Making a Cozy Home

"Cozy" wasn't exactly a word I would use to describe my childhood living room, but I was a kid who was more concerned with Barbies and jelly shoes to care. Now that I have my own home and enjoy entertaining company frequently, "cozy" is always on my mind.

Below are my 5 favorite sure-fire ways to make any living space cozy!

1. Color
Color provokes many different emotions which is going to set the stage for your living space. It also is the main component in giving a space character. So before picking up that paint brush, check out this chart for how each color is viewed and affects our emotions.

Pink - warm, romantic, soft, compassionate, can be calming, joyful
Red - warm, increases pulse and circulation, stimulant, intense, the color of passion
Orange - warm, exciting, enthusiastic, energetic, attention-getter, refreshing
Brown - warm, strength, dependability, earth, comforting
Yellow - warm, stimulates mental activity, "happy" color, attention-getter, increases metabolism
Green - cool, calming, productive, optimistic, compassionate, the color of nature
Blue - cool, calming and relaxing affect, stability, comfortable, can reduce feelings of pain
Purple - cool, royalty, wealth, exotic, spiritual, sensual, wisdom, mysterious
Black - cool, mature, dark, mysterious, confident, refined
White - cool, freshness, simplicity, cleanliness, airy

Gray is a color not on the list, and here's why. Many people have associated gray with sadness or depression for years but it's slowly becoming a hot pick in interior design. Gray is a cool, natural that is great for helping balance other colors out. Gray is very much a "downer" in terms of moods go, but when paired with a bright color it helps elevate the room to a whole new level of cozy.

2. Texture
Mixing and matching textures together is the quickest and easiest way to cozy up a room. Fuzzy throws and soft pillows tossed on a leather or other hard fabric couch or chair instantly makes the space all the more inviting. A rug tossed down on hardwood or tile floor helps break up the room and gives your feet somewhere soft to land. Remember, opposites attract!

3. Patterns and Solids
If you think of patterns as an extension to texture, you're golden. There has to be a balance but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. Full, patterned comforters and solid colored pillows in complimenting colors helps to break up the busyness and create a uniformed look in a bedroom. And if patterns isn't really your cup of  tea, highly textured fabrics paired with solids is a great way to convey the mix.

4. Bring in the Outdoors
Plants are great to have in any room and they offer tons of health benefits. Most plants help purify the air which is great if your have allergies. Plants and flowers make cute additions to any room by bringing a variation of color, texture, and life into the house. Real plants are always the better options because of the many benefits that come with them, but if you're not much of a green-thumb, fake plants can do the trick! Just make sure you read up on any pet and health hazards associated with a particular plant before you bring it into your home and Fido or your young kids take a bite out of it.

5. Lighting! (and candles!)
Lighting is definitely one of those mood changers. Warm, soft glow lights are the best to fully light a room without straining your eyes. Warmer lights are key for tying in the cozy factor of any room. If possible, having candles in a room aids a bit of romance. There's something so relaxing about watching the flame flicker in the evening that creates a relaxing atmosphere.

What's your favorite way to cozy up a room? Comment below!

God bless, lovelies!