How to Make Your Home Feel Cozy

At the end of a long day, my deepest desire is to go home, slip on my P.J.s and relax. When I go home, I want everything to feel, well, homey. But sometimes it's hard to make your house feel like a home- especially if you are renting like me and Taylor.

Thankfully though, I come from a family who knows how to turn inexpensive items into adorable decor, and knows how to make everything tie together well. I love decorating and I love putting my style into each room so that our house really does feel like a home.

Do you find that you struggle with feeling cozy in your own space? Today I'm sharing a few ways that you can begin to make your home feel much more cozy.

Four Tips For A Cozy Home

Pretty  Blankets

I am a very cold-natured person, and I like it that way. In the summer, I turn on the fan until I'm cold, so that I can crawl under my beloved blanket. I'm kind of like Linus from Charlie Brown. I always want my blanket.

So when it comes to adding warmth and coziness to my home, blankets and throws are always part of the equation. You can find very soft, inexpensive blankets at places like Walmart and Target. I recommend finding a couple of patterns you like that will match the rest of your home decor. There are plenty to choose from.
On the other-hand, if you are crafty, or prefer handmade items, you could make your own blanket or search local shops or Etsy to find one you like. My Mom crocheted Taylor and I a throw (left) that I am absolutely in love with. It has about five or six different colors, but they are mild enough that they go right along with the rest of the living room decor.

Candles

If you've been following along on my blog for very long, you know that I make my own candles. But long before I ever learned how to make candles, I fell in love with the atmosphere they set.

My Mom always burned candles in the house when I was growing up. It always smelled nice and it always put off a calm vibe. Now that I am an adult and have my own home, I like to keep candles lit as much as possible, just like my mom always did.

Burning candles is my favorite way to add warmth to a home. It is a quick way to make your home more cozy instantly.

Framed Prints

Sometimes, a simple print can make a whole lot of difference. And you can easily make a print your own, based on the frame you choose. You can keep it simple with a black frame, go bold and funky with a neon-colored frame, or you can be crafty and decorate your own. Adding an encouraging, framed print to your home gives a personal touch that lifts you up at the same time.

In my opinion, Etsy is a great place to get prints, because your purchase is supporting handmade items and small business owners. You are helping individuals continue their business, and being a part of their journey. I love that.

The prints I have featured in this post are from Wade and Bloom Creative. The founder, Summer Telban is someone I respect greatly and I love the fact that she has a creative business and that I can be a part of her story.

If you like the print, or would like to see more, click here to reroute to her shop! This Spring, she will also be adding physical items like mugs & throw pillows.
You can also get to know Summer better over at her blog- Coffee with Summer.

Don't Be Afraid of Color

When it comes to paint color, many people shy away from anything other than white or beige. White or beige is great if that is what you like, but I think a lot of people choose neutrals simply because they are afraid of brighter colors being on their walls.

In my opinion though, bright colors make the rest of your home. You can have all the pretty decor you want, but if your walls don't look good, then the decor is just a band-aid.

In our home, we have a brown/grey bedroom, a green living room, and a home office that has a black chalk-board wall. We didn't pick these colors, but I've left them because they work well (other than our kitchen which I need to redo).

You can easily add colored paint to your home without being too extreme. My absolute favorite color to use is light yellow. If you can find a very pale yellow that almost looks off-white on the paint chip, but is still part of the yellow family, it's hard to go wrong. The yellow adds a cheery feel, but is still calm and neutral enough to use almost any decor you please.

Whatever You Want

Decorating is a personal choice. There aren't really any rules. If you like something, then do it. Sure, some things are naturally going to look better than others, but at the end of the day, if you love what your home looks like and you are pleased with the atmosphere at the end of a long day, then you've successfully decorated!

What are your favorite decorating tips and tricks? Or do you have any questions? Comment below!