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Cozy

Living rooms are meant to be a retreat within your home. A place where you can curl up at the end of a hard day. A room to gather with friends and family. A space to call your own. Finding the perfect balance between cozy and stress-free can be challenging. We tend to think of cozy rooms as a place where you’re surrounded, whereas a stress-free room invokes images of a clutter-free existence. Fortunately, you can have it all. Here are some easy decor tricks to help you achieve a cozy and stress-free living room.

Take a minimalist approach

There’s a misconception that minimalism means having a sterile, unwelcoming space. While that’s one version of minimalism, it’s more about everything in a room being chosen with intent and creating an ideal flow. 

First, consider the scale of your furniture in comparison to the room. If you have a small living room, having smaller, sleeker furniture can open up space. Rather than having sofas and chairs that rest flush against the floor, consider adding legs to elevate the furniture and allow air to flow through.

Use a floor planner to determine the best living room layout, creating separation for different spaces as needed. Remember that furniture doesn’t always need to be up against the wall; adding a narrow table behind a couch can improve the room’s flow while creating functional surfaces for beverages, books, and displays.

Photo by Lisa from Pexels

Incorporate natural elements

Humans are innately connected to nature. Bringing natural elements into your home decor can create a sense of calm and belonging that adds to the coziness of your home without adding clutter.

Indoor plants are one of the most manageable natural elements to incorporate into your decor. Bring your living room to life with a bouquet of tropical flowers for a pop of color that looks amazing against a neutral backdrop. 

You can also get some low-maintenance leafy plants, like the snake plant or dracaena. Adding stone candle holders and natural wood elements also add a nice touch when reconnecting with nature to create a stress-free living room. 

Rely on cozy textiles

What is more cozy and stress-free than an assortment of blankets and pillows? Add a few layers of lush throw blankets to your furniture, or keep them stored neatly with a blanket basket or ladder. Using throw pillows is a great way to make the space relaxing while creating versatility for seasonal decor.

Don’t neglect the window treatments when considering your textiles. Sheer white curtains create a calm, breezy environment in the warmer months, while thicker fabrics create a sense of warmth during the winter.

Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels

Create lighting options

Your living room should have more than one lighting option. Ideally, you’ll be able to influence the tone of the room by the lights you use. Consider having a bright overhead light for cleaning and getting things done, as well as a few warm, dim lamps for a soothing atmosphere.

Create clutter-free storage options

Keeping your living room clutter-free can be a challenge, especially if you have kids. As this is the area where people gather, it tends to collect more clutter than other rooms. Incorporate storage options into your decor. Baskets can be placed on shelves to hide toys, and decorative boxes are great for storing wires and electronics. You can also create rules about leaving things in the living room; remember to follow the rules yourself!

Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash

Display joy-inducing photos and art

Don’t feel compelled to display imagery based on decor trends and what you think you should do. Instead, display art and photos that bring you joy. If you prefer comic book splash pages over “live, laugh, love” signs, put them on the wall— this is your home! It’s also worth noting that if you’re someone who doesn’t like displaying art and photos, and prefers the clean feeling of a blank wall, choose that instead. 

 

Creating a cozy and stress-free living room means blending your personal style with a clutter-free layout. Add comfortable elements to convey warmth and welcoming, and you’ll have the living room of your dreams.

Whether you enjoy fantasy novels depicting magical beings or perhaps a scientific magazine, it is safe to say that a book worm lies in each and every one of us. And we all know that every book worm deserves a cozy reading nook where he can get lost in his own world. These are a few simple tips on how to assemble your own dreamy getaway space:

Eating ice cream and drinking coffee in a reading nook

Peace & Quiet

Reading is a process that requires concentration and focus, and like that it is quite logical that your reading nook should be in a calm surrounding. This will enable you to relax and unwind after a long day. It should exude with serenity, so the best solution is to choose a distant corner in your house and transform it in a tranquility nook. This does not necessarily have to be a huge space, only enough for you to feel comfortable. It could quite easily be a small closet space, an unused pantry or a transformed storage facility.

Reading a magazine in a reading nook

Warm & Cozy

After you have established an isolated space to create your nook the next step is making it as comfy a possible. There is no better feeling than diving into your seat, snuggling in and parting with the real world for some time. The best way to achieve this cozy ambient is by placing a big armchair or a mattress. Do whatever feels more comfortable and top it off with a set of small cushions and blankets. Another thing that can really contribute to the whole ambient is that you add scented candles or incense sticks that will surely put your mind at ease.

