5 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Cozier

The wind is swirling and the pumpkin spice lattes are scenting the air. It's time to get your home cozy for the holiday season. Not only will autumn colors get you in the mood, but shades of green, brown, and rust are the HOT colors in design right now- time to bring the outdoors in.

For some of us, it's the first family gathering indoors in years. You might be looking around at the remnants of 2020-2022, ready to feel good in your home again. Ready for good times with family and friends in your home again.

There is one thing we all seem to crave at home, especially at this time of year.  Hygge is what the Danish call it, that feeling of curling up under a blanket, in a soft seat, with a cup of cocoa and just being happy, comfortable, and cozy. It is also the intangible feeling you get when you walk into a home you just WANT to be in. And don't we all want a home like that?

I have 5 easy ways for you to bring that hygge magic into your home, right now.

#1 Focal Point
Focal points ground a space and set the tone for your experience. 

-a lush grouping on the center of a table

-large artwork that ties a room together and defines the function of the space. Like a piece over the console table as you enter the home, or over the sofa when you enter the room. It's the bold, "look at me first!" moment.

-a feature wall of paint, wallpaper, wood, or tile in organic shapes, textures or colors.

#2 Supportive Seating
Select seating that supports what you want to do in the room. 

-Want a space for great conversations? Choose an L shaped arrangement of seating so no one is shouting across the room at each other.

-Like snuggling up in a nest? Try a chaise or papasan for that cocooned retreat.

-Make sure the seating is comfortable for the length of time of the activity, with enough seats for you and the number of guests you wish to entertain. Love having lots of people over? Think of multi functional pieces like ottomans that can tuck under the coffee table and serve as extra seating.

-Finish it off with artwork that defines the seating area and anchors the room.

#3 Soften It Up
Evoke all the senses with lush sensory touches, like pillows, throw blankets, candles, aromatherapy, and delicious treats. Pay attention to all the surfaces your body interacts with and make sure they are pleasurable to use and make you want to dive right into the coziness!

#4 Layer the Light
A blast of ceiling light makes a room feel clinical. Not cozy! Think of lighting in layers.

-Start with a soft wash of light throughout the space, enough to move around safely.

-Then layer in task lighting where you need it, like a reading lamp or overhead lights for cooking. This is the light you need to get something done!

-The last layer is the fun one! This is accent lighting, all the lighting that make us feel good. It's spot lights shining on artwork, turning the whole piece into a glowing light source. It is twinkle lights and plant lights, neon and wall washers. The g-l-o-w!

#5 Plant Power
Nothing makes a room feel more grounded and welcoming than nature. 

Bring the outdoors in with live plants, cut flowers, photographs of nature and believable faux where plants can't thrive. This really is the time of year to take advantage of the ample options right outside your door and bring in the dried flowers, cattails, evergreens, acorns, pinecones and branches.

Nature brings us back to our center and warms our home with mother nature's playground of textures, scents and patterns.