3 Ways to Warm Up Your Home’s Look

Written by AMANDA SHIELDS | Design by AMANDA SHIELDS INTERIORS | Photography by STEPHANI BUCHMAN

“Home” has always been associated with warmth and welcome. Cozy-chic, cocooning, hygge—whatever you call it, the trend is not new by any means, but it materializes in exciting ways in the modern home. Here are a few ways to make your home cozy and to bring comfort and enjoyment back into your home this year.

Seeing Red

Color has been shown to elicit emotions that can manifest in behavioral and even physical ways. Colors on the warm side of the spectrum with earthy tones, such as those with red undertones, can promote feelings of strength, power, passion, love, excitement, and energy, and can create a cozy environment.

Now that we’re on the other side of the pandemic and getting back out there, we’re increasingly seeking warmth and familiarity in our lives and homes. Adding red to your rooms, whether through fresh flowers, throw pillows, area rugs, and more, will instantly spark warmth in your cozy house.

Light It Up!

Lighting is more than just a way to illuminate dark corners. The right lighting can create a warm and cozy atmosphere that will instantly put you at ease. But not just any lighting will do! Create ambiance by layering your light sources. Every room has its primary light source—typically a ceiling fixture.

Although this single light fixture will do the job, it’s not enough to set a mood. Add table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces, accentuate natural light in your space, and infuse accent lighting to bring your rooms to life. Consider window treatments so you can customize your lighting and privacy as well as provide insulation during the hot summer months and colder seasons.

Pay attention to the distribution of your light fixtures to ensure they are balanced throughout your home, as well-distributed lighting can make all the difference. Beyond the light sources themselves, consider the temperature of your lighting. To create visual warmth, use warm bulbs with yellow undertones for soft lighting in your cozy home.

Add Detail for a Cozy Atmosphere

Have you ever noticed that minimal spaces tend to look and feel cold? Conversely, rooms brimming with details are often more visually interesting, inviting, and engaging, with an enhanced sense of home. Our emotional connections to people, places, and experiences inspire this collected aesthetic.

This look tells a story through all the senses. Work in layers and aim for balance. Incorporate varieties of textures, patterns, and natural materials throughout the space, from the backdrop of the home (like walls, floors, and built-in elements) to soft furnishings, accents, and artwork. Plus, including wood furniture, whether through an ornate coffee table or a luxurious dining table, further enhances the cozy feel of your home.

Although getting the details right may seem daunting, approach this as part of the renovating or decorating process rather than an attempt to add superficial details after the fact. Choose a key theme for your living space: it could be a cultural, environmental, or historical influence. Then let that theme guide every choice, from selecting floors that add warmth underfoot to avoid a cold floor to choosing the aesthetic's decor, for a thoughtful and harmonious style, whether in your cozy bedroom or your cozy living room.

Deep down, we all want the place we call home to bring out our best, to create a cozy haven that invokes a sense of safety, warmth, and welcome. We long for a space that reflects our past and offers a glimpse into our soul. Putting your heart into the space you create will make you feel at home.

Looking for more designer inspiration? Check out our latest issue of Beautiful Design Made Simple for exclusive designer insight on the latest trends.