We’re going to go over eight timeless, tried and true ways of making your home feel really cozy and really warm.
Skipping the Obvious Tricks
We’re going to skip the obvious stuff like: throwing a blanket on a sofa, lighting some candles, getting a pet…
Psychology of Cozy Design
No, today, instead, we’re going to go through the psychology of some of these strategies, so it doesn’t matter what budget and what style you prefer, you’ll be able to furnish your home and make it feel really cozy.
Long Script Promise
I have written a really, really, really long script for this video, so I promise it’s going to be worth your time, so stay with me.
Avoid White Colored Light Bulbs
So the first thing is to avoid white colored light bulbs at all costs.
Impact of Lighting on Coziness
I mean, for example, if I asked you which room looks cosier right now, which one would you pick?
Most of you would pick the left option.
The colour of your lighting can completely change how cozy or cold a room feels.
Yellow Light Creates Warmth
Yellow light in the 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin range mimics a warm glow of a setting sun; this is why we spend thousands of dollars on flights to go to beaches, so we can watch the sunset, ’cause everyone looks good and feels good in that yellowish glow.
Historical Connection to Warm Light
And if you can buy something that’s going to let you have this effect every single day, why would you do anything different? So we much prefer yellow light over white light because throughout history, the transition from daylight to the warm hues of sunset signals the end of the day’s activities, and it was time for us to relax and wind down and chill and eat and cook and sleep, and have bedtime stories.
Warm Earthy Tones and Comfort
and hints of red feel enveloping and comfortable.
So now picture the same room decked out in bright white with gray furniture: it might feel clean, and it might look sleek, but it definitely does not feel cozy.
The Problem with Sterile Interiors
If we wanted to live in sleek, clean homes, why don’t we all decorate our homes to be like hospitals?
Insights from “A Pattern Language”
Christopher Alexander in the book “A Pattern Language”, this is one of my favorite books to do with architecture and interior and urban design, so he explains in a chapter called warm colors, the greens and grays of hospital and the office corridors are depressing and cold; natural wood sunlight, bright colours are warm and the warmth of the colours in the room makes a great deal of difference between comfort and discomfort.
Light and Surface Interaction
So basically, if you were to read all of these pages, what he’s trying to say is that the combination of natural and artificial light bouncing off different surfaces is what creates a feeling of warmth in the space.
Cumulative Effect of Warm Colors
The cumulative effect of light bouncing off every surface in the room needs to produce a warm yellowish glow, so the more warm-colour surfaces you have in your home, the more likely that the cumulative colour that is produced used in the space from the light is warm, and that slight tint will affect how everything in the room feels: people furniture food on the table.
Use Natural Materials
The next point is to use authentic natural materials.
They bring warmth and texture into your space. Why? Some of you might ask.
Biophilia and Natural Connection
Well, I’m very glad you did, because I have a very good answer. According to the concept of biophilia, humans have an innate connection to nature and natural materials because when we surround ourselves with natural elements that remind us of the forest, of meadows, of the mountains, we feel more at ease, more relaxed, and yes, more cozy.
Practical Tips for Natural Elements
So to make it work in your home, opt for real wood; wooden accents, wooden furniture, wooden decor, wooden frames; you can’t go wrong with wood.
They just make your home feel timeless and warm. You can also incorporate materials like natural stone, marble, terrazzo in your countertops and your furniture, and your decor pieces, and even small pieces like cork coasters, woven baskets, or natural jute rugs can make a space feel just a little bit more cozy. Bring the outside in!
The Importance of Texture
Minimalist design has stripped many homes of a key element that makes the space cozy, and that is texture.
Visual Contrast of Texture
Imagine a living room with a thick wool rug, wood paneling, and velvet cushions combined with soft mood lighting.
Doesn’t this feel so warm and cozy and inviting? Now, in contrast, imagine the space with smooth white walls, very sleek, shiny floors, plastic furniture, and polished surfaces. It may look clean, but it feels cold, flat, and depressing.
Nature and Texture Everywhere
Texture is really important because it’s everywhere in nature, and we love nature.
From the rough bark of a tree to the patterns on the leaf to the stones in the riverbed, texture is all around us. It’s what makes nature so rich and engaging. Well, that and fresh air.
