basket below.

Birch Branch Bundles in a Tall Crock

A big bundle of white birch in an old stoneware crock is one of the easiest winter looks there is, and it lasts for months. Fallen birch branches are often free after a windy day, or you can find them cheaply at a garden center. Trim them to different heights, tie the bundle with jute, and stand it by the front door or next to a bench. The pale bark looks like snow indoors and goes with every color. Do you have a corner that needs something tall?

You will need: 6 to 10 birch branches, a tall crock or umbrella stand, jute twine, pruning shears.

How to make it: 1. Brush off any dirt and let the branches dry. 2. Trim them so the tallest are about twice the height of the crock. 3. Tie the bundle with twine and stand it in the crock.

Martha Stewart Winter Decor Idea: White Amaryllis in Moss Pots

White amaryllis are a classic part of Martha Stewart winter decor because they bloom right when the house needs life the most. Plant the bulbs in plain clay pots, cover the soil with a cushion of green moss, and line them up on a sunny windowsill. In a few weeks the tall stems open into huge white trumpets that last for days. Plant a few bulbs a week or two apart and you will have flowers well into February. Who on your list would love one of these as a gift?

You will need: amaryllis bulbs, terracotta pots, potting mix, sheet or bun moss, twine.

How to make it: 1. Plant each bulb so its top third sits above the soil. 2. Water lightly and press moss over the soil. 3. Keep in a bright spot, turning the pot every few days so the stem grows straight.

Paperwhites in a Bowl of Pebbles

Paperwhites grow with no soil at all, so they are perfect for a kitchen island or a coffee table. Fill a wide glass bowl with clean pebbles, nestle the bulbs in so they stand up, and add water just to the base of the bulbs. You can watch the white roots spread through the glass, which kids and grown ups both love. In about four weeks you get clusters of tiny white star flowers. Set the bowl in a cool, bright spot so the stems stay short and sturdy. Ready to try a bowl?

You will need: a wide glass bowl, washed pebbles, paperwhite bulbs, water.

How to make it: 1. Fill the bowl two thirds with pebbles. 2. Set the bulbs pointy side up, close together, and add pebbles around them. 3. Add water just to the bottom of the bulbs and top it up every few days.

A Plaid Wool Throw Basket by the Sofa

Nothing says cozy like a basket of folded throws right where you sit. Gather the plaid and wool blankets you already own, roll the bulky ones and fold the thin ones, and stand them upright in a big woven basket next to the sofa. It looks tidy, it is pretty, and everyone can grab one on a cold evening. Swap in red plaid for Christmas and cream and gray for the rest of winter. For more ideas that last past the holidays, see our winter decor ideas. How many throws are hiding in your closet right now?

You will need: a large woven basket, 4 to 6 throws or blankets, a sheepskin or rug for the floor if you like.

How to make it: 1. Fold or roll each throw to about the same width. 2. Stand them upright in the basket, heaviest at the back. 3. Place the basket within arm’s reach of the sofa.

Martha Stewart Winter Decor With a Pinecone Hurricane Vase

Here is a piece of Martha Stewart winter decor that costs nothing if you have a pine tree nearby. Fill a tall glass hurricane vase to the top with pinecones, then slide in a few sprigs of cedar and white berries so it looks fresh. Leave out the candle: the pinecones are the star, and the vase stays safe around kids and pets. Bake fresh pinecones on a lined tray at a low heat for about an hour first, with an adult watching, to dry them out and send any bugs packing. Where would this look best in your home?

You will need: a tall glass hurricane or vase, about 20 pinecones, cedar sprigs, faux white berries, a baking tray.

How to make it: 1. Brush the pinecones clean and dry them in a low oven with adult help. 2. Let them cool, then layer them in the vase. 3. Tuck greenery and berries between the top cones.

Frosted Glass Bottle Vases With Eucalyptus

Save a few pretty glass bottles from the recycling bin and turn them into soft, frosty vases. Soak off the labels, give them two light coats of white chalk paint or frosted glass spray, and let them dry. A single stem of eucalyptus in each one looks clean, smells lovely and lasts for weeks, even as it dries. Group odd numbers of bottles in different heights on a console or windowsill. It is a grown up look for almost no money. Which bottles are sitting in your kitchen right now?

You will need: 4 to 6 glass bottles, warm soapy water, white chalk paint or frosted glass spray, eucalyptus stems.

How to make it: 1. Soak the bottles and peel off the labels. 2. Paint or spray two thin coats outside or in an airy room and let them dry. 3. Add one stem per bottle and group them together.

Cut Paper Snowflakes on the Windows

Paper snowflakes are not just for kids. Big, lacy ones cut from white printer paper look elegant on windowpanes, and they stay right for all of January and February. Fold a square into a triangle three times, cut small shapes along the edges, and open it up slowly. Stick them on the glass with a dab of watered down dish soap or removable tape so they peel off without a mark. It is a lovely craft for a snowy afternoon with music on. How many can you cut before dinner?

