You have a house – the concrete structure with four walls and a roof – and it is everything you ever dreamt of.
But something is lacking.
Something that doesn’t quite allow you to call it ‘home’ yet. You feel that something is just not there. Yes! Your house lacks warmth and coziness.
You want to make it warm and cozy but dread the effort and money to go into it. So, what’s the recipe to turn your house into a cozy abode without the effort? Read this blog to find out.
Let’s move things around
Sometimes you can give your house a completely new look and feel just by moving the furniture around and remodeling the rooms. It is not really the lack of warmth that you feel; it is the boredom kicking in due to the monotony of things.
So, move the furniture around. Bring your chairs, sofas, and beds by the windows or wherever there is direct access to sunlight. Sitting in the sunlight during a balmy autumn afternoon will relax your mind, and the incoming light will enhance the room’s ambiance.
Also, keep the entry points for sunlight clear. There shouldn’t be cupboards or other furniture blocking the windows. Put all the big furniture by the wall and bring your comfortable seats and beds towards the windows.
How lit is your place?
Lightning is a big factor in giving your home some warmth. It is proven by research that lightning improves the ambiance of closed spaces, and it helps improve our mood and reduce anxiety.
Other than wall-mounted bulbs, you can use side lamps or floor lamps to liven up the lightning in your room.
If you want to save space, use swing-arm sconces instead of floor or table lamps. It will serve two purposes: brighten up the room and add a new dimension to your wall.
What’s on the walls
What is the thing you see the most in your house? Walls. It is quite natural for walls to determine your mood. If the walls you are looking at are dull and faded, you’d feel less excited in your house.
Vibrant walls fill you with joy and excitement, and you feel comforted in your own home.
Leslie Harrington, a color consultant in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, says that what color you paint your walls isn’t just a matter of aesthetics. It’s a tool that can be leveraged to affect emotions and behavior.
You can begin by describing the functions of each room. Bedrooms are a place to relax; living rooms are a place to have fun family time; study rooms are for serious business; the kitchen is a place to inspire creativity.
After you have assigned the roles, choose a predominant color for each room. For example, warm colors like red, beige, maroon in the living room can give it a buzzing feel.
Cream, crisp white, burnt orange, cool gray, and bright color shades can give a relaxing ambiance to your bedroom.
If your house gets extra warm during summers or unbearably cold in winter, you should consider getting insulation.
There are several spray forms, fiberglass and cellulose insulation. If you are new to insulation, then don’t worry. Companies like Foam Comfort guide buyers through the process and give cost estimation before the start of the project.
What’s on the ground
Is there a rug? Is there any wooden floor? Is the floor tiled? What you are stepping on is also a big factor in how cozy your place feels.
No matter how many comforters you put in there, the whole room’s energy would die down if the floor is bland.
You can keep a wooden floor for high traffic areas like the living room, dining room, and foyer. However, a piece of center carpet in the middle of these areas also gives a break from the monotony of the floor’s color.
For less frequented places of your house like bedroom and study, you can opt for larger carpets. They make walking more comfortable and reduce the feeling of discomfort due to the hardness of the floor.
There are many types of carpets, like cut loops and plush piles, for extreme comfort and relaxation. Walking on them, you’d feel like your feet are being given a massage.
When has massage failed to relax anyone?
Then there are also polypropylene, nylon, and wool carpets which are cheap and perfectly do the job of lifting the energy of any room.
What’s on the windows
For me, curtains are like the canvass of any home. You can give them whatever colour you want, paint whatever picture you want on them. Such is the elegance and importance of curtains in home décor.
You can also opt for drapes, blinds, and shades, but if you are an old school like me, you might also feel like nothing trumps the good old curtains.
While choosing curtains, you can choose from the following options:
- Contrast them with the paint
- Contrast them with the furniture
- Contrast them with the rug
- Don’t contrast with anything
After you have decided on colour and design, the fabric is next. You have to decide whether you want bulky velvet curtains or light brocade, or cotton curtains.
If there is access to open spaces from where the air crosses, choose lightweight curtains. They won’t block the path of light or air. Heavier curtains can be used in bedrooms and dining halls where ambience matters the most.
How green is your home?
You can’t feel cozy if you are disconnected from mother nature. Now, by being close to nature, I don’t mean getting an urban forest into your home.
You can add some elements of green here and there. If you live in an apartment, the balcony is the ideal place to have some pot plants. Also, you can have plants at every window. The early morning sunshine filtered through the leaves of these plants is a mesmerizing sight.
Final words
These remodel and changes will help transform your house into “home” – a place of warmth and cosiness where you can destress and relax your mind, body, and soul.
Do tell us in the comments below how these changes turn out for you.
Author Bio
Audrey Throne has an ongoing affair with the words that capture readers’ attention. Her passion for writing dates back to her pre-blogging days. She loves to share her thoughts related to business, technology, health and fashion.
Find her on Twitter: @audrey_throne
Audrey Throne
