Create a cozy home in 10 easy, inexpensive steps
Plants transform any space into a cozy home environment — Photo courtesy of svetikd / E+
When you’re at home, does it feel like an inviting, comfortable haven where you want to spend time? If not, perhaps it’s time for a refresh, and you don’t need to spend a fortune. Creating a cozy home environment doesn’t have to equate to expensive renovations and all new furniture. Carrie Leskowitz, a designer and author of “Om for the Home,” says there are many budget-friendly ways to make your home cozier. A few small, thoughtful changes can make a huge difference, she says.
Here are 10 easy tips to transform your home into a cozy haven you’ll never want to leave.
Add an area rug
Rugs add texture and ambiance to any cozy home — Photo courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.
Area rugs are a great way to accentuate a room. Whether you place it in your entryway or living room, a rug significantly changes the look of any space. We suggest Rifle Paper Co.’s Palais Luxembourg Printed Rug because of its vibrant patterns and colors. They’re power-loomed for durability and have a cotton canvas backing to prevent slipping.
Big Picture Farm’s Icelandic Sheepskin Rug is another cozy option. Lay this fluffy rug on hardwood floors or drape it over a sofa.
Incorporate fragrances
Candles make your home look and smell inviting — Photo courtesy of Tuscany Candle
A scented candle on the nightstand or the kitchen counter can create a sensory sanctuary and a cozy home feel. Tuscany Candles offers a variety of scents, and some of their candles can burn up to 60 hours.
Incorporating fragrances can make things warm and cozy — Photo courtesy of Sans Savon
Leskowitz recommends scented hand soaps and dish soaps too. Vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice exude warm, inviting scents, but she also loves fresh fragrances that remind her of nature, such as lavender or pine needles.
Try Sans Savon’s Charlevoix Boreal Forest Blend hand wash, which is soap-free and uses a blend of upcycled avocado oil and xylitol to cleanse. Using essential oils harvested from balsam fir, white and black spruce and peppermint, it’s a refreshing, uplifting scent.
Make it personal
Mixbook photos create a more personalized look — Photo courtesy of Mixbook
As a travel writer, I love filling my home with pictures from my adventures. With publishing platforms like Mixbook, it’s easy to upload any photo from your phone onto the website to create frame-worthy canvas prints, photo books, and calendars.
“It’s a simple and budget-friendly way to add a personalized touch to your home,” says Ellie Trebino Kelm, design manager at Mixbook. “Beyond saving money, DIY decor projects bring a unique value and sentimentality that you don’t get with mass-produced decor.”
Introduce textures
A soft throw can keep you snug in your cozy home — Photo courtesy of Kinross Cashmere
Adding a few cozy items like blankets and throw pillows is an easy way to instantly warm up a room. It’s an inexpensive way to make your spaces comfy. Create a reading nook by layering a comfortable chair with a plush throw like Kinross Cashmere’s cable throw blanket. It measures 65 x 50 inches and is available in 11 colors. Made with a cashmere blend, it’s super luxurious and great for curling up with a good book.
Leskowitz suggests switching out throw pillows as the seasons change. “I like lighter textured pillows and cushions, such as linen and cotton, in warmer weather,” she says. In winter months, opt for velour and faux fur.
A beautiful woven basket is another great option, servlng as both home decor and storage. We like Ten Thousand Villages’ Bright Day Hamper. Place it in your bathroom as a laundry hamper or set it in your living room, where you can store your new cozy blankets!
Layer the lighting
Forget the overhead lighting and opt for lamps to create a cozy home environment — Photo courtesy of TG23 / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
The right lighting can transform a room completely, says Newport Beach, California, interior designer Laura Brophy.
“Warm lighting creates a relaxed atmosphere and can make your home feel like a retreat,” she says.
Brophy suggests swapping out harsh white lightbulbs for warm tones. Also, instead of defaulting to overhead lights, try “layering” your lighting with table lamps, floor lamps, and candlelight.
Elevate your bedding
Upgrading your bedding is essential to creating a cozy home — Photo courtesy of eliandelm.com
There’s a reason luxury hotels go all out on comfy mattresses and bedding. It’s the ultimate in pampering and can improve sleep quality. Bring that luxury hotel experience home by investing in some quality bedding for a cozy home feel.
Downright’s Likedown Mattress Topper offers plushness and everyday comfort, so you can rest easily. Handcrafted in Brooklyn, New York, the Likedown filling helps keep you cool during the night. Eli & Elm’s Everyday Memory Foam Pillow is great for head and neck support. Its memory foam and super-fine polyester fiber offer plush comfort through the night.
Bring the outdoors inside with plants
Plants bring the outside inside — Photo courtesy of Jean Chen Smith
Indoor plants are a great cozy home decor option, offering a way to connect with nature without stepping outside. Plants also improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis.
“If you’re on a budget, even a sprig of eucalyptus or a foraged branch in a vase can do wonders,” adds Brophy.
Home & Garden: 8 best air-purifying indoor plants to keep your home clean and green
Invest in statement pieces
Invest in statement pieces for a cozy home environment — Photo courtesy of Castlery
Investing in one or two statement pieces will go miles in creating a cozy home. Rather than springing for a whole new living room set, add one piece. Castlery’s Solange Leather Chair offers luxurious comfort with its mid-century modern aesthetic. The frame is made with high-quality engineered wood, and the seat is durable top grain leather.
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Turn your bathroom into a spa
Transform your bathroom into spa sanctuary — Photo courtesy of FarmHouse Fresh
Creating an at-home spa sanctuary in your bathroom is easier and less expensive than you might think.
Start with small accessories, such as a bamboo bath mat or plush bath towels, and add some candles. Swap out your basic shower head for a rainfall shower head or one that offers different pressure settings. Upgrade your toiletries with pampering products like FarmHouse Fresh’s Pink Bubbletini Bath & Body Retreat Kit, a four-piece body care set that’s beautifully packaged and great for putting on display.
Dress the part
Stay comfy in cozy Petal & Pup’s cozy loungewear — Photo courtesy of Petal & Pup
With more Americans working from home than ever before, loungewear has become super popular and is available in many different fabrics and styles. Petal & Pup’s Silvie Long-Sleeve Knitted Set comes in three colors and is fashionable and comfortable. The knitted fabric is stretchy and flattering, whether you’re hanging out at home or running errands in town.
You also might want to invest in some cozy sleepwear, such as the Pima Crew Long-Long Set from Lake Pajamas. Super soft and comfortable, it’s made of 100% pima cotton, which is suitable year-round because of its breathability.
