7 Ideas To Make A Home Cosy

Hello Everyone!

We all want cosy homes that have some character to them, something to say that this space is ours, and there’s nowhere in the world like it. It’s also a place we want to show off to our friends and family, have them hang out and be impressed by our style and aesthetic. Well, that is, for most of us. After all, there are those who don’t really care about how a home looks, because it’s already cosy for them, and that’s ok.

I’m probably part of the latter, because I don’t really have much choice (if you’ve read one of my previous blog posts, I still live with my parents, and because we don’t have that much money, we can’t really afford to redo the house). However, if I ever do find myself finally owning my own home, then you can be sure I will style and decorate it to fit my own aesthetic, make it cosy and inviting and make sure it is perfect for me. How will I do that you ask? Well, here are 7 ideas that I’m considering.

1.   Handmade Crafts

This shouldn’t surprise you. I am a hobby hoarder, and an arts and crafts enthusiast, after all. So, including handmade crafts in my home shouldn’t be too surprising. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be an arts and crafts enthusiast to include handmade crafts in your home. If you really want to personalise your space, take ownership by making something for that space. For example, sew some cushion covers for your sofa, or knit a throw blanket. You can even try your hand at crafting together a small fairy house with some twigs to sit on your windowsill or mantlepiece.

Whatever it is you can think of, give it a go. Sure, you might have many prototypes, failed experiments and pieces that you might think won’t work for you but hear me out. Use them as part of a larger decorative piece. If you have a display cabinet, why not line up the failed pieces, next to your final, complete piece, and label them. It’ll tell a story to your visitors of your crafting journey. Wouldn’t that be a fun little thing to display? It most certainly will give them a talking point.

2.   Collectibles

Personality comes through passion, and what else could be a show of passion than a collection? The collection doesn’t have to be big, or if it is, it doesn’t need to inundate your home. You can collect memorabilia from your favourite shows, movies, books, or they can be collectibles in other forms, like crystals, coins, or even stamps. Collectibles show off just how passionate you are about something, whether it’s books from your favourite authors, or figurines of your favourite comic book characters. They are themselves pieces of art, even if others might not deem it as one.

One of my favourite collections are my crystals, do they do anything? No, they’re decorative. I love the rainbow of colours that decorate my shelves and windowsills, and when paired with my plants, they really make my room look that much more inviting. So, don’t be afraid to decorate your home with your own collectibles. Although I will say, be careful where you place them, too high, and no one will see them, too low and people or pets will knock them over. Be strategic in their placement, so people can see them but not destroy them.

3.   Fabric And Textures

Nothing screams clinical more than blank walls, bare furniture and glass surfaces. Trust me, you don’t want a home that only has the bare minimum. If you do, then you’re probably creating a space that you’re not going to permanently live in. If you want a space that’s warm, cosy and inviting, you’re going to need some fabric and textures. You’ll need plush and soft cushions, thick throws and blankets, and even a plush rug for the floor. By adding fabric and maybe even some faux fur into the mix, you’ll really make your space seem much more inviting than a bare sofa and coffee table.

I would also recommend having wood pieces in your home too, or if you’re able to, buy wooden furniture instead of metallic or glass (or even plastic) ones. Wood adds warmth, and it invites nature in without being too overt about it. While potted plants add that natural aspect to a space (which, spoiler alert, is one of the ideas here), wooden furniture adds to it without forcing the issue. By that I mean, if you don’t have a lot of space to have a potted plant, having wooden furniture pieces can evoke a sense of being in nature, without actually having any form of nature present.

4.   Candles & Scent Diffusers

No home is cosy without a certain smell. Think about it, did you ever go over to your grandma’s place and smelled roses or lavender the moment you walked through her door? Did you ever come home from school to the smell of freshly baked cookies? Scent plays a big part in our nervous system, especially when it comes to feeling safe. Normally, safety is associated with good smells, smells that attract us and make us feel at home, so ensure your house smells inviting. Use scented candles or scent diffusers around the house, and I guarantee you, you and your guests will feel more relaxed and comfortable.

