The Best Ways To Decorate Your Home For A Warm And Inviting Vibe
With fall in full swing, you might think now is the ideal time to give your home a warm and inviting decorative vibe. But you don't have to wait for fall to transform your space into a cozy retreat. In fact, there is a specific term for this kind of ambiance. It's called hygge (pronounced hyoo-guh), and according to Verywell Mind, it enhances several areas of your life, including emotional, physical, and social well-being.
Hygge originated in Danish culture, focusing primarily on simplicity, coziness, and peace. Those who adopt this style in their lives experience less depression, more intimacy in relationships, and improved sleep. This is because the essence of hygge is comfort and warmth. It is possible to feel this every day, and we have a few tips to help you achieve it. Whether you try all or a few of them, adding hygge touches to your home will mean it's always warm, inviting, and cozy.
Make a dedicated drink station
If you've ever gone to a party, wedding, or catered event, chances are there was a drink station. Like the water cooler in office buildings, people gravitate towards beverage areas because they offer an opportunity to relax and hydrate simultaneously. One way you can bring a warm and inviting touch to your home is to create a perpetual drink station. Meaning you don't just set it up for parties; you maintain it for good.
Consider dedicating a section of your kitchen counter space for all your tea and coffee needs. Keep the essential items together and store supplies in the cabinet above. If you're low on counter space, you can invest in a rolling cart. Once you have the general stuff set up, do what The Inspired Home suggests and give it personality. Do you prefer drinking your coffee from certain mugs? Then store them in your drink station. Love patterns? Set out decorative napkins or straws. More of a water drinker? Display it in decorative glass dispensers propped on cake stands for added height. A dedicated drink station means a warm and comfy drink is always minutes away from being prepared.
Add pillows and blankets
Nothing cozies up a space more than pillows and blankets. They are staple pieces for the bedroom where you want to be extra warm, but they can also transform any room into an inviting spot. What you want to avoid are excessive amounts. The key is balance and ensuring that the ones you use are comfortable and versatile. When buying new pillows and blankets, consider fabric and color, and always pick what is comfortable for you.
According to Sleep Junkies, choosing the right pillows and blankets comes down to comfort and your personal needs. Wool, for example, is a great insulator and keeps you warm, but it can be itchy on sensitive skin. Synthetic fabrics are more affordable but may not last as long and can create static. You also don't want your couch to be filled with pillows and blankets so that you and your guests can't find a spot to sit. For your general, day-to-day items, pick neutral colors that will mix and match with any style. This way, you're not buying more than you need.
Light scented or unscented candles
There's a certain nostalgic feeling to candles. The flickering of the flame and the crackle of the wick set a comforting, cozy vibe. Our ancestors relied on candles before electricity, and we rely on them when the power goes out. But you don't need to wait for a power outage to use their amazing effect. Candles.org writes that if you want to set a certain mood, candles are the best and most effective way to achieve that.
Want to feel like you're camping in the woods? A pine-scented candle can bring you there. Want to make it smell like you baked a fresh batch of cookies? There's a scent for that. Candles can transform your home instantly. Not only do they make you feel cozier, but specific scents can bring forth memories you've long forgotten. However, you want to be intentional about the scents you burn. Too many conflicting smells can overlap each other. Focus on one to two scents and burn them on an alternating basis.
Switch to soft white or daylight bulbs
The lighting you use in your home can make it feel warm, or it can make it feel cold. Think of the bright fluorescent lights in a typical office building. Now compare those to the soft glow of the bulb you keep in your nightstand lamp. There's no comparison. If you want a quick transformation, one of the best things you can do is switch out your bulbs from cool to warm. How? By going out and buying a batch of daylight or soft white bulbs.
According to Electronics Hub, daylight bulbs produce a calming effect and offer better illumination, especially in rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, and basements. However, soft white bulbs can increase the warmth in your home since they produce a lower color intensity. These bulbs are ideal for your bedroom, living room, and dining room. Your goal when choosing bulbs is to focus on ones that feel more like natural light. Those will automatically give your home a warm and inviting vibe over harsh fluorescent ones.