Visual Engagement and Comfort
Our eyes crave engagement and texture offers that in a subtle, comforting way.
The Problem of Visual Silence
When these textures are missing in our homes, it creates what some people call “visual silence,” a flatness that’s not just boring but tiring to the eye.
Lifeless Spaces Without Texture
Without this visual engagement from texture, your space feels really lifeless, no matter how tidy it is.
Adding Texture for Coziness
So to add texture back into your home to make it cozy, here’s what you can do: mix materials like velvet, wool, and linen rugs to add warmth and comfort.
Walls and Surfaces with Texture
Skip bare walls, try textured wallpaper, wall paneling, wall moldings, lime wash is also super popular for this exact reason, as it provides very nice calming colors, but it also has texture.
Textured Art and Objects
You can also choose textured art like woven tapestries, or incorporate objects around your home with unique surfaces like textured glassware, brushed metal accents, some clay pots… everything that’s not super sleek and shiny, but that has a slight bumpiness to it.
The Power of Uneven Lighting
Take a look at these two images: which one do you find more cozy?
Most of you would probably choose this one, but why?
Uniform lighting makes everything flat and lifeless.
Uneven lighting feels way more natural and inviting; it creates an interplay of light and shadow, which is very much like the light we find again in nature.
The Role of Lamps vs. Big Lights
The light in nature is dappled, constantly moving, constantly in flux.
If you want to make your home feel really cozy and inviting, with all of these pools of light and dark shadows, here’s what you can do: use lamps all around your home at night. Never use a big light.
Only use a big light in an emergency, like when you can’t find your keys and you need to leave the house because the house is on fire.
Firelight as the Ultimate Coziness
There is no substitute for fire.
Flickering firelight is one of the most comforting and cozy elements you can have in a home.
There’s something primal about fire that comforts us on a psychological level, unless you’re the Hound from Game of Thrones.
For centuries, fire has provided not just warmth but a sense of safety and relaxation, so to bring this feeling into your home if you don’t have a fireplace, you can: use candles, group them, and they make a great alternative.
The Importance of Warm Yellow Light
Always choose warm yellow light that is more reminiscent of fire than hospitals.
And if you can install your lights on a dimmer, so that at night, when you want everything to feel a bit calmer and cozy, just turn the brightness down a bit; it will make a big difference.
Furniture Arrangement and Enclosure
When you walk into a room, the way the furniture is arranged can make you feel either really comfortable or a bit uneasy.
This is because some rooms are far too open; you need to create enclosures in all these pockets of space.
You have a couch sitting alone in the middle of the room; it’s going to feel uncomfortable, but if you were to add a lamp over it with a side table and maybe a plant and some flowers, it would immediately feel much better.
This is enclosure in action.
Shelter and Boundaries in Design
It’s the same reason why, when you’re sitting under a tree, it feels more comfortable.
The tree provides shelter, and the shadow it casts provides a boundary that makes you feel a bit more sheltered and protected, and enclosed.
So this idea applies to every single space in your home as well.
Spaces with defined boundaries, whether it’s a canopy over a bed, a pendant light above a table, or furniture that’s tucked into a corner, will help your brain feel more relaxed when you’re in it.
Curves vs. Sharp Angles
Think about the difference between walking through nature with the gentle slope of a hill and the flowing river winding all around you, versus walking through the sharp, angular cityscape with pointy buildings and sharp edges.
One feels really soothing and calm, and the other one feels dynamic, and more alive, but also more stressed.
Curves work at relaxing us because our brains are wired to perceive these shapes as safe and comforting.
On the other hand, sharp angular shapes often signal danger: jagged rocks, thorns, and Cactus knives.
Choosing Shapes for Atmosphere
I mean, it’s quite good if you want to feel more stimulated by the space and to feel more energized, then you incorporate a lot of dynamic lines everywhere, but if you want to feel calm and cozy, curves are the way to go.
So to incorporate curves and organic shapes in your home, choose rounded furniture, add curvy patterns, and use circular decor items like mirrors, artwork, and organic-shaped vases.
Closing Note
If you found this blog helpful, be sure to check out the other blogs popping up on your screen right now that tell you how to create a comfortable, feel-good home.
