Curating a Cozy Retreat With an Alpine Aesthetic

If you’re looking to create a living room that encapsulates an alpine aesthetic, choosing the right textures, color palettes, and keeping your decor versatile will get in the right direction. 

Ski-chic is all about embracing the beauty of the mountains and nature, while setting the scene for a cozy and relaxing experience. Everything from choosing the right furniture and textiles to your lighting and artwork are paramount to crafting a space with functional comfort and sophisticated style.

“Ski-chic thrives in an earthy, neutral palette that combines the warmth of natural leathers with brighter neutrals like whites, creams and taupes,” said Sarah Tiedeken, interior designer and partner at architecture firm Vertical Arts based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. For cozy textures, look toward nubby boucles, rich velvets and hearty wools as they “create a space that is inviting and warm without being too stuffy,” she added.

So if you’re looking to capture the essence of a luxurious ski lodge at home, here’s how to pull it off like a pro.

Define Your Color Palette

“There are so many different ways the color palette can go in terms of hues, and I think that’s really important to define. Do you want to feel cozy and warm, or would you rather have a cooler palette that’s reminiscent of a winter wonderland? In my experience working with clients, establishing the mood helps us lay the groundwork for finding that perfect palette.

“If my clients are going for a cozy cabin look and want to feel that in their ‘ski-chic’ living room, I can’t go wrong with earthy tones, deep reds or greens or rustic browns. I love to add in a splash of warm, lighter tones, like mustard yellows or buttery creams, so the palette isn’t too heavy.

“For that snowy alpine aesthetic, I recommend opting for blues, grays and whites. Think cooler with metals as well, but I personally don’t always stick with silver or platinum metal finishings. I find that really paying attention to the hues helps me dig out cooler tones of even bronze finishes.”

—Joyce Huston, lead interior designer at online interior design service Decorilla

Layer Strategically

“To create a layered, cozy look, go for materials that feel warm and inviting, but still polished. Using cedar wood for walls or cabinets brings a touch of nature indoors, balanced by soapstone or dark limestone for a bit of contrast. Textiles like wool or alpaca throws, and handwoven rugs instantly add texture and warmth. We also love a woven wallcovering to bring a subtle, earthy vibe, along with quality linens or mohair in seating for a refined, lived-in feel.

“Strategic layering is key—think of adding textural contrasts such as wood paneling alongside soft upholstery and wool throws. Incorporating materials with a warm undertone, like red-toned wood or a subtly clay-colored ceiling, enhances that inviting feel. For lighting, low, ambient lighting paired with warm brass or matte black fixtures can create a cozy glow that brings warmth without overpowering the space.”

—Stephanie Luk, director of interior design at design studio Electric Bowery, based in Venice, California

Use Some Contrast

“Creating a ski-chic aesthetic is not about attaining any style associated with a movement or period. You can combine transitional American objects with modern Scandinavian pieces in this setting, whatever suits your style and preference. It’s the scale, colors, tones, textures and lighting that will imbue the space with warmth.

“Think about combining ruggedness—materials that age well and become more beautiful over time—with softness. It’s the combination of these two seemingly opposing or contradictory qualities that creates the ski-chic look and feel.

“Furnishings and millwork should be primarily built from hard, rugged elements that age and wear well. Finishes on these elements should be matte, or even chalky, but definitely not glossy or polished. Wood grains should be bold and prominent, stone is best in hammered or sand-blasted finishes, and metal accents and fixtures should be muted—patinated bronze and other antique-look metals are ideal, in brushed or satin finish. Then marry those rugged elements with soft, warm, even fuzzy textiles for coziness. Wherever occupants sit and relax, everything they touch should offer softness.”

—Alexander Zilberman, principal at Alexander Zilberman Architecture in New York,