The coziness of your home is an abstract quality that’s hard to measure, but it will have a major impact on how you feel when you walk in the door, how your guests feel when they enter your home for the first time, and even your home’s resale value. Cozy homes are homes that feel pleasant.
They’re welcoming and inviting, and they have a unique charm about them.
So how can you capture this essence of “coziness” without breaking the bank on major interior design overhauls?
Small Upgrades for a Cozier Home
These are some of the best upgrades you can make for a cozier home:
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1. Install a wood stove.
Wood stoves come in a variety of styles, so they can match almost any style home or dominant décor. They can add to the originality and visual appeal of a living room, den, or another place for gathering, and more importantly, provide a source of natural, radiant heat. While they may not be ideal to heat the whole house, they can instantly make any room cozier—especially in winter.
2. Perfect the lighting.
Your choice in lighting plays a massive role in how a room subjectively feels to your guests. Common choices for “coziness” are softer, more radiant sources of lighting, and twinkling “fairy lights.” You can also use lighting to highlight features of the room you want to show off, such as pieces of artwork.
3. Get comfy pillows, covers, and throws.
Pillows, covers, blankets, and throws can make any piece of furniture look more inviting (and provide more comfort to you and your guests, especially in winter months). Get something thick and/or fuzzy for added effect.
4. Replace your towels and shower curtain.
Your bathroom plays a major role in your level of comfort, even if you don’t spend much time in there. This is an area that should look and feel hygienic, and provide as much comfort as possible. You’ll want to replace your bath towels (like any household item you use for cleaning purposes) regularly, and when you do, consider upgrading to high-end towels, which will feel luxuriously softer and warmer. You’ll also want to replace other important features of your bathroom, like the shower curtain and any bath mats you have.
5. Use a humidifier (or dehumidifier).
The humidity of the air plays a bigger role in your comfort than most people realize. A humidifier in cold winter months can help you breathe easier and feel more at home. A dehumidifier in the middle of a muggy summer can make you feel cooler and more relaxed.
6. Make robes available.
If you’ve never had the experience of wearing a soft, high-quality robe, you don’t know what you’re missing. Stock your home with at least a few robes, and don’t be afraid to splurge a little. You’ll also want to make guest robes available, especially if you plan on having overnight guests.
7. Play with scents.
It’s well known that different scents can have a powerful (and oftentimes positive) effect on your mood. There are many viable ways to add a more enriching scent to your home, most of which are inexpensive. For example, you could use an essential oil diffuser, a candle, or incense to fill your home with a cozier scent.
8. Get some ambient music rolling.
Music can add to the ambience of any room as well, especially if you have the right kind of speakers installed. Invest in the highest-quality speakers you can afford, and place them throughout the room in inconspicuous locations so the room is filled with sound even at a low volume.
9. Find and embellish a nook.
Find a nook in your home you can use as a reading corner or a place to have tea. With the right framing and the right décor, this nook can dramatically up the “cozy” factor of your home and provide you with a mini-room where you can practice your favorite habits.
10. Get a projector.
Most people love watching TV shows and movies, even if they’re merely background noise. You can instantly make the experience cozier by utilizing a projector on an open wall of your home.
Finding Your Style
At least some of these upgrades should sound appealing to you, and shouldn’t cost you much money or effort to install in your home. Most of them offer significant room for flexibility with your individual sense of style; for example, you can choose different materials, sizes, colors, and placements to keep in line with your personal preferences. Branch out of your comfort zone to experiment with combinations you might not have considered, and go with what you think suits the personality of your home best.
Featured image source: Freepik
