How to Make Your Apartment Cozy in Winter

This post shows you how to make your apartment feel ultra cozy in the winter. 

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Recently I moved out of my dorm and into an apartment. I was so excited, but I realized how much more space there was in an apartment versus a dorm. Unfortunately for me, I was on a pretty tight budget. When winter rolled around, I had no idea how I was going to make my apartment feel cozier. 

Even on a tight budget, I was able to figure out how to add some simple decor and simple touches to my house to create a much cozier space. Not only that, the items that I added and the tricks that I used I still use today! 

In this post, I show you my top tips and tricks for making any apartment feel cozier in the winters. Where I live, there are absolutely brutal winters. These ideas are guaranteed to make your apartment a safe and cozy space for whatever winter brings. 

Here are 14 tips for a super cozy apartment in the winter. 

Best Tips for a Cozy Apartment in Winter

Make a crock pot of hot chocolate or apple cider 

I first discovered this beautiful trick when my mom would make apple cider in a big crock pot growing up. There are tons and tons of recipes available online. The best part of making a huge crock pot of a cozy winter drink is the smell that it gives your apartment, and the ability to share it with friends and family. 

Here is probably the best crock pot on the market. Expensive, but it'll last a lifetime! 

Get a cute set of mugs 

Get a cute set of mugs to display in your cabinet and fill with a wonderful warm drink. I love having a nice collection of mugs that I collected through my travels! Whenever I'm cold in the winter, a nice warm mug of tea immediately makes me feel cozy.

Below are some of my favorite mugs ever! 

Add a blanket ladder 

Blanket ladders take that random stack of blankets and displays them for an added boost of decor and coziness in you apartment. Blanket ladders use vertical space, which is perfect for an apartment that's limited on size. 

Invest in a chunky knit blanket 

A chunky knit blanket is a bit of an investment, but it's an investment that is well worth it. Chunky knit blankets are extremely cozy, and they double as a weighted blanket. 

Add a heated blanket or heating pad 

Heated blankets are an absolute game changer. I can't believe I went so long without having one. The blanket only needs to be on a low temperature to instantly feel warm throughout my whole bed. Both my dog and I love our heating pads, too! I really like putting my feet on the pad when I'm working at my desk. 

Below I listed the best heated blanket on the market (according to reviews.) It's quite an investment, so I added a budget-friendly version that I actually use myself! 

Budget-friendly option:

Have you heard of mug sweaters?

Mug sweaters are kind of like koozies, but for mugs and they look like sweaters. They keep your drink warmer for longer, and can you think of any other way to make a mug of tea or coffee any cozier?

Add some string lights 

A simple addition of string lights adds an affordable and warm source of light to any room. My living room in my apartment doesn't have any overhead lights, so we strung lights across the whole ceiling. The light that they provide is pretty bright, yet super warm. 

Turn down the heat, put on the sweater! 

Save yourself some money and turn the heat down to 66 or 68. Throw on a nice sweater and some slippers, and enjoy how you're saving both money and the planet! 

Check out my favorite oversized sweater and slippers below! 

Get some candles 

Candles instantly make any space feel more cozy and warm. For my apartment, I love getting candles in fall scents, and using them throughout the entire winter. Plus, candles make a fantastic piece of decor.

Below are some of my absolute favorite fall/winter candles!  

Add warm, natural colors and materials 

When you add to your apartment, keep the colors to be nice and natural. Remember, natural doesn't have to be bland. Natural materials and colors really keeps your space homey and cozy, which works in your favor when winter rolls around! 

Fur rugs! 

Fur throw rugs are perfect for adding a cozy decor piece and texture to any room. I really like how they look on a wood floor with a coffee table on top of them. Fur rugs are so universal! 

Add wall art 

Wall art is perfect for adding an element to any space. My favorite place to get wall art is vintage stores, thrift stores, or simply printing stuff off of the internet and putting it into a cheap frame. You'd be surprised how cheap you can get some gorgeous art! 

Get some books

Books are great for display and for creating a cozy atmosphere through reading them. One of my favorite things to do is read one of my old favorite books, like Harry Potter. Keeping all of my favorite books on display in our living room works as a decor piece, too. 

Potpourri

Brewing a big batch of potpourri is perfect for filling your apartment with fall scent. Snuggling under a thick blanket, sipping a warm drink, and the smell of potpourri is the ultimate tip for getting cozy in the winter. Here are some of my favorite potpourri dried blends, so you don't have to make them yourself. 

This post showed you 14 genius ways to make your apartment feel cozier in winter.