How to Make Your Home More Cozy and Welcoming

This article will list a few ideas to make your home feel more cozy and welcoming.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Books, especially hard back books that look like they have been read a time or two, make a home feel lived in and welcoming. Books on the coffee table under an accessory adds interest. A stack of books under an end table can hide an unsightly lamp cord. Even if you are not an avid reader, consider purchasing used books as accessories. You can find used books at yard sales, the library, or used book stores. Consider removing their paper jackets for a more cozy vintage feel.

2. 
    

   Fire, either from candles or a fireplace, add actual warmth to a home and the glow makes a home feel cozy. If the weather is too warm for a fire, consider adding many different shapes and sizes of white or creme candles inside your fireplace.

3. 
    

   Blankets and pillows add a sense of coziness and comfort to a home. Leave a blanket folded neatly on the end of a bed or arm of a sofa. Don't put too many pillows on a sofa that there is not enough room for people to sit. Consider having large floor pillows for children to sit or lay on.

4. 
    

   What scents remind you of your childhood? Perhaps cookies, cinnamon, or vanilla? If you are not planning on baking, consider using a scented candle for a welcoming scent. You can also boil some spices in a pot on your stove to create a welcoming fragrance.

5. 
    

   Personalize your space. Add family photos and memories from your travels. Paint your walls a warm earth tone such as brown, green, or caramel. Buy unique light fixtures to replace your builder grade fixtures. Decorate your home with one-of-a-kind items, perhaps from an architectural salvage or antique store. Make your guests feel like they have walked into some place special, not just another generic home.

6. 
    

   Add dimmers to your overhead light fixtures to adjust the lights to an appropriate level per time of day. Use multiple lighting sources in the room to set the mood.

7. 
    

   Before you purchase furniture, you MUST sit in it first. Spending time in an uncomfortable sofa or dining chair is not fun.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes libraries will have yearly book sales where you can purchase books for as little as $10 per box or continual book sales where you can purchase books for as little as $1 each.

Resources

• Fletcher Design Consultants

[withmore]

on 11/6/2009 very good suggestions, nice pictures

[Gardengates]

on 12/1/2008 Every suggestion is a good one. And none of these ideas for making your house more cozy cost much!