Welcome to the cozy side! You're reading this because you, like me, love being in a spot that makes you just sit back, breathe deeply, and go, "Ahhhhhh!" Let's tackle something first, though.
What Cozy Does NOT Mean
Before we get to making your home cozy, let's go over what it is not. Cozy does not mean cluttered, compact, or over- decorated. Sometimes it can be confused with filling a room to its capacity until you can't add another thing. No sis...just NO!
This article is to help you add simple elements to make you feel the real sense of what cozy really is: comforting, warm, relaxing. So let's get to it!
1. Add Different Textures
When things are all the same, it often feels very stagnant, stiff, even cold. The very opposite of cozy. Instead, when bringing in textures like natural wood, leather, metals, glass, velvets, cottons, linens, it's like bringing together a favorite recipe with different ingredients to make the perfect blend!
"For a softer, intimate...atmosphere choose warmer lighting."
2. Get The Right Lighting
FACT: Lighting can make the exact same room feel like an icebox or an inferno. No lie! (Put this on your to-do list) Look at what type of color your light bulbs have- Warm yellow, cool blue, warm red/pink, etc.
To have a more energetic feel use daylight which will be the brighter of the light tones. For a softer, intimate, more calming atmosphere choose warmer lighting. There are some light fixtures where you can control your lighting temperature to suit the coziness level you want!
3. Include a Soft Fragrance
People are very different with scents that attract them much like taste in clothing, so don't over-do it. That's why choosing a fragrance that is soft, subtle, and generally calming will make any room more relaxing.
The NY Times reported a study showing the top home scents with #1 winning at 17% choosing florals, next was 14% fresh and clean, and citrus and wood both tying at 13%.
You can infuse fragrance by either using a candle, plug-in, or sprays. Some may have allergies or sensitivities to smells so be conscious to only giving a hint of the aroma. Always remember overloading your home with fragrance can be just as uncomfortable as a smell that is repulsive.
4. Use a Blanket Throw
You can use this simple tip in sooooooo many different ways draping it over a:
Sofa
Chair
Ottoman
Bench
5. Choose the Right Rug
Your rug has the power to set the right tone and can either be a hit or miss. So choosing a rug with the right colors and textures that fits the mood you're trying to achieve is a great way to enhance the coziness!
(Read more on how to do this:
6. Install Window Treatments
Whether to add color, texture, or pattern, your window treatments add a break in the monotony of your wall color and a room needs that to feel cozy. It's like putting that accessory you needed in your outfit to pull it together! Just as important is the size of curtains. A good rule of thumb is to always hang them above the top window sill and enough fabric to brush the floor. I usually always get 96" or above personally.
"Its like putting that accessory you needed in your outfit to pull it together!"
7. Add Greenery/Botanicals
Not only do plants bring life to any space, it's amazingly calming. It adds color and brings in a little part of nature that can make a space refreshing. Now I'm not one to bash anyone who lives the "faux plant" life (because I do), but every now and then I love bringing in a fresh bouquet. I have my faux plants but they just can't make my room smell as good as fresh flowers!
8. Mix Prints and Patterns
Prints and patterns keep things fun, interesting, and not boring. Patterns that are spherical and round have a softer edge and lend to a more calmer feel. The calming elements in nature all have curves. Think of the sun, the moon, the waves of a sea...they all have one thing in common: they have curvature. So include that feature with your shapes, patterns, and prints!
9. Position Furniture to Stimulate Conversation
Chair Picture: Wayfair
Furniture that is just up against the wall facing in one direction can seem stoic, stern, and just uninviting. Soften it up with turning the furniture more towards one another to encourage discussion and you will see how it softens the lines of the room! (Hint: adding another curve)
10. Keep the House Clean
Yep, I said it! This is something that requires much effort but little cost. Nothing is as uncomfortable to me as a dirty house. Keeping things simple will make things easier to maintain and there will be a lighter load. Never underestimate how a clean home makes the right atmosphere for a cozy feeling!
Comments