Dark Days Call For Bright Interiors: This UK Homestead Is Our Winter Design Inspo

Where does your mind go when you picture the perfect place to spend the holidays? Mine travels straight to a small town in the English countryside, where I'm surrounded by cozy nooks, fragrant seasonal greenery, and moody lighting—in other words, Lois Connors' (@colourfulleopard) homestead. Here, the designer and vintage lover shows us around her charming space and shares her favorite ways to make any home feel cozier with antique finds, nature-inspired touches, and plenty of seasonal décor.

Evolving, eclectic, balanced.

We have a beautiful antique Victorian pine chest, which houses blankets and spare cushions in the dining room. Our newest is my son's desk for his newly decorated teen bedroom.

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"Maximalism" feels like it's become a familiar interior style over the past two years, but previous to that, I had never heard of it! I would have described myself as a collector with eclectic taste. I've always been drawn to pattern and texture, and it's nice to have the terminology to describe this style now. However, there are many variations and niches within maximalism—some lean more toward color; some are dark and moody. Variety is the spice of life!

My home is very quiet in the daytime when the children are at school. I work from home, and it's peaceful. However, it's full of noise, arguing, and laughter when the family is home. We are mid-terrace so we have the normal noise of life coming through the walls from our neighbors! I like to fragrance my home with diffusers and scented candles—I'm a fan of rich, perfumed scents.

Probably my youngest son's bedroom; it's where we took part in a TV show in the UK for a room-swap makeover last year! His Japanese-inspired bedroom is a big hit with us all, and the wallpaper is signed by the designer. It's very special.

I'm a big fan of seasonal décor and embracing seasonal change, particularly during the darker months. My favorite months are September through December, and my home is a great backdrop for beautiful festive scenes. I love traditional Christmas colors and also lots of natural nature-inspired décor. I'm an avid fan of fireplace styling, so most of my seasonal décor centers around ours.

Our home is our sanctuary and safe place, and I'm a huge believer its design should reflect this. We have lots of cozy, comfy areas (at least one in every room) and low lighting/lamps to aid in relaxation in the evening. My décor is inspired by nature, and my favorite color is green, so we have lots of floral patterns, forest wallpaper, and green walls to add calm and balance to the business of the décor!

Home to me means a place to escape back to at the end of a busy day. It's where comfort and relaxation are guaranteed—where my family and cats are. It is a reflection of my life and everything that I love and somewhere I can express myself freely.