Decorate with handmade items
While mass-produced art is more accessible and affordable, it can give your home a mainstream feel. If that's your goal, then go for it. But it's not conducive to a hygge home. Instead, opt for handmade pieces to use, display, and admire. We're not only talking about handmade art, though you can find quite a lot of that online these days. Etsy, for example, is a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind handmade products.
You may wonder how handmade items bring warmth and coziness to your home. As Zoco Home writes, an original handmade piece contains a certain level of individual craftsmanship. Chances are you won't find something like it anywhere else. They're also great conversation starters. A guest might ask you about a certain item, and you're supporting the creator by telling them where you purchased it. And know that you can also decorate with things you made for an added personal touch.
Bring nature indoors
There are plant people, and there are non-plant people. Some may fall somewhere in the middle, but it's pretty common that you either love plants or despise them. Still, bringing nature into your home is a great way to spruce up the coziness factor. Plants naturally improve the air quality, and watching new leaves sprout can give you a major confidence boost. But as HK Interiors reports, there are more ways to bring nature indoors than just through plants.
Consider using more natural accents in your home, like wood or grain. Other natural materials you can look for are bamboo, leather, stone, and clay. Find new ways to bring in more natural light. Skylights are one way, but you can also use mirrors, sheer drapes, and curtains. Finally, a simple touch is adding more nature-inspired art to your walls. So even if you're not a plant lover, know there are plenty of other ways to bring nature indoors.
Stock the bathroom
This may seem like a silly tip, but really, if you want your home to have an inviting feel keeping your bathroom stocked will help. Not only will this benefit your guests, but it'll also help you. How often have you finished a toilet paper roll only to realize you were out? It's annoying, right? That's why if you make it a priority to ensure your bathroom is stocked, your home will naturally feel more inviting. But don't think you need to go crazy trying to figure out what should go in your bathroom.
According to The Inspired Home, there are a few essentials you should always make sure you have. Outside of the obvious items like towels, toilet paper, and a trash can, there are some other things you might add to your list. Feminine products are always good to have on hand, especially for female guests that may have forgotten them. Bathroom spray or some Poo-Pourri will eliminate embarrassing moments, and hand soap with a little moisturizer beside it is a delicate touch.
Use mirrors to enhance a room
We mentioned mirrors earlier but wanted to elaborate more on their importance. Mirrors do wonders for a room. They can reflect more light or make a space feel bigger. This is especially useful for smaller homes or apartments that may not have a lot of windows. While you don't want to overdo it with mirrors, they truly serve many purposes. Outside of the benefits already mentioned, they're important for getting ready. How many times do you check yourself out in a mirror before walking out the door?
When decorating with mirrors, Lamps Plus recommends figuring out where you want to hang them before going out and buying one. Location is essential because your mirror will not only become a focal point, but you also want the site to pull double duty, such as reflecting natural light. You should also take time to determine the style of mirror you want. Don't just buy the first one you see. Make sure it matches your personal style and that it will fit in the spot you've chosen for it.
Blend old and new pieces
If you want to infuse warmth and coziness into your home, don't immediately assume you need to go out and buy new furniture. In fact, blending old and new pieces is a great way to bring balance to your style. It also allows you to add more personality. So don't ignore thrift stores or antique malls if you want to add some interesting and unique items. In fact, the more lived-in a piece looks, the more it'll give off a warmer vibe. According to Extra Space Storage, vintage pieces can even elevate the look and feel of furniture bought at box-store retailers.
By combining one-of-a-kind pieces with mass-produced items, you can truly mix and match to your heart's content. The key is knowing what you're looking for before you go shopping. Say you're looking for a new desk but want something vintage made from natural wood. Note the style you're looking for and have measurements on hand. This way, when you go to thrift stores or antique malls, you have an idea in mind. While this type of shopping may take you longer to find the piece, the warm and inviting vibe it will add to your home is worth the wait.