A reading nook with a table and indoor plants.

Illumination

Perhaps one of the most important things when it comes to creating a reading nook is considering the lighting in the space. The best possible option is, of course, enabling as much of natural sunlight into the room. This is why it would be a good idea to create a nook somewhere near a window. If that is not possible, then make sure to invest in some good illumination of the space. Your reading nook should not be dark and gloomy, as this could greatly damage you eyesight.

Reading nook library.

Storage & Organization

Lastly, make sure that all your reading material has its own place. While most of us would gladly create an oversized library, the best idea is to add shelving and some drawers. This way, your books wouldn’t be scattered around. It is also a good idea to make it functional in a way that everything is at the reach of your fingertips.

Many will agree that reading is one of the truest pleasures in life. A good book has an ability to take you to a completely new world. It can alter your mind, your vision of the world, help your grow and develop throughout life. With these simple tips, you will create a portal to another dimension in the comfort of your home.

Everyone wants to feel comfortable in their home, especially after a long day. Nothing beats the satisfaction of looking around your home and getting that sense of relaxation and calmness. A cozy home provides that. You might think you’ll need to spend a lot of money to achieve a cozy look when in fact, all you need is a little creativity and detail in the interior to transform your home.

Here are 10 easy ways to achieve a cozier home:

1. Curtain Wall

cozy-curtain
Image credits: Pinterest

Curtains make a big difference because they add enormous personality to it. Walls that are covered by hanging curtains add visual appeal and heighten the cozy effect created through the material’s totality. Choose fabrics that give you privacy, but also allow dappled light in.

2. Family Photos

cozy-family-photos
Image credits: Pinterest

You can have family photos framed, enlarged or hung by a wire framework. Whichever way you want them, setting them as decor will give a sense comfort and ease. Plus it adds a sentimental element to the room.

3. Bedroom Seats

cozy-chair
Image credits: Pinterest

Adding a chair or even a sofa in the bedroom creates a cozy, multifunctional space you’ll be glad to retreat to at the end of a long day. Its lounge-like appeal will have you curling up to a good book or catnapping in no time. Better have a blanket on the side.

4. Include a Throw

cozy-throw
Image credits: Pinterest

The right throw pillow can transform an entire room’s decor and deliver the right statement. Since we’re opting for a snug feel, go with solids or opposites with a geometric flare and have them laying over a couch or chaise to add a more homey punctuation.

5. Darker Walls

cozy-wall
Image credits: Pinterest

Painting a room with dark colors provides a great backdrop. Details pop up against dark walls and create a sophisticated yet warm ambiance. Anything from charcoal grey to chocolate brown is good and don’t forget to add bursts of metallic and white to keep its light feel.

6. A Nook

cozy-nook
Image credits: Pinterest

A nook can also be the perfect way to transform an awkward corner into a warm, comfortable area for a little R&R. All you need is lots and lots of pillows and an old twin bed or sofa up against a wall to create your own little corner of the world.

7. Blankets on Display

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Image credits: Pinterest

Aside from being an item to snuggle, blankets also serve as a beautiful wall display. You can have them draped over the furniture or a ladder to showcase their relaxed charm.

8. Furry Stuff

cozy-fur
Image credits: Pinterest

People associate fur and anything faux fur with a sense of gentleness or calmness. It can be a carpet, throw, or wall hanging, any of these will suffice in setting a warm ambiance.

9. String Lights

cozy-string-lights
Image credits: Pinterest

You won’t have to wait until Christmas to illuminate. Break them out of the boxes early and decorate your home for that shimmery effect. Let them fall from the ceiling in a corner for an effortlessly cool look or hang lights around your windows for an eye-catching effect or better yet just hang a few strands behind your canopy for a cozy glow.

10. Layered Rugs

cozy-layered-rugs
Image credits: Pinterest

Rugs are soft, comfy pieces that definitely set a warm and inviting tone. You can even pile them up for added comfort on your feet. Your toes will thank you for it.

Your home serves as a sanctuary from all the frenzy of the outside world. It’s the place where you gather with loved ones, prepare your meals, relax after a long day and sleep soundly. By making its entirety cozier, you’ll be rewarded with total solace and solitude.

This article was contributed by Joel Samonte 

Joel Samonte works as a Content Writer for Hoppler – the most advanced online tool that helps you search, buy, sell and rent properties in the Philippines. A true Bosconian to the core, health buff, devoted husband and a loving father. You can reach him at [email protected] or through LinkedIn.