Some homes have instant appeal – like the clichéd love at first sight. They emanate positive vibes that are warm, inviting and relaxing. Even when all other things are constant, a cosy home creates a sense newness that is both calming and invigorating. It can help suspend the mundane; create a feel of intimacy and become a source of succour from all things work and stress.
Such homes are beautifully captured in pictures that typify cosy dwellings; many furniture stores also simulate such images with their displays of bedroom and sitting room setups. One look at it and you wish your home had that instant feel-good factor injected into it. While the stores manage to pull the ideal look with plush furnishings and décor elements, it isn’t difficult to gauge that cosy home is not simply about fitting the living space with trendy furniture and furnishing. It is about incorporating the Danish concept of hygge (meaning cosiness and comfortable conviviality with wellness and contentment) into your living space. It is about feeling safe, secure and content within its confines; it is about experiencing an overwhelming desire to rush back home after work and lounge around even on weekdays.
Visual representations of a cosy home, almost always, depict a fireplace or candle-stand in a corner, with television in the background and the members lazing around on the throw rug in the centre. That image captures a common narrative of happy families; one that people instinctively associate with warmth and comfort that is spurred by the setting within the room. From the sofa and the soft furnishings to the wall décor and the warm lighting, it is the cosy factor that comes through.
While there is no denying that a home is where the clichéd hearth is, no matter how it is designed or fitted, there are easy ways to cosy up your home without breaking the bank. Little trimmings and some aesthetic arrangements are all that you need to savour the joys of living in a cosy home.
Clean Spaces
The first rule of a cosy home is clean living space; a clean home easily translates as an inviting one. When the floor is clean and the bed is fitted with freshly washed sheets, you are bound to feel a sense of relaxation. Imagine coming back from work to a home that is dusted, swept and mopped with the kitchen counter free of any used utensils and the bedroom adorning a crisp new sheet. Just the picture can evoke a sense of contentment that is suggestive of hygge. The only way this could be a reality is when you leave the house the way you want it to be when you return. If that is not as easy as stating it, make every member of the house a part of the clean deal. Make the bed, clear the sink and deal with the laundry before going out.
Entryway Frills
Taking a cue from the oft-quoted phrase ‘first impressions count’, ensure that your home has all the right accoutrements to make an inviting impression on everyone who enters it. Whether you live in a flat or a villa, you can ensure that your entryway is well conceptualised to usher a welcome note. It could be a simple or even quirky and funny sign on the front door, a leafy plant just inside of the front door, or a console table with an aesthetically designed mirror in the entryway. Even an interesting door-knocker could work effectively as an interesting first impression.
Simple Styles
Simplicity is the key to spreading warm ambience. Instead of cluttering your wall with framed pictures and tables with souvenirs and adornments, take the memory route and use only those pictures and décor items that you and your family value as important. Studies have shown that looking at pictures that are important to the family can be a big boost of happiness. The idea should be to fill your home with things that make you and others feel good. Follow the simple tone and use decorative pieces that you care about. Earthy tones and natural colours are effective in spreading warmth and so are warm lights and lamps.
Pet Notes
The easiest way to inject cosiness in your home is to adopt a pet. While a flat does impose restrictions on the kind of pet you plan to adopt, a little training and patience can help you become a proud pet owner in no time and give your home a huge dose of cosiness. A pet can also be the source of everyday connection between the family members and be a beacon of cheer after a long day at work.
