Warm, wooly whites help beat the winter blues

Daylight saving time ended earlier today. If you haven’t turned your clocks back an hour, get to it.

The sun will set at 5:17 tonight rather than 6:18 like it did last night. It’s sad, I know — the darkness will now last more than half the day. Be thankful, though, that we don’t live in Scandinavia, where daylight dwindles to practically nothing over the next couple of months.

Then again, the Scandinavians do know how to make the best of the situation by creating rooms that are warm and cozy yet feel light as a feather. They do it by covering their walls and furniture in paints with names that include the words ecru, cream, ivory and linen.

They also swath everything in layers of blankets made of chunky knits, fuzzy mohair and soft cashmere; pillows covered in fluffy Mongolian and silky faux furs; rugs made of sheepskin; bed linens of puffy white down and crisp linen. Even the bathroom gets the treatment with thick, shaggy bathmats. And, like the walls, everything is in shades of white.

The Scandinavians like to incorporate natural woods, muted metallics and accessories ranging from soft grays to textured blacks to ground and complement the ethereal shades. Bright, primary color is all but forbidden.

“We haven’t had anyone come in looking for a whole (Scandinavian) aesthetic,” says Melanie Clouser, creative director at the Coveted Home, an interior design and home decor boutique on the Country Club Plaza. “But it definitely lightens the space and brings a level of comfort. The aesthetic … it’s not fussy. It’s about sleek lines, minimal colors, it’s an effortless straightforward style. And it’s about comfort.”

One of her favorite products at Coveted Home is the Puff Balls organic throw, which comes in a pretty shade of cream that would fit perfectly in a room full of wooly winter whites.

“That throw in particular is beautiful, not just because of the color, but it’s 100 percent organic cotton, and it’s designed by Happy Habitat by Karrie Kaneda, the local designer. It’s also incredibly soft. Pictures don’t do it justice,” Clouser says, adding that Scandinavian design is all about texture and materials.

We’re not suggesting you run out and buy buckets of white paint and start splashing it everywhere. You can enjoy a tiny plot of Scandinavia in the most colorful room with just a few accessories.

You can indulge yourself with super luxe items from Terrasi Living, such as Yves Delorme’s Triomphe blanket ($525) or the cashmere Penelope opera throw ($495).

You could drape the Puff Balls organic throw ($205) across the foot of your bed and complement it with West Elm’s Mongolian lamb pillows, which have shaggy fur ($69-$169) and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Or you could go one of the quickest, easiest routes for adding coziness with a sheepskin rug. In addition to warming up a cold floor, they look and feel great draped over a sofa, armchair and the foot of a bed. Pretty much every home retailer sells either a real or faux version, including Ikea, Target, Pottery Barn and Overstock.com.

Knit pillows that look like they’re encased in Irish fisherman sweaters are also hot right now. Bed, Bath & Beyond, JCPenney and Urban Outfitters carry versions.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Warm, wooly whites help beat the winter blues."