Winter is upon us. The temperature is dropping, the snow is enveloping the streets, families and friends are coming together for the holiday season. All of this leads to a natural desire to make our home feel more cozy and warm. Luckily, transforming the look and feel of your home design does not require any grand adjustments or heavy investments. You can achieve a softer feel by swapping out a few items of your home decor. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Step 1. Fabrics of choice: faux fur and wool
Hide those thin summer blankets and replace them with something softer and warmer. Faux fur and wool will do miracles for your home design. Go for lighter, more neutral colors. Whether draped over an armchair or placed on your bed, thicker fabrics will also add a bit more luxury and elegance to your space.
Step 2. Double down on the pillows.
Whether it’s on your couch, by the fireplace or on your bed, be extra generous in winter with the pillows. Nothing says ‘cozy’ like a big pile of soft happiness. Falling asleep to the warm hum of your fireplace, cuddling up by the window with a good book and hot chocolate, spending a lazy Saturday morning in bed while it’s snowing outside – all these extra pillows will make your experience even more magical. You don’t even need to buy new pillows. Check out various fabrics, designs and color schemes for inspiration, and then create your own covers for your old pillows.
Step 3. Surround yourself with pictures of people you love and beautiful memories
Your home design is never fully complete until it’s personalized. Go through your photo albums – both digital and paper ones – and select pictures of family members, friends, fun vacations, girls’ nights out, etc. and display them around the room. You will find thousands of articles online that will teach you how to creatively display your most cherished memories.
Step 4. Create a nook.
Now that the weather is getting colder, you will be spending more and more time indoors. Whether you will be spending hours on a weekend reading your favorite authors or binge watching TV shows or reading news with a cup of coffee – create a dedicated space for it. You will appreciate it all the more in winter.
Read: How to create a perfect reading nook in 5 easy steps
Step 5. Don’t forget about the aroma of the room.
The cozy feeling doesn’t come only from the things we see – it’s the things we touch, we hear and we smell. What scents do you associate with the idea of a cozy home? Is it cinnamon? Freshly brewed coffee? Apple pie? Whatever it may be, make sure to incorporate smell in your home design. The easiest way to do it is with scented candles.
Step 6. Go for softer lighting.
Interior lighting can drastically trasform the look and feel of a room. If you want to create a more cozy feel to your space, we recommend softer, warmer lighting. If you already have dimmers – you’re all set. If you don’t, there are two things you can do: 1) finally invest in dimmers (it’s a good idea regarldes of the season); 2) take advantage of floor and table lamps. Also note that different light bulbs have different color temperature, so pay attention to that when you replace your old light bulbs. A 2700 Kelvin is what you want to purchase to create a softer, yellowish light. Check out this quick guide.
Read: 10 Interior Design Tips for Your Next Project
Step 7. Place seat cushions on dining room chairs and kitchen benches.
Make long family dinners and chats with friends over coffee in the kitchen feel more comfortable by adding some extra cushioning.
Step 8. Add some greenery.
Remind yourself of the warm sunny days of spring and summer by placing a few plants around the room. Make sure that you are careful in your selection of plants and read up on their maintenance. It only takes one dead plant to ruin the cozy feel of a room. Also pay attention to the design of pots and integrate them in the overall home design.
Step 9. Add a couple of rugs.
Even a small rug that doesn’t have much of a practical purpose will make that particular space look warmer and softer. Place a few rugs around the house – in the kitchen, hallway and under a coffee table in the living room. This little item of decor will bring your home design together. You don’t have to even go out and purchase new rugs. Check out how you can make them yourself.
Read: 17 Stunning #KitchenDesign Inspirations from Instagram
Step 10. It’s not only about home design.
Yes, there are a lot of things you can do in terms of interior design to make your home feel more cozy and comfortable. However, this feeling of peace and safety will not be achieved through fluffy pillows and scented candles alone. You should make your home a safe, cozy place psychologically as well. That means getting rid of as many worries as possible. Of course, it is very unlikely that you’ll be able to eliminate every concern you have on a daily basis. However, there’s a great deal of concerns you can eliminate – paying bills on time, minimizing the amount of work you bring home, etc. Think of all the things you carry with you – often times subconsciously – and try to resolve as many issues as you have within your power. This is perhaps the most difficult step on this list. The rewards are definitely worth it though.