Learning how to make your home cozy is something that can really make a difference. Your home is your sanctuary, so creating a warm and inviting space can impact your mental health. It also makes a difference for guests who are experiencing your home. A home that makes them feel welcome is so much better than one that feels uninviting.
How can you ensure that your home is warm and inviting? Whether you want to keep a cozy home for you and your family or you want to make guests comfortable, here are my secrets for an inviting home.
My house is rarely perfect, but I’m always about a fifteen minute cleaning session away from a picked up living room. I tidy daily so that it never gets too out of control. A messy home isn’t very inviting and the clutter can be distracting when you’re trying to relax. A trick that works for me when I’m wrangling toys is to have bins that you can easily just throw the toys in. If cleanup is easy and quick, that makes a huge difference!
When my husband and I were dating, I would bake banana bread before he came over to make my home smell delicious. I still do this sometimes for guests – I love when the kitchen is filled with delicious food scents.You don’t always have to be baking something for a scented home, however. Just light a candle, diffuse essential oil, or use a Glade plugin.
Overhead lighting is often not the most flattering or cozy. I usually prefer to use lamplight for a better vibe. If you have a dimmer switch, you can dim your lights. You could also use twinkle lights for a magical feeling.
Background music can go a long way toward making your home feel serene and inviting. Pick some pleasant and subtle background music that you can play on Spotify or YouTube. In our home, the background music is usually Disney these days!
Beautiful furniture is great to have, but try to strike a balance between beautiful and comfortable. If your furniture is stiff and uninviting or looks like it could easily be messed up, you won’t feel at ease in your home. I would have loved a beautifully upholstered French lounge chair in my living room, but it would be impractical. Instead I opted for a beige couch with some curves and comfy cushions. We also have a wingback chair from IKEA that is cozy and sturdy all at once.
My husband and I clean our living room and kitchen every night before bed. This keeps messes from becoming unmanageable and allows for a fresh start each day. I hate waking up to a mess that I need to clean up, so doing this really helps my mental health.
When seeking cozy vibes, don’t just consider pattern and color. You’ll want lots of textures too! Think soft textured blankets, woven rugs, silky curtains, pillows in different fabrics, etcetera. You can blend lots of textures together for more visual appeal.
I do believe in keeping a tidy home. I think clutter is not very inviting for you or for guests. Taking the time to clean shows you care about someone else’s experience in your home. That said, you don’t need everything to be perfect. There are usually some toys on the floor if my daughter is playing when guests arrive.
Even right now. I just cleaned in anticipation of company and my daughter is starting to pull toys out again. It’s not going to be perfect, especially if you have kids – and that’s okay! Sometimes being a little messy or imperfect will make another person feel more comfortable around your home. So put in the effort, but don’t worry about it being flawless.
Design, thrifting, and entertaining are my passion, and I share that passion with you through this blog. I also love being in the kitchen and crafting cocktails. I love Jesus and occasionally, I talk about him too. He has been so powerful in my life, and I love to bring him glory with my hobbies.
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