Many people like to leave the thoughts of winter behind after January, but ice and snow can happen through April in many locations. Those days can get frustrating, especially if you want spring to come, but a cozy home can make them much more bearable.
Curling up at home with a hot drink or a good book helps you stay calm but the environment around you impacts your ability to relax. Here are seven things you can do to keep your home extra comfortable throughout the season.
Paint the Walls
If you want a long-term cozy space, consider painting your walls a relaxing color. Warm neutrals and earth tones are excellent options for a relaxing room.
Warm colors like yellows and tans lead to relaxation, while earth tones like greens and browns are good for mindfulness. Darker colors make a room seem smaller than it is, which people often see as a bad thing. However, they can be a great option if you try to make a room cozy. If you still want your room to appear large, choose a light color, such as white, with a warm undertone.
If you’re unsure about painting an entire room, consider doing an accent wall instead. A bold color or pattern on one wall can pull the room’s focus where you want it, such as a television or fireplace.
Use Lamps
Lighting has a significant impact on the coziness of a room. Lamps add a nice ambiance to a room that can help you relax when doing your activities. If you don’t want to change the brightness of the light, consider getting removable shades that can dim the lights when you desire.
You can also add dimmers to many light switches, allowing your room to go from active to cozy instantly.
Also, consider string lights or hanging lamps to create an ethereal look in a bedroom or living area. They can be reminiscent of the sun or stars, helping your mind and body relax.
Install In-floor Heating
If you have non-carpeted floors, they likely get cold. Vents and heaters can lead to some areas staying warm and others feeling icy throughout winter.
Installing an in-floor heating system can help resolve this. The radiators evenly distribute heat to the floor’s surface. Thanks to the neat distribution, you’ll use less energy to stay warm and cozy and save money on your heating bill.
Using this type of heating doesn’t just affect the floors. The right system can heat your entire home from below, making it the perfect temperature for relaxation.
Install New Window Treatments
Your window treatments can make an excellent addition to a cozy home. There are various curtain materials, like silk, cotton and velvet. Soft textures and warm colors can transform the look of your home.
Mix and match warm tones or combine neutral cotton curtains with velvet jewel tones to make things visually interesting.
Plush curtains can also help keep your room warm and help protect your windows from cold temperatures. The thicker the curtains are, the more insulating they will be.
Add a Fireplace
Fireplaces immediately add coziness to a room, but you can save time by building one in the middle of winter. Direct-vent gas fireplaces are easy to install on any exterior wall.
In around a day, you can get a warm, relaxing item that provides an easy ambiance to your home. You can start them anytime with a flick of a switch.
Keep in mind that the disadvantage of these models is you won’t get the crackling sounds and smells of a wood-burning one. Depending on your desires, installing one of those could take a few weeks, but some people prefer the wait.
Either way, both are great options for warmth and a relaxing flicker.
Get Plush Furniture
The comfier your furniture is, the cozier your room will be. If you’re looking to upgrade your couch, mattress or chairs, winter is the perfect time to upgrade.
Choosing soft but structurally sound furniture will benefit you all year long. Linen, cotton and polyester are some fabrics that will help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
As humans, we crave coziness, especially when it’s cold out. Cuddling up on a comfortable couch with soft blankets and pillows is a great way to stay cozy during cold months.
You can buy new furniture online or in a specialty store, but you might also find unique options secondhand.
Hang Tapestries
Stark walls can seem uninviting. Tapestries are great alternatives to paintings for softness and comfort throughout the season.
You can choose various sizes, colors and patterns to hang on your walls. They are a soft texture that makes you feel surrounded by the comforts of a blanket without having one on. You can purchase tapestries or make your own to give your room a personal touch.
If you’re not a fan of tapestries, hanging throws have a similar effect.
Keeping Winter Cozy
Winter is a time for curling up at home and staying cozy. Your home becomes your warm haven when the weather gets cold and snowy, so it’s important to make it as relaxing as possible. By taking these steps, you can achieve this for the rest of the season and many winters.
