Transforming your living space from bland to cozy and chic can be simple, affordable, even tons of fun. The feeling of converting a space in your home from “ugh” into a room you actually look forward to hanging out in is…well, otherworldly. Here’s how you can experience the bliss in your own home! These 10 simple tips make it easy to make over any area of your home and design the perfect cozy space for you and your family.
Finding the Right Light
Lighting is absolutely sacred in the world of interior design and should be a top priority whenever you’re looking to spruce up a space in your home. The right lighting can make or break a room’s aesthetic, so it’s crucial to find lights that work for your particular space.
Much of this depends on the amount of natural light the room in question receives. Make the most of your windows in rooms with great natural light, and choose strategic lighting in rooms where you want to relax or be more alert. Add custom light fixtures to your space as an effective way to spice up your lighting on a budget. If you want your room to feel relaxing, try warm lighting or even light bulbs that allow you to change the color.
Declutter
Many of us are experiencing a little bit of extra time these days, so why not put it to good use? There’s no sense in redoing a room without first decluttering and organizing the space. Not to mention, it feels fantastic to get rid of things you no longer use. And creating space allows you to invite a more relaxing and stress-free vibe into your everyday life. Start small, with items you find easiest to part with, like papers laying around or clothes your kids grew out of.
If you’re looking for more tips on the subject, we share four awesome decluttering strategies in this article.
Pick Paint Colors That Create a Cozy Vibe
A perfect way to cozy up a room is to paint your walls for the feeling you want to have. For example, painting your living room or kitchen a soft, inviting shade of white. Painting your room in a shade of white will have a dramatic and immediate uplifting effect on your mood. White walls are classic and have an undeniable ability to open a space up, allowing you to accentuate the bones of the room while giving you a blank canvas on which you can apply the vibrant, cozy details of your choosing.
Consider pastel blues, greens, soft grays, and even purples for bedrooms. And for the kids’ bedrooms, you can have your kiddos get involved by helping to pick out the wall colors. Of course, you can use your input to make sure it’s a color you can tolerate as well! But it’s a great way to make a cozy space for your kids while allowing them to be creative.
Enhance with a Plant
Adding a beautiful plant, (or many beautiful plants), into your living space literally breathes life into a room. And it can create a deeply cozy and peaceful vibe in a matter of seconds. If you’re looking for less responsibility or worried about killing your green friends, do a little research on succulents—the houseplant’s laidback counterpart.
Area Rug with the “Right” Personality
An area rug that you love is an easy way to enhance a room in a style that best speaks to you. Coming in all different shapes, sizes, and colors, area rugs can add an element of warmth to your space. And you can save money and stay on budget if you shop thrift stores or discount stores and avoid shopping at high-end rug dealers or luxury home interior shops.
Update That Hardware
A simple change with impressive effects, doing something as subtle as updating the hardware in a room can make a world of difference. And it’s a great way to add subtle personality and style to improve your space. Sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference.
Get Creative with Art That Speaks To You
Beautiful art is not only available for the uber wealthy. Have an open mind when searching for art and be willing to discover it in unexpected places—a garage sale, an ad on Craigslist, stores like Goodwill. You might be surprised at how lovely, one-of-a-kind art tends to show up when you keep your eyes peeled.
You can even check sites like ebay or shop thrift stores, many of which now have online shopping sites available too. And you can shop Etsy for inexpensive prints and unique pieces that no one else will have. The more personal the art is to your taste, the cozier your home.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
We’ve spoken about this before—and for good reason! But adding a mirror to a space, especially if it’s a small one, is an excellent way to transform a room by creating the illusion of more space. And it’s a great way to add light as well, making your space feel both cozy and illuminated.
Splashes of Color and Texture
Get a little wild without going overboard by the addition of purposeful accent colors and textures. Whether you do this by wallpapering a section of your room with a print, or choose a vibrant piece of furniture you love, a colorful accent makes a space even more inviting. But beware not to overdo it. A room can quickly feel overwhelmed if you’re not strategic about the accents you incorporate into a space. While you can find designing tips online, you can learn the full range and potential of these elements after completing an Interior Design Course.
Pillows and Textiles
You can’t fully achieve “cozy chic” without some top notch bedding. Pillows are also a great opportunity for you to continue incorporating accents into your space for the utmost cozy vibe.
What are your favorite decor tips for a cozy home? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author
Katie Tejada is a writer, editor, and former HR professional. She enjoys writing about events, travel, decorating trends, and innovations for the home, but also covers developments in HR, business communication, recruiting, real estate, finance, law, and investing.