You will need: white printer or tissue paper, sharp scissors, removable tape or a little dish soap and water.

How to make it: 1. Fold a square of paper in half, then in thirds to make a cone. 2. Cut notches and curves along both edges. 3. Unfold, flatten under a book, then stick to the window.

Martha Stewart Winter Decor Pillows From Old Sweaters

Old cable knit sweaters make the softest pillow covers, and this is Martha Stewart winter decor with a thrifty twist. Turn a sweater inside out, slip a pillow form inside so the ribbed hem sits across the middle, and pin around the edges. Stitch the sides by machine or by hand, trim, and turn it back out. Add a row of wooden buttons along the band for a cozy cottage look. Thrift store sweaters work too, and wool feels wonderful on a cold night. Will you try one from a sweater you never wear?

You will need: an old knit sweater, a pillow form, pins, needle and thread or a sewing machine, wooden buttons.

How to make it: 1. Turn the sweater inside out and center the pillow form inside it. 2. Pin and stitch around the form, then trim the extra knit. 3. Turn right side out, add buttons along the ribbing and insert the pillow.

Winter Berry Branches in a Tall Vase

A tall vase of red berry branches adds a happy pop of color to a white room long after the red Christmas ribbons come down. Real winterberry holly cut from the garden looks wonderful, and good faux berry stems last for years. Choose a simple striped or white vase so the berries stand out, and let the branches spread wide like a small tree. It works on the floor, on a hall table or by the stairs. Real berries are not safe for pets to eat, so pick faux stems if you have a curious dog or cat. Red or white berries for you?

You will need: winterberry or faux berry branches, a tall vase, floral snips, a few pebbles for weight.

How to make it: 1. Add pebbles to the vase so it stays steady. 2. Trim stems to different heights. 3. Arrange the tallest in the middle and let the others fan out.

Felt Snowball Garland on the Stairs

Soft white and gray felt balls strung on twine look just like a string of little snowballs. Thread them on a long needle with a knot between each one so they stay spaced, then drape the garland in loose swags along a banister. Add a few sprigs of fresh pine between swags for color and scent. Felt balls are cheap, easy to find in craft stores, and they do not break, so this garland is great for homes with kids or pets. You can also hang it on a mantel or a window. How long a garland will your stairs need?

You will need: 50 to 80 felt balls in white and gray, jute twine, a long darning needle, pine sprigs, small clips or ties.

How to make it: 1. Thread the needle with twine and push it through the center of each ball. 2. Tie a small knot after each ball to space them. 3. Drape the garland on the banister and tie it in place with soft ties.

Martha Stewart Winter Decor With DIY Mercury Glass Jars

Speckled silver mercury glass is a favorite in Martha Stewart winter decor, and you can fake the look with plain jars. Mist the inside of a clean jar with water, then spray a light coat of mirror effect paint inside. Dab and wipe with a paper towel to make that aged, spotty finish. When it dries, the outside stays smooth and shiny. Group jars of every size on a linen covered table and add white ranunculus or greenery. They catch winter light beautifully. Do your jars want to be silver or gold?

You will need: clean glass jars and bud vases, mirror effect spray paint, a spray bottle of water with a little vinegar, paper towels.

How to make it: 1. Mist the inside of each jar with water. 2. Spray a light coat of mirror paint inside, outdoors, and wait a minute. 3. Dab with a paper towel, repeat once, and let dry before adding flowers.

Dried Orange and Cinnamon Dough Bowl

A bowl or crate of dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks makes the whole house smell warm. Slice oranges thin, pat them dry, and bake them on a rack at the lowest oven setting for a few hours, with an adult checking on them. Once they are crisp, pile them in a wooden dough bowl with cinnamon sticks and a few pinecones. Use them on a coffee table, in a kitchen window, or tie a few to gift bags. They keep their color for months. Who is making the first batch this weekend?

You will need: 3 or 4 oranges, a sharp knife, a baking rack and tray, cinnamon sticks, a wooden dough bowl, star anise.

How to make it: 1. With adult help, slice the oranges thin and pat them dry. 2. Bake on a rack at the lowest setting for 3 to 4 hours, turning them once. 3. Cool and arrange with cinnamon sticks in a bowl.

Rosemary Topiaries to Finish Your Martha Stewart Winter Decor

Little rosemary topiaries are the perfect last touch for Martha Stewart winter decor, and they look like something from a fancy garden shop. Choose a rosemary plant with one strong upright stem, strip the lower leaves, and clip the top into a round ball. Plant it in an old terracotta pot and give it the sunniest window you have. Snip the trimmings for cooking. A row of three looks wonderful on a kitchen sill and smells amazing when you brush past. Which window gets the most winter sun in your home?

You will need: potted rosemary plants, small terracotta pots, potting mix, sharp snips, a thin stake and soft ties.

How to make it: 1. Pick a plant with one straight main stem and stake it. 2. Remove the leaves on the lower half of the stem. 3. Trim the top into a ball shape every few weeks and keep it in bright light.