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Creating a cozy home is one of my favorite things to do. Whenever I reset my home, it brings over a sense of peace. It always puts me, my family, and my guests in a good mood.
Very few things bring a sense of peace in this chaotic world. Have you ever noticed that when your house matches the chaos, you can’t seem to relax? And everyone seems to be on edge all the time?
Whenever I feel that my house is messy, cluttered, and disheveled my entire mood is off. I’ll be quicker to become irritable, I am not as warm to my husband or children, and overall not the person I want to be.
Luckily, creating a cozy living space is easy and something you can do right now! Get prepared to never want to leave your home.
This post is all about the must-haves for creating a cozy home.
Creating a Cozy Home
Importance of a cozy home
Creating an inviting home is important. You are creating a relaxing home for you and your family and anyone you invite. Having a clutter-free, comfortable, and warm living space can be great for your mental health, mood, and overall health.
I often feel more inspired, creative, free, and relaxed when I cultivate a cozy house. I feel motivated to wake up early and achieve my goals. You have the right to feel the same way.
Here are 30 ways to create your own inviting home:
1. Find your Favorite, Quality Cleaners
Keeping your house clean is non-negotiable. So having cleaners that can fight dirt, germs, and grime and leave a fresh scent is a major key. I am constantly restocking my favorite cleaners because they get the job done and leave an inviting scent behind.
Some Of My Favorites:
2. Create or Find Your Signature Home Scent
I try my best to always have my home smell fresh. Between an infant’s diapers, garbage, dirty clothes, and everything in between it’s important. I typically gravitate towards vanilla, lavender, and fresh cotton/linen. I have friends who love the fruity or even baked good scents.
Get an automatic air wick and set it to spray every 18 minutes. It will last me about a month before having to change the canister and I don’t have to worry.
I even have a natural laundry detergent that has a Fresh Cotton scent. Every time I do laundry, that fresh cotton scent floods my home and lifts my mood.
3. Change Your Indoor Lighting
My husband doesn’t like overhead lighting so we never use it. We do, however, use a variety of lamps and direct sunlight. Harsh, bright florescent lighting is well….harsh and cold feeling. I suggest using warm white lights. Warm lights give off a joyful, loving feel.
According to TheSpruce.com, warm light helps us to relax and wind down. Nothing beats opening up some windows and flooding your house with natural lighting.
4. Using Natural Lighting
Piggy-backing off tip #3, making your home cozy with sunlight can’t be beat. Open all your windows and even your front door to bask in the sunlight. I open my door almost every morning with a cup of hot tea and I feel like I live in a mansion.
You can brighten a room and change the vibe by simply opening the curtains. You’ll suddenly feel happier, calmer, and more peaceful. Your entire home can feel new and cozier.
Look at how bright and spacious my kitchen looks after opening a window. I feel like I am living in luxury and abundance every time the sun floods my home. Nothing beats the warmth and glow of natural lighting.
5. Declutter Your Space
I HATE CLUTTER! There is nothing that will fill me with anxiety more than clutter. It makes every space look junky, messy, and disorganized even if it has been tidied.
[Related Post: 10 Simple Ways to Declutter your Home]
Take 10-20 minutes a day and declutter your space. Throw away, donate, or sell anything you haven’t touched in 6+ months, old clothes that won’t fit, and anything that makes you miserable.
Some Popular Decluttering Techniques:
Marie Kondo: What Sparks Joy/KonMari Method is a decluttering method that introduces a simple question. “Does this spark joy?” You physically hold each item and ask yourself if it “sparks joy”. If that item doesn’t, you toss or donate that item.
Fly Lady: Do a Little Every Day helps you declutter in short, fast, and timed bursts. It helps avoid feeling overwhelmed and burning yourself out.
Colleen Madsen: Remove 1 Item a Day is a decluttering technique by Colleen Madsen. She made a promise to herself by committing to selling, trashing, or donating one item each day. This will help with feeling overwhelmed.
Swedish Death Cleaning sounds scary but it’s not as scary as it sounds. It is the idea of decluttering your life before you pass on. And often our loved ones are left to pick up the mess we left behind. Swedish death cleaning is all about releasing that burden before you move on.
6. Make Your Bed in the Morning
As cliche as that is, it is so important. Making your bed not only gives you a sense of accomplishment but it’s cozy. Returning to your room after a long day feels much nicer when your bed is tidy.
Invest in a soft and luxurious bedding set. Choose a calming color that will match every season and occasion. Satin pillowcases, duvet covers and inserts, and throw pillows. Create a relaxing environment every time you go to lie down.
I prefer whites, greys, tans, and natural wood colors. They are calming and relaxing to me. You may like powdered blue, pastel yellow, or even burnt orange. Pick a bedding color palette that will inspire you to make your bed every morning.
7. Invest in Candles
Not only do I love the lighting and atmosphere it gives, but the scents are what I am after. Depending on how you feel about candles you can choose more natural ones. I buy candles that catch my attention or that are in my signature scent.
