5 Ways to Create a Cozy Home

Wish you could come home to a cozy home every day? Here are 5 simple ways to make it happen!

Home sweet home. Doesn’t that phrase make you think of a cozy home?

The thing is, your home may not always feel cozy. Sometimes you have no choice but to live somewhere – but it may not be ideal, and it may feel far from comfortable.

And other times, you may like your home … but simply haven’t made it a very cozy place.

I think that homes filled with character are easy to feel comfy in. But as much as I prefer those kinds of places, I haven’t lived in many. In fact, out of nine different houses I’ve called home in my life, only one had a lot of character. The rest were all nondescript. Ordinary. And boring.

Here’s the good news, though. Your home doesn’t have to drip with character to be cozy. You just need a few simple tricks to make the transformation into a cozy haven. I’d love to share 5 of my secrets.

5 Ways to Create a Cozy Home

1. Surround yourself with your favorite things.

Life’s too short to not enjoy what you love. So to make your home your own (and to make it feel cozy for you) fill it with what brings you joy.

2. Don’t be afraid to use texture.

Creating a haven that appeals to your senses is a fantastic way to feel comfy and cozy. But one of the best senses to accentuate is touch.

When you fill your home with different textures – soft, silky, nubby, a little rough – you add a lot of feeling. And that feeling, when used strategically, will add coziness.

Think, for a moment, about the textures of different kinds of blankets. Quilts are smooth and perfect for warmer weather. But when it’s cold out, you want and need something much more plush. If possible, use different textures of blankets in your home.

Similarly, think about the different kinds of pillows, rugs, or window coverings you also could use.

3. Use lighting to your advantage.

Lighting can make a huge difference in your home. When I want to get all cozy and relax, lighting is one of the first things I adjust. I prefer natural sunlight – but at night, or on dreary days, lamps and candles give off such a comfy glow.

As much as possible, I try to limit using overhead or fluorescent lights. Sure, they can brighten a room, but usually a little too harshly and artificially.

4. Tidy up.

If your home is cluttered and messy, you can forget about being able to totally relax. It will feel impossible to truly get comfortable.

The solution, of course, is to get cleaning. Consider this a good motivation to start decluttering your home. You may need a cleaning strategy that works best for you and your home – or, if you already have one, you just need to get to work.

5. Get personal.

Forget about making everything look like it’s part of a model home. Inject some life – and yourself – into your home. Get personal with photographs and memorabilia so that it’s obviously your haven.

As you work on these five secrets in your home, you’ll quickly find that your surroundings do become cozier – and your home becomes a home sweet home.

What are some of your favorite ways to create a cozy home?

This post originally appeared on HilaryBernstein.com.

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All images courtesy of Kaboompics.