COSY HOME Interior Design Our Top 8 Cosy Home Styling Tips

Welcome back to Susie Anderson Home. Today we're sharing our ideas on creating a cozy home and offering some design tips to make your space feel inviting and comfortable year-round. What comes to mind when you hear the word cozy? In western cultures cozy usually refers to a warm and inviting environment. Picture a relaxed living room with soft lighting, plush cushions and perhaps a fireplace. This might evoke images of a quaint English cottage or a snug reading nook. In Danish culture hygge involves creating a sense of contentment and well-being from simple pleasures like warmth, food and companionship. In Japanese culture the concept of cozy aligns with wabi-sabi which appreciates the beauty in imperfection and transience. A cozy space here might feel natural, simple and serene often incorporating elements of nature. Lastly in Mediterranean cultures a cozy environment includes rustic furniture, warm colours and seamless indoor-outdoor spaces that foster connection. So how can we bring these elements of coziness into our own homes? Introduce warmth. When it comes to creating warmth in your home think about your colour palette, heating, lighting and the tactile elements that bring comfort. As we discussed in our earth tone styling video an earthy colour palette is perfect for bringing warmth, calm and reassurance into your space. Some popular earth tones to consider include umber, ochre and sienna, shades of brown, terracotta, clay, taupe, rust, soft blues and earthy greens like olive, eucalyptus, kaki, sage and moss. Next let's talk about fireplaces which are symbolic of both visual and physical warmth. The term hearth itself is synonymous with home. Let your fireplace be a place to gather, relax and watch the warm flickering glow with a good book, warm drink or engaging conversation. Lighting is also crucial for a cozy home. We recommend using layered dimmable and soft lighting focusing on low-level light sources like table and floor lamps, mood lighting and fairy lights, Himalayan salt lamps and accent lighting to brighten up darker corners. Finally enhance the tactile appeal of your space with layered and cozy textiles such as chunky knit wools, sheepskins, faux furs, cashmere, relaxed linens, velvets and more. Use area rugs to anchor and define conversational areas, provide warmth underfoot and enhance the feeling of enclosure and togetherness. Connection and quality time. Next consider your living room arrangement. Is it equipped with comfortable furniture and space for conversation, games or entertainment? Ideally seating arrangements should facilitate conversation for two or more people. For instance seating in circular clusters such as a pair of swivel chairs and a sofa and other designated conversational setups promote social intimacy much better than side-by-side or along-the-wall furniture arrangements. Visual beauty. Research in the psychology of home suggests that some people may use photos of loved ones or other social snacks to fend off feelings of loneliness and social isolation. In addition to conversational seating this finding suggests that the items we choose to decorate our homes with can also create a sense of belonging and enhance your connection to the space. Consider introducing meaningful and beautiful decor items like family photos, artwork, heirlooms, objects from travels, favorite decor or other special pieces that add a personal touch. A harmonious home. While aesthetic preferences can be highly individual according to the New York School of Interior Design certain attributes within a home are universally appealing and evoke comfort and well-being. Two key elements of coziness. Some of these attributes include good air quality, comfortable temperatures, maximizing natural daylight and enhancing dappled or changing light and connection to nature. For improved air quality consider an air purifier. For comfortable temperatures consider air conditioning, heating units, a warm bubble bath or adequate textiles. For natural daylight consider laying window treatments that offer diffused light along with lighter color furnishings, reflective surfaces and other touches of luster to brighten the space. Lastly, prioritize views of nature such as garden outlooks or balcony gardens maximizing indoor outdoor spaces and introducing living energy throughout the home. Multi-sensory spaces. Ultimately when it comes to creating a cozy home it is how we engage with the space and enjoy it beyond the visual through our sense of touch, taste, sound and smell. That creates the feeling of warmth, connection, harmony and contentment. In addition to the tactile and visual appeal of your home consider the following. For scent, use gently fragranced candles, diffusers, incense or fresh flowers. Some fragrances often associated with coziness include vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, sandalwood, lavender and more. For sound, incorporate soothing music, nature sounds or an indoor or outdoor water feature. For taste, enhance the cozy appeal with nostalgic food and drinks such as a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, home-baked goods, soups or other favorite recipes. Thank you so much for watching. We trust you enjoyed these cozy home styling tips. Let us know some of your cozy home suggestions in the comments below. 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