From the exterior function to its interior form, home design begins to play a growing role in the daily grind as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter.

Whether you’re taking on a bigger renovation or just looking to make your living a little more comfortable, it’s best to start on the outside and work your way in when designing this winter.

“It’s a time of reflection,” says Eva Finkelstein, owner and founder of Green Design Expo, New York’s first green building retail and education center located in Scarsdale. “In the winter, you turn inward. You’re looking at your house and you’re feeling the draft.”

Winter is the season for insulation, and that’s the first place to start. Blow-in and sprayfoam insulation are the number one suggestions designers give clients to keep warm while increasing efficiency.

“It’s huge right now,” says Laura VerCammen, interior designer at Angelini Designs. “It gets to areas that conventional insulation can’t get to.”

VerCammen suggests nontoxic, soy-based insulation that is easily blown into holes and gaps with a hose. Blow-in insulation can be used to fill cracks in the floors, around windows, and behind trim. VerCammen recommends insulating underneath the floorboards—a trick she says helps keep the floors warm.

Window treatments are another option that add insulation, but also contribute to décor. Hunter Douglas designs a line of insulating window treatments with total R-Values ranging from 3.87 to 7.86. Hunter Douglas’s Duette Architella honeycomb shade has an R-value of 7.86, which can reduce heat loss by 50 percent, the company says.

Additionally, certain models of Hunter Douglas energy-efficient shades qualify for federal tax credit up to $1,500 if they are purchased and installed prior to December 31, 2010. (http://www.hunterdouglas.com/tax-credit.jsp)

Wall décor is another design option. Think about adding textiles, curtains, and upholstery into wall design to add functioning flair. VerCammen says draping fabrics can also help put a final touch on a design, but be sure to keep windows clear, allowing for full views and natural daylight.

As tight insulation becomes the goal, air circulation is drastically reduced, so be sure fabrics are non-toxic and VOC-free.

“Everything is a lot tighter in the winter,” says VerCammen. “So we really need to think about responsible building and decorating.”

Another option for design is getting a fresh coat of paint onto the walls. Painting can really help make a space unique, and adding new colors to a room can change its vibe. Finkelstein recommends no-VOC paint.

“When you start closing up your house you have to think about what you’re bringing in. Your indoor air quality becomes more important than ever,” Finkelstein says.

Sun Wallpaper & Paint in Poughkeepsie has begun to offer Stark Paint’s no-VOC designer paint line. The ecofriendly, water-based paint meets LEED standards, and offers up to 240 different colors.

“People gravitate to these colors,” says Frank Cohen, president of Sun Wallpaper & Paint. It’s about design and décor, the no VOC is an added bonus.

While splashing new colors can certainly bring life to walls, lighting is an important part of any winter design because of the shortness of daylight. One popular lighting trend is the Solatube, which brings in beautiful, natural daylight.

A Solatube is basically a light pipe that runs from the roof down to the ceiling of the room, bringing sunlight to a room that would otherwise be dark.

Carol Kurth, ASID, AIA, LEED AP, says the Solatube provides a different, more natural quality of light. Additionally, it can be made into a hybrid light fixture with a CFL bulb for night use.

“It can become a design effect,” Kurth says. “If you do a series of Solatubes, it looks like very cool spots on your ceiling. It could leave cool shadows down a hallway, so if you have a long hall you can get a great effect that way.”

Kurth also suggests using candles throughout the home to create that cozy fireside atmosphere. One idea Kurth recommends is setting up a sort of candelabra within a fireplace.

“It’s great because you don’t have to deal with the ashes and all the making of the fire,” Kurth says.

Kurth says it’s best to get a variety of candles, from tea light to pillar sized, and set them on a fireproof glass dish. Bank the candles with pebbles or river stones to create a vignette in the fireplace. Kurth says the idea can be recreated on a tabletop as a centerpiece.

“It’s a good time to get cozy,” adds Finkelstein, and after you’ve insulated, lit, painted, and decorated the home, you can begin to add the accent pieces that feel comfortable.

Finkelstein suggests bamboo carpets that are both soft and shaggy, or wool carpets. Both options are nontoxic, VOC-free, and can be found at her store, Green Design Expo.

Another warm and cozy accent in the home can be ecofriendly sheepskin rugs and pillows. Finding unique throws can also make for sleek and usable living room décor. Kurth suggests finding a throw with suede on one side and fleece on the other.

Designers also suggest finding new ways to utilize space and maximize potential in a season that confines us to our homes.

Clear the clutter and clean out the closets. Kurth says extra closet space can be used for a desk by removing the door and adding a light fixture.

“Take advantage of the little spaces in your house for extra storage and create a design,” Kurth says. She suggests recessing drawers and shelves into the walls.

Even if you chose not to design in the winter, the time can be used for planning bigger projects which need warmer weather, like solar panel installation. The winter is a great time to start your research, find contractors, and get paperwork and forms in order, so that you’re ready to go in spring.

“It’s a great thinking time,” Finkelstein says.