Cosy up your Home

Cozy up your home

Relax ... warm colours and an informal atmosphere make a home welcoming.

What does it take to make a home feel inviting? Love, of course. But since that can't be packaged and purchased, let's look at some things that can be used to inspire that cozy feeling at home.

Colour schemes should be thought out in advance. For a cozy atmosphere, think about warm combinations.
Yellows, tans and beiges work, plus terra cotta, subdued reds and greens all make a room come together while inviting the inhabitants to feel comfortable.

The family room, for example, should have at least two favourite chairs that fit the people using them.
Ottomans or chairs that recline should be included in this chair scenario. After all, what better way to watch your favourite TV show than reclining comfortably after a long day's work?

When selecting furniture, textured fabrics and plump-looking pieces give the feeling of warmth. Remember that too much of a busy pattern could make the room look overcrowded. Leave the sleek-looking furnishings to a more modern or more formal home. Opt for soft and fluffy throw pillows. Don't forget to throw a rug over the arm of one or two pieces of furniture for those colder evenings.

Wood accent tables add to the warmth of any room. Keep it on the simpler side, though, because if the wood is too ornate, you run the risk of having the room feel too formal.

Rugs always seem to make a room come together even if there is a wall-to-wall carpet. The area rug delineates a space, creating a conversation grouping of the furnishings around it.

Candles have a unique way of cozying up a room even if they aren't lit. If the candles are placed in front of a mirror, the light emitted when the candle is lit bounces off the mirror, creating a playful dance that permeates the room.
If there is a fireplace in the room, arrange the furniture around it. Whether the fireplace is lit or not, the arrangement of furniture around it will be inviting. If no fireplace is available, still arrange the furniture as if there were one. In other words, a square or rectangular effect works best with a long piece such as a sofa to anchor one side and four chairs or one love seat and two chairs flanking the sofa.

If you follow this advice about two favourite chairs, then those chairs would serve the purpose of the sofa, and you could flank those chairs with two love seats on either side.

In this scenario, you would probably be cozying up to a television instead of a fireplace.