Popular Candle Examples:
Depending on whether you can tolerate smells or don’t like scented candles, the ambiance alone is lovely and intimate. Candles that I purchase have a dual purpose in my household. It is in my signature scent and provides amazing lighting.
8. Keep the Guest Bathroom Cleaned
Your guests will feel more comfortable having a clean area to do….ahem…business. Create a cleaning routine that will allow you to keep it clean. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.
Some Of My Favorite Cleaners:
9. Keep Fresh Flowers
There is something about nature that brightens up your living space. If lucky, you can find fresh flowers outside your home and bring them indoors. You’ll appreciate the vibrant colors as embrace that cozy home vibe.
And if you don’t live where flowers are, purchase some with a pretty vase. I promise you that it will make a difference.
10. Add Soft Pillows
Pillows add texture, plush, and comfort. Perfect for guests added comfort and my kids love laying on them. Depending on your fabric, wash them once a week and dry them on a low setting.
They also add character to your home. You don’t live in a show home, show your guests that there is life between your four walls. They add so much style, character, and comfort to your space.
11. Throw Blankets
Throw blankets are essential for creating a cozy living space. Same as the pillows, they add texture and character. However, they also add warmth and relaxation.
I can’t tell you how often I get chills when visiting other homes. I LOVE when I am offered a blanket to snuggle in. You can layer your blankets to style your home and add eye-pleasing details.
12. Large Baskets as Storage
If you are anything like me, I have my blankets that match my decor and ones that don’t. I decorate my couches with pillows and blankets.
However, I don’t want to get rid of my non-aesthetic blankets. I have a large basket that fits all of them and looks like decor. It can add rustic or natural elements while keeping your home clutter-free.
13. Clean Your Floors
If you have kids, pets, or both then you know our floors are doomed. From crumbs, dust, hair, messes, spills, and dirt our floors will catch it all.
Any time I vacuum or sweep, it instantly perks the room up. You could have everything picked up and dusted but it won’t matter if the floors are messy.
Invest in a Roomba or another robot vacuum. Run it at night or in the morning when everyone is gone. Deep clean once or twice a week depending on your home.
14. Rugs and Mats
Rugs and mats can help define certain living spaces especially if you have all hardwood floors. As beautiful as hardwood floors are (I wish I had some!), they can be cold and hard. Adding mats and rugs adds warmth and softness back into a space.
They also help to complete and tie in your decor look. Because they come in different styles, textures, and colors there is bound to be something for you.
15. Different Complementary Textures
Mixing textures such as soft fabrics, hardwood, and natural fibers adds depth to a space. It helps create dimension and visual appeal. Think “curb appeal” but indoors.
The contrast between textures gives off a sense of comfort and warmth. It allows you to set the tone and atmosphere of your home.
16. House Plants
Bringing nature inside brightens every room and space. Plants can add a calming and pleasing aesthetic. Adding plants also adds greenery and can make a space feel more lively.
Luckily, if you do not have a green thumb the quality of fake plants has really improved. Some fake plants look super real. Or maybe you live in an area where there is not a lot of natural sunlight.
You can create pretty arrangements or have various plants around the house. Another bonus to having plants inside the house is that some improve air quality. How could you not have a cozy home with better air quality?
Some Great House Plants:
(Read more plant examples on Best Indoor Plants on GH)
17. Simplify The Colors You Use
As I mentioned, I enjoy white, grey, tan, natural wood, creams, etc. I know someone who loves and has yellow walls. There is nothing wrong with bold and bright colors that make you feel inspired or confident.
Make sure the colors complement each other and do not compete. Although the color palette I gravitate towards is very natural, I have pops of color around my house. I have a seafoam green crockpot that stays on my countertop.
Look on Pinterest for inspiration. I have seen some beautiful bold-colored houses and relaxing neutral cozy home.
18. Add Personal Touches
Your home is meant to look like people are living there. Stock model homes that we have been seeing on social media lack personality. Put up a gallery wall of your family, showcase your Starbucks cup collection, or even your child’s artwork.
There is something eerie about a home that lacks personality or character. A cozy home is where you can see and feel the life inside the four walls.
19. Add Porch Decor
Your front porch is the FIRST thing that you and your guest see. Have some flowers, a welcome rug, and anything else that will feel inviting.
If your porch is big enough you can add seating for when the weather is warm. Add outdoor rugs, vases, and tables.
20. Everything Has a Home
A cozy home is not complete without your belongings having a home. My blankets have a basket when they aren’t being used. My husband’s Xbox controllers have a place, our keys, the living room toys for the kids-Everything. Has. A. Home.
This helps reduce clutter and helps keep the home tidy and clean. Bouns tip, this helps me clean quicker and find things because I know where to look.
Creating a cozy home is not hard but makes all the difference for you, your family, and your guests. It doesn’t matter how big your home is. Any home can be warm and inviting with the right care.
This post was all about creating the perfect cozy home with this must-have checklist.