Be conscious of your entryway
Entryways are your home's first impression. Not just to guests, but you as well. When you walk into your home, how do you feel? Is your entryway inviting, cluttered, or boring? It may seem like a waste putting a lot of emphasis on such a small part of your home, but a well-designed foyer can transform the overall tone of your house and the way you feel walking into it.
The main thing you want to focus on in an entryway is balance. You don't want to jam-pack it with furniture, otherwise, you won't have space to remove your shoes and coat. Instead, The New York Times suggests getting decorative with wallpaper or specific artwork. Adding a mirror is a great option, as is a simple side table or vanity. If you want a dedicated home for keys, bags, or coats, installing a decorative hook or two can be another idea. Your goal with your entryway is to keep it clutter-free and inviting.
Embrace negative space
No matter how big or small your home is, you don't need to have every corner or every inch of your walls covered. Negative space is a vital part of a hygge home because if your walls are too crowded, your eyes don't know what to focus on. The same goes for too many pieces of furniture. According to Mosaik Homes, negative space brings a balance to a well-thought-out and decorated home. It's essentially a chance to breathe. If you're used to having every single part of your home filled with something, negative space will take some time to get used to. But you'll feel the benefits almost immediately.
For example, if you want to create a picture collage over your television, rethink that design. Instead of having a ton of little pictures, pick one main photo you'll hang above or on either side of the screen. Going back to mirrors for a second, reconsider how much artwork you display around them. Mirrors are great focal points on their own. Embracing negative space allows you to decide what items you want people to focus on, which helps transform your home into a cozy and inviting space.
Choose comfy furniture
It should go without saying that if you want your home to be inviting and comfy, buy comfortable furniture. But too often, people sacrifice comfort for style and regret that decision. There's nothing wrong with having one or two stylish pieces that may not be used uniformly. But too much can make it difficult for you to feel comfortable in your own home. And if you're not comfortable, how do you think guests will feel?
However, as the Baltimore Post Examiner reports, you don't always have to sacrifice comfort for style. Many pieces offer both — the issue is finding them. One way to avoid buyer's remorse is to test out pieces before bringing them into your home. This is where thrift stores and antique malls come back into play. You have a greater chance of finding something stylish and comfortable there than going to a box store. If you don't like the fabric or the cushions need more foam, you can replace them yourself. Remember that finding the perfect combination of comfort and style may take some time. But when you think of the conversations you'll have with guests when they ask about it, it's well worth the search.
Invest in quality bedding
According to A Mother Far from Home and countless scientific studies, we spend 1/3 of our lives in bed. Wouldn't it make sense to make that time count by improving the comfort of our bedding? You would think so, but more often than not, we pick bedding that reflects our style more than comfort. When you invest in good quality bedding, from your mattress to your sheets, you're not only adding more warmth and coziness to your sleep routine but also prioritizing the importance of rest.
However, since we all have different requirements, finding the ideal bedding for you will take some time to figure out your needs. For example, do you sweat a lot when sleeping? Then look into cooling sheets. Does your back hurt each morning? Then you need to find a mattress that supports you better. If you have guests who sleep over often, having comfortable bedding is a must. And when you invest in good quality supplies, your guests will feel more at home and taken care of than if you just gave them something generic.
Play more music
Music can transform a room in seconds. Have you ever been to a restaurant and a certain song came on over the speakers that made you want to get up and dance? How about the music that plays in elevators? You want out almost immediately. The powerful effects of music shouldn't be overlooked when you're giving your home a hygge makeover.
Psychology Today reports that people listen to music for many reasons. Often, music is used to magnify, lessen, or regulate a mood you may already be experiencing. If you have guests over, playing some music can affect the overall tone. You obviously don't want the music to overlap with the conversation, but even subtle songs can increase the warmth and coziness of the general atmosphere. Even if you're home alone, playing music can boost your productivity or help you unwind after a long day. Don't discount what a good playlist can do for your mood or your home.