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10 Steps to Creating a Warm, Inviting Home

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A cozy home is warm, inviting, and familiar. No judgment or pressure to impress or keep up appearances — this is your space to be YOU!

While clutter-free countertops look great in real estate brochures, we’re big advocates for putting things out where they can be seen, used, and enjoyed. A home should tell a story — your story. So leave that pot of coffee brewing away on the stove, position happy snaps where you can see them to reminisce at will, put a loaf of freshly baked bread on the table ready to slice, then choose a book from the pile to pore over as you eat. These little, everyday touches evoke the same feelings as a warm, cocooning hug.

Make relaxation a priority. 

A couch you sink into, a rug that negates the need for slippers, an adjustable lamp that moves with you — these essential elements constitute a cozy and comforting living space. Go one better and use your phone to control music and heating, so there are no pesky interruptions to your couch-potato state.

Let your bedroom be your sanctuary. 

Pure linen sheets and pillowcases are must-have ingredients for a bed you’ll just want to swan dive into. Linen is a breathable fabric, making it ideal for all seasons, plus it gets softer with every wash. Add pillows of different shapes to serve different purposes, like napping or reading, and ditch the harsh, overhead lights and opt for warm, ambient lamplight.

Bring nature to the fore. 

Using fresh flowers, potted plants, terrariums, or vases of foliage around your home will instantly make you feel happy, calm, and productive. There’s no need to limit yourself to just living things — twigs, branches, shells, or driftwood will conjure up outdoorsy vibes, while natural materials like stone, leather, wood, and rattan are incredibly tactile and soothing.

Install a fireplace. 

A fireplace is the hub of a cozy living room. Dress the surrounding area in lush, thick fabrics and hide away from the cold. A fire pit has the same effect outside and makes entertaining outdoors a joy — even when it’s freezing!

Create a reading nook. 

Nothing says cozy like curling up with a good book. A built-in day bed or window seat will allow you to soak up the winter sun from the comfort of your home.

Create mood lighting. 

Cosiness comes from ambience. Produce an inviting atmosphere with a lamp or ceiling shade as a focal point, or invest in dimmable lights and lamps to create your own mood.

Create a comfortable working space.  

Surrounding yourself with familiar objects helps foster creativity and makes working from home a pleasure. Choose items that inspire or make you happy, like a vibrant artwork or a cheerful plant. If possible, sit near a window to soak up the sunlight, and opt for the comfiest chair you can find — velvet is plush, luxurious, and durable.

Discover the joys of propagation. 

Watching a plant spring to life from a seed or cutting can be utterly magical. Propagation is also a clever way to fill your home with greenery for next to nothing. 

Take cuttings from any plants that catch your eye in friends’ gardens to top up your own collection. Grow your babies in small pots or dishes and line them up on windowsills and benches where they’ll catch the light. You’ll get a little thrill as you tend to them each day and witness them slowly flourishing into thriving plants.

Nurture and captivate little minds. 

When it comes to kids’ bedrooms (or any bedroom, for that matter), texture is life! Place plush rugs and floor cushions on the ground for playing, rolling and lolling about, and look for hand-knitted or wooden toys for a lovely hint of nostalgia. 

If space allows, a reading corner complete with floor cushions and fluffy blankets will help foster little imaginations from a young age.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.

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