When the weather outside is frightful, it does a lot for your body, mind, and soul to make your indoors cozily delightful. This time of year, when the gray days seems to drag on endlessly, it’s helpful to turn to homes in really chilly places—like Chicago, Minnesota, and Canada, to name a few—for ideas on how to make your house a little more warm and lively. From adding a layer of plush to your surfaces to getting the lighting just right, here are eight ways to hygge up your home, as inspired by house tours from cold weather climates.

Add More Fuzzy to Your Furniture

Soft surfaces are key to creating a cozy space, so the more you can add, the better. These Falcon, Minnesota, homeowners brought a bit more snugness to their living room with furry white throw cushions atop gold Bertoia-style wire chairs. This is a nice solution because you can easily switch them out with something less wintry when summer hits. But in the wintertime, throw ‘em on, spark up the fireplace, and enjoy a cozy day indoors.

Go for a Moody Mix of Dark and Neutral Colors

Nailing the right color palette will do wonders for making your rooms feel homey. These homeowners in Anchorage, Alaska , went for a natural scheme that works year-round but really hits the cozy notes in winter. A deep gray sectional provides plenty of room to sprawl out in all directions, when paired with brown and terracotta accents, creates a dark-and-light scheme that invites all-day hibernation. It’s moody but not bleak, and plenty of natural touches like dried plants and ample sunlight keep it from feeling cave-like.

Bring in Lots of Soft Lighting

Another simple way to soften a space is by introducing other lighting options beyond the sometimes harsh overheads. Lamps are your friends. These Portland, Maine, renters found a minimal but effective way to add some extra lighting to their bedroom: They bought discount lamps from Marshalls and removed the lampshade mounts for an exposed bulb situation that makes the room look cooler and cozier. Hygge on a budget—a sure way to lift your spirits in the winter.

Put Candles in a Non-Functional Fireplace

So you have a fireplace. Yay! But it’s no longer functional. Boo. Don’t give up on a warm glow just yet! You can put candles in the fireplace to simulate a fire, just as this Brooklyn, New York, apartment owner did. Note the plush, fuzzy chairs and massive wall-to-wall carpet serving up extra coziness, too. Go for a mix of candle sizes to keep things visually interesting when the candles aren’t lit. And if you never light them—because you’re lazy or because it’s against the rules, that’s cool, too! Their presence will still make your space seem snugger.

DIY a Cloth Chandelier

These Quebec studio owners have a very small space that they call home, but they still were insistent it was cozy. They pulled off super snug vibes in their bedroom with a plush white bed, a row of string lights, and a DIY cloth chandelier, which they call a “ghost chandelier.” The cloth streamers bring a sweet delicateness to the room, and the low, twinkly lighting adds just a little extra homeyness to the equation.

Go Extra on the Eucalyptus

You can never overlook the importance of plants in creating a comfortable space, and when you’re going for cozy, you gotta have some eucalyptus in your room. Not only is it a pretty, leafy plant that you can use fresh or dried, but it’s also known to create chill vibes with its soothing scent. These Quebec renters put a pot of eucalyptus right next to the sofa to bring all the calming feelings to their little hibernation station. Genius.

Stock Up on Sheepskins

Sheepskin on every surface, please. It’s thick, soft, and ultra luxurious. To winterize their bedding setup, these Englewood, Colorado, homeowners laid a huge sheepskin throw across their bed. Don’t be stingy with this material, especially because there are so many budget friendly faux versions out there at places like IKEA and Target. Put a sheepskin rug at the foot of your bed, drape one across your sofa or chairs, use one under the coffee table. Again, it’s easy to peel this snuggly layer off and pack these throws away when the mercury starts to rise in spring.

You Can’t Go Wrong with White and Lights

When in doubt, bring the string lights and plush whites out. They’re a sure way to make your room feel soft and serene. These Chicago suburb homeowners used the light, white combo to transform their sofa into a cozy spot to park for the day. The couch is filled with comfy pillows and a pretty throw, making it inviting in itself. But surrounded by a high-pile white shag rug and a long strand of string lights, who wouldn’t want to hunker down here? Texture is definitely something people in cold weather climates know how to use.