Now, be wary of what kind of scents you use in your home, the stronger, more pungent, smells might scare your visitors away. Try to use lighter, fresher and floral smells, because these tend to be more attractive than the smokier, woodsier smells. Of course, if you’re looking to create a certain atmosphere in your home, like say for example, a more den-like atmosphere, then by all means, choose the appropriate smells, just be careful with what you choose. Don’t let your scents clash. They might create a whole other scent that might be unpleasant. If anything, try to space when you activate your scents, maybe activate a fresher one in the morning, and a smokier one in the evening, or if your diffusers, candles, or even incense sticks, last a day, let them dissipate overnight, before activating another one.

5.   Potted Plants

Ok, this should have been one of the earlier ideas, but I know not everyone can handle living plants. Of course, potted plants are a staple at making a home feel cosier and inviting. Nothing says homecoming more than a plant. So, decorate the corners of your room with the green thing. It’s even in our psychology to expect a place with plants to be warm and inviting. After all, they are living things, and if we see them thriving, it means that whoever takes care of them is a caring person. It makes us believe that if we are welcomed into a home, we will be cared for as well.

So, if you can, decorate your home with potted plants. Fill your windowsills or your side tables with small ones, decorate those bare corners with larger ones like the Monstera or the Pothos plants. There are so many options for you to choose from, it just depends on what kinds of plants you can take care of. Of course, you might not always be able to take care of them, and that’s ok, you can cheat it with fake plants, although your guests might notice the difference, but if they understand your lifestyle, they won’t judge.

6.   Focal Lights

Lighting is one of the things that makes or breaks a room. For the most part every house has one overhead ceiling light, or maybe a few spotlights, depending on whether you’re in an old home or a modern build. These lights are not the type to make a space feel cosy or warm. While they may flood the room with light, they won’t make it feel like a place you'd want to live, because it’s over the head, meaning it washes over you in a very unflattering way. This is why you need focal lights. Focal lights are lights that light a room at different points, with different intensities and purposes.

For example, you can create ambient lights with long floor lamps. These, like the overhead lamp, will flood a room, but it won’t be quite as intense or as unflattering as the overhead lamp. It creates the atmosphere for the room, without being too harsh. Add to that a task light, which can be in the form of a table lamp. These lamps will help with any task that you carry out in that room. So, say for example, you want to read a book, you’re going to want to sit by a table lamp, so you can read it more easily. Finally, add some accent lighting to the room. Accent lights add more depth and character to your home and light it in a way that helps make the space feel more inviting. These lights can be wall lamps that highlight artwork, or even fairy lights that accent a decorative furniture piece. Whatever you deem cosy, make sure your lights emphasise it. The full blast of a ceiling lamp isn’t going to help you create the atmosphere you want. That’s why you should add focal lights in your rooms, it’ll create a warmer and cosier environment.

7.   Food

When I say add food to your space, I don’t mean leave the packaged snacks you have, out on the coffee table. I mean, it’s something, if you’re having a get together and you don’t have much time to unpack them, but if you want your space to feel cosier and more inviting, have your snacks out in bowls or on plates. Have them ready for your visitors. I guarantee you, food makes everything feel cosier, because who doesn’t love to eat? Of course, if you really want to be fancy, have some baked goods out on the table, like a stand of cupcakes, or a plate of cookies.

Snacks go a long way to make your home feel cosy. Not only that, if you’re an avid snacker (like some of the people in my family), then you’re going to need to keep the snacks out, for you to pick on, while you’re doing other things. Of course, you don’t always have to have baked goods or sweet treats, you can even have fruits out on the table. Just be mindful, you will need to eat those snacks sooner rather than later, because they can get stale, and if you’re leaving fruit out, make sure they get eaten within a few days, otherwise they will start to rot.

Make Your Home Cosy!

There are plenty of other ways you can make your home cosier, and it’s up to you whether you choose to or not, but if you don’t want your visitors to feel like they’re stepping into an office or a hospital, I suggest you give it a try. It not only welcomes them and invites them in, but it also adds personality and character to your space. It’ll show them what kind of person you are, and what things interest you the most. After all, we’re all different with different tastes and interests, show off what it is you like, and make your home a talking point.

Well, that’s it from me today, I’m going to continue making my next crochet tapestry piece, for when I do eventually have my own home. While I go do that, please don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment, share and follow me, here on Feather’s Charm, on my YouTube channel, on my other social media channels (Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok), and on Patreon. Your support really does help me make more content like this for you guys.

And as always, be kind, be creative, and be unique.

I’ll see you later!

Feather, out!