At this time of year, seeing some serious snow fall would certainly add some alpine glamour to the UK, for those of us not lucky enough to be jetting off to the mountain slopes for a skiing holiday over the next few months.

However you don’t need snow falling outside to bring a little ski chalet chic to your interior. Here’s our round-up of essential elements that will help add chalet style to your home.

Image credit: http://id-inspired-design.co.uk/alpine-living

1. Use natural materials and colours

As you will see from the pictures on our Cosy cabins and chalets Pinterest pinboard, most chalets feature plenty of natural materials like wood and stone, plus leather in the furniture then fur and wool in the accessories.

So the general colour palette for your walls and furnishings can take their cue from these natural materials, with light whites and creams reflecting the snow outside, plus browns and grey tones from light shades through to deep and dark ones

Achieving the chalet look is certainly easier if these materials are already major features - so exposed wooden floors, beams, stone hearths or wood furniture (the rawer the better). However you can also bring natural materials in with accessories.

Use wood to make a feature of stacked cut logs in an alcove or log basket beside the fire. Also forage outside bring in branches, sprigs of pine or collection of pine cones for decoration.

Image credit: http://thepapermulberry.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/ski-lodge-style.html

2. Add texture with fur, fleece and wool

Leading in from point no. 1, natural materials also feature heavily in soft furnishings for chalet style interiors. Animal furs and skins, or chunky wool textiles, are used for chair or bed throws to add luxurious softness, texture and warmth.

Use a reindeer hide as a floor covering and if you have leather armchair, add a sheepskin throw as an arm or seat cover.

Find some chunky knitted cushions and throws to your sofa, or some plaid and tweed ones made from natural wool. Or how about adding some chunky knitted baskets to use for storage.

Image credits: http://madeinpersbo.blogspot.co.uk and http://www.planete-deco.fr/2013/03/09/vue-sur-la-baie-de-la-terrasse/

3. Bring in some traditional patterned fabrics

As well as natural texture, you also introduce some traditional pattern in the soft furnishings to add more visual interest.

Classic patterns like Fairisle, Scandi-style snowflakes or tartan all add to that ski lodge feel and all happen to be very popular in interior design right now so you’ll find plenty of these patterned accessories in the shops.

4. Source some deer themed accessories

Speaking of interior trends, the fashion for deer themed accessories - featuring antlers, deer and stags - has also been popular recently. So adding these readily available items to your living room or bedroom will help create that ski lodge look.

Choose a cushion or bed linen featuring a deer picture or deer-based pattern, or hang a wintery snow scene of a deer on the wall. Use antlers by placing them loosely on sideboards or attaching them to the wall. You can also find mirror and candle-holder designs using antlers.

A stag’s head on the wall makes a real statement piece that can be a decorative focal point. If you can’t source a real one, there are plenty of contemporary options made from other materials, like metal, paper or card.

Image credit: http://www.digsdigs.com/26-comfy-and-natural-chalet-bedroom-designs/

5. Don't forget lights, lamps and candles

Adding soft lighting is our final tip as this is crucial to help create a really cosy ambience. Use a lamp or two instead of your main light (you could source a lamp with a deer base!) and add fairly lights around a mirror or fireplace, (although choose warm light bulbs rather than those bright white LED ones, for a softer glow).

We’re also big fans of big hurricane lanterns that you can place candles inside. A couple of different sized lanterns grouped together with flickering candlelight will really add to that Alpine atmosphere.

Image credit: http://decordots.com/2013/04/01/mondays-inspiration-2/