10 Ideas to Make December Extra Cozy
If you’re looking for cozy things to do in December, you’re not alone. This is the month that invites us to slow down, light a candle, and lean into comfort (in-between all of the normal chaos of the holidays, of course). The air turns crisp and cold, the days grow shorter, and suddenly, home becomes the best place in the entire world to be.
From simmer pots and Sunday suppers to nostalgic movie nights and gratitude lists, these ten simple ideas will help you make December extra cozy, no matter where you are.
1. Start a Sunday Supper Tradition
As the days shorten, carve out one evening a week to cook something slow and hearty—chicken casserole, chili, or pot roast. Light candles, dim the lights, and make the dinner table a place to linger long after the plates are cleared.
2. Create a Cozy Corner
Whether it’s a reading nook by a window or the end of your sofa, layer it with a soft blanket, a candle, and your current book or favorite magazine. December is for curling up, not rushing out.
3. Make a Simmer Pot
Bring the scent of the season into your home with sliced oranges, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and a splash of vanilla. Let it bubble on the stove while you tidy up or read—it’s an instant mood-lifter.
4. Write a Gratitude List (and Share It)
Don’t wait to say what you’re thankful for. Write a list and read it aloud at dinner, or text a friend just to tell them you appreciate them. Gratitude warms a room faster than any fire ever could.
5. Plan Your Coziest Weekend
Think slow mornings, favorite comfort shows, and something sweet in the oven. Add a walk in the crisp air and a nap under a heavy blanket and you’ve got a perfect December weekend.
6. Swap Out the Scents
Retire summer’s fresh florals and bring in woodsy, spicy notes instead. Light a candle that smells like the fireplace you wish you had—or the one that’s already crackling.
7. Do a Small Home Reset
Before holiday chaos begins, spend a day decluttering. Fold the throws, wash the flannel sheets, stock up on hot cocoa, and put out your coziest slippers. Tiny changes make home feel new again.
8. Host a Friendsgiving (Big or Small)
Invite a few friends, cook together, and make it simple—chili night, soup bar, or even takeout with fancy plates. The point isn’t perfection; it’s connection.
9. Watch Something Nostalgic
Revisit the movies that feel like a hug—You’ve Got Mail, Dan in Real Life, Father of the Bride. Bonus points if you make popcorn on the stove.
10. Add One Candle to Every Room
It’s the easiest way to make December feel special. Light them in the early morning or at dinner, and let the glow remind you that slower, softer moments are what this season is all about.
As the year begins to wind down, we’re reminding ourselves that cozy isn’t something you buy, it’s something you make. It’s the smell of dinner on the stove, the sound of a movie everyone’s seen a hundred times, and the small rituals that make home feel like the safest place in the world. However you spend December, we hope it’s full of slow mornings, soft light, and the kind of warmth that lingers long after the season fades.