I hate to be cliche, but the fact is — winter is coming. And whether it’s a season you love or one that you dread, we must live the cold for a few months each year here in Philadelphia. 

One major challenge of cold city winters is adjusting to more time spent inside our homes — for parents and kids. But here’s the thing: you don’t need a bigger house to survive winter — you can maximize indoor space with a few smart tricks and creative solutions.

Making the Most of Your Indoor Space This Winter

While the amount of time spent inside increases, our square footage certainly does not. Carving out a cozy nook, or rededicating space so you can stretch out in the house isn’t easy. After all, you must work inside the confines of the place you already call home. However, a second look might open up some possibilities. 

Philly area interior designer Glenna Stone says, “No matter the size of your home, most people have a corner, alcove, or closet that could be used more effectively.” 

Below, we offer some unique ways to make some updates to your space, both quick transformations and longer term projects. Find more ideas and resources in our Philly Family Home Improvement Guide.

Get Cozy With It

Winter makes most people think of being cold, but also the opposite — warming up. When you warm up, you think of cozy things like a warm blanket, layered clothing, soft fabrics, or plush cushions. Candles also evoke warmth with scents like apple pie or pumpkin spice. 

In preparation for winter, try bringing a collection of cozy items into more rooms of the house. Sling a lap blanket over the back of your kitchen chairs. Store plush ottomans or poufs under the coffee table. And if you do have outdoor space, invest in a wood burning or gas firepit. It creates a fun gathering spot for the whole family even on chilly days and nights. 

Get Down to Basics: Maximizing Your Basement This Winter

If you live in a home with a basement (or even an attic), consider using this unfinished space as a temporary solution during winter. 

Create a Playspace with Carpet

Throw down some carpet remnants (either left over from a project, or purchased cheaply at a home decor shop or carpet store). This adds immediate warmth to the space. Now your kids can tumble around and sprawl out with a pillow to read. The carpeted surface invites board games, building with their favorite toy (it was Magnatiles for my kids), or even creating an obstacle course. 

A Hangout for Older Kids

If your kids are a little older, turn your basement into a cool teen hangout space for the colder months. Consider a folding ping pong table or poker/card table, inflatable furniture, a bluetooth speaker, or even a mini fridge for some chilled sodas or juice boxes.

Other Basement Ideas

You might also set up a craft table if you have any available space in the basement. (Buy a cheap folding table, so you can put it away or take it outside when the weather warms up). Set up pillows for reclining and watching movies with a portable projector. Or set up a quiet homework zone, away from the noisier areas upstairs. 

The basement offers endless possibilities, from budget-friendly quick fixes to more extensive renovation projects. It’s one of the best places to gain extra living space without expanding your home’s footprint.

Re-zoning Your Existing Space

If you find that you need to create space within your house, perhaps one of the best things you can do is “re-zone”. This means creating different boundaries within each room. 

For example, maybe a dining room table can be turned in a different direction. In the newly-free space set up a small play area, a bookshelf, a play kitchen, or an easel for crafting. 

Shift the couch or armchairs in the den or family room, bringing them closer together. The kids can use the space left between the couch and a wall as their very own fort. And what’s cozier than a blanket-covered fort with pillows, a book, a flashlight, and some smuggled snacks on a cold night? 

Creative Alternatives: From Under-Stair Nooks to Noise-Canceling Breaks

When rearranging furniture isn’t enough, look for unconventional solutions. Sometimes the best spaces are hiding in plain sight—or require no physical space at all.

Under the Stairs

If you have a staircase in your home, then there’s a chance you may be able to convert the space underneath the steps into a cozy space. A step up from where Harry Potter had to sleep, but a small little nook, nonetheless! 

This space can be a gaming pod or a reading corner. You could make a split door and use it for puppet shows. Alternatively, it can be the one place in the house where the kids can color on the walls since no one else will really see it! Local designer, She Designs Philly created a cozy play area under the stairs in a Victorian twin basement.

A Loft Bed

If common area space is at a premium, consider creating a loft bed in your child’s bedroom. This is great any season of the year, giving them more floor space to play and move around. 

Noise-Canceling Headphones: A Sensory Break

Maybe moving anything around just doesn’t work in your home, but you have a kid who just needs time to take a break from other people around them. Try giving them a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Even adults need a sensory break from the noises of the family. 

Quick Changes for Optimum Cozy Upgrades

With any fabric items you add, we recommend washable fabric, with removable covers. If you repaint anything, use semi-glass or satin paint so you can wipe it clean. Additional quick and inexpensive options:

• Add a small tent to the corner of any room for a private escape.
• Add lamps to corners to help brighten any room.
• Tuck fleece blankets of various sizes in a basket. 
• Use a candle warmer to melt a candle and add a cozy light and yummy scent to your space. String lights are also fun!

Kid-Fave: A Super-Easy Hot Chocolate Bar

Last year, I made a hot chocolate “bar” on a counter in my kitchen. It was super easy and my kids thought it was the best “renovation” I had ever done. Here’s what I did:

• Repurposed an old coffee canister to store powdered hot chocolate, and another container to store mini marshmallows (I left them inside the plastic bag so they didn’t dry out).
• Put candy canes in a jar. 
• Bought a battery powered mixer (the kind you’d use to froth milk for a cappuccino).
• Set out a pile of spoons and napkins. 

Now they could make their own hot chocolate easily since everything was together. I left it up past the holiday season because we loved it so much. You could do the same with loose tea, tea bags, and assorted honey if you don’t want to leave such easy access to chocolate!

Embrace the Cozy Season

Embark on these cozy winter projects and enjoy the creative space together. Because before you know it, spring will be here. Then we’ll be wishing for the slower days we didn’t quite appreciate enough when we had them.

Lead photo courtesy of Canva.