What Comfy Cozy Means in Design

Everyone strives to have a comfortable and cozy home design, especially during the colder months of the year, but how do you actually achieve it?

Maybe you’ve just purchased a new home but still aren’t sure it feels like your own. Or, maybe you’re tired of your modern Scandi-theme that seemed on-trend at first, but now feels like all sharp lines and too much white. While buying a new home or renovating your existing space is always fun, modern designs can often come across as sterile or impersonal with their builder-grade colors and finishes.

Take into consideration these five tips to help achieve the coziest home design and create a space that is comfortable to live in. 

Incorporate Plush Furniture

Design by KRIS BRIGDEN  Photography by LISA PETROLE

It’s only natural to want to hibernate during the winter season —the days are shorter, the nights are longer and the cold weather encourages us to bundle up in warm layers. So give in to your instincts by bunkering down and cozying up with plush furniture. Large sofa sectionals, plush loveseats, and deep armchairs are perfect additions to your living room. Be sure to set up your seating in an arrangement that encourages conversation flow, but also leaves room for one-on-one tasks like reading, crocheting, or solving the Wordle of the day.

Install Warm Floors

Astor Row Carpet by Karastan

The second step in creating a comfy and cozy home design is to install warm flooring. Nothing’s worse than bare feet on chilly floors in the morning. Opt for carpeting, area rugs, and laminate —floors that hold heat. When shopping for carpets, choose products with a thicker carpet pile because this complex surface area helps trap heat and distribute it better. 

For those sold on hardwood or tile floors, add an area rug to places where you will most likely find yourself barefooted. This could look like a runner in the kitchen galley where you cook, a circular rug under the dining table, or a sheepskin throw in front of your favorite living room chair. Another option to look into is heated flooring. Electric radiant heating works through a system of electrical charges moving through wires that are installed underneath your flooring. Heated flooring is great for the bathrooms since you’re barefoot most of the time in this room.

Layer Lighting

Design by LAURA HAY  Photography by MIKE CHAJECKI

One thing that’s often overlooked in creating a cozy home design is good lighting. Rather than just installing one bright overhead light, create a cozy atmosphere by layering your lighting with clusters of illumination. You can do this through wall sconces, standing lamps, and task lighting. Consider how many light sources are in the room, what the design of each light is, and if the bulbs you’re using are warm or cool. Warm white lighting is the best type of lighting because it creates a soft, yellow warm glow that naturally mimics sunlight. And of course, don’t be afraid to add extra soft lighting through candles, string lights, and smart lighting dimmer switches.

Pile on Soft Materials

Design by HIBOU DESIGN + CO  Photography by DREW HADLEY

The key to creating a cozy and warm environment is to warm up your space. There are endless ways in which you can do this from adding throw blankets to layering area rugs to upgrading your bed linen. Include soft materials like organic wool, spun silk, cotton, bamboo, and velvet. 

While cotton is often the preferred material for home furnishings, since it's reasonably priced, consider venturing outside and splurging a little this season on your accent pillows and throws. Silk is always a classy fabric option with its luxurious flow and softness lending well to bed sheets and pillow covers. Velvet can instantly elevate your design with its rich jewel tones and plush texture and is becoming a popular material in furniture and cushions.

Play with Textures and Patterns

Design by KALU INTERIORS  Photography by PROVOKE STUDIOS

Lastly, texture plays a huge role in designing with cozy comfort. Creating texture through pattern is important as it adds depth to your space and gives your room a tactile feel. Incorporate playful patterns into your space with wallpaper, accent walls, artwork, and linen. You can also incorporate texture naturally through organic elements such as live plants, wicker baskets, rough stone floors, and wooden objects.

Whichever direction you take when creating a comfy cozy design, make your space your own through elements that feel natural to you. Remember, your home should be your haven —a place to relax and unwind. Read more tips on how to create a cozy home design in our blog 7 Tips to Incorporate Self-Care Into Your Home.