Discover how to make your home cozier, today.
I’ll show you 8 simple home changes that will boost your well-being.
This is my grandparents’ furniture dilemma: more than twenty years ago, they beautifully arranged all the pieces of furniture they had – and built a house around them.
My grandparents have been staring at the same sofa and cabinets for more than two decades because it’s almost impossible to replace furniture that is squeezed so perfectly between the walls.
If you’re like me, you don’t want your home to look the same for the next twenty years. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.
Here are 8 easy changes you can make to your home right now.
- 1. Give Your Furniture Some Breathing Room
- 2. Declutter for 20 Minutes
- 3. Illuminate Your Space
- 4. Style Surfaces
- 5. Create Your Gallery Wall
- 6. Utilize Texture
- 7. Bring Nature into Your Home
- 8. Make Your Own Room Scent
1. Give Your Furniture Some Breathing Room
While my grandparents will never be able to do this, you and I can:
Push the furniture away from the walls.
I know, your living room might not be a ballroom, and it sounds counterintuitive. But trust me! Giving your sofa some breathing room can work wonders. Push it three arm’s lengths into the room. Then place another sofa or armchair across to create a conversation area where you and your loved ones can enjoy a good talk without having to yell across the room.
Even just rearranging a single piece of furniture can make all the difference. And who knows? Maybe pushing your couch away from the wall will even inspire more! Try swapping the positions of your sofa and armchairs, or move a bookshelf to a different wall. You might end up with a whole new room layout. Just remember:
- Leave enough space for comfortable walking paths in between – think a meter or three feet – so nobody has to zigzag around the room like a slalom skier (unless you’re trying to make it to the next Winter Olympics!).
- Experiment and enjoy the process. Don’t worry: you can always move things back later!
2. Declutter for 20 Minutes
Dedicate 20 minutes to a quick decluttering session. Pick up any items that are out of place, and hide away anything that doesn’t add to the ambiance. A cluttered space results in a cluttered mind.
Take it one step at a time and remember: we are all in this together. Everyone gets overwhelmed by clutter. Don’t be afraid to part with items. After all, they are just objects, and they take up space (in your home and in your mind). I only keep what I truly love.
You can:
- Throw out items that can’t be used anymore.
- Donate them to a thrift shop.
- Sell them online, at a flea market, or at a second-hand shop.
- Give them to friends and family – but only if they truly love and need what you are giving away.
- Put them in a to-give-away box outside your house.
💡 Decluttering Hacks
Starting is the hardest part, keeping it going is easy. You can use these hacks to make tasks like decluttering easier for you.
Grab and go
Make sure your decluttering essentials are easily accessible. It is much harder to get started if you have to jump through hoops in order to find that box you were going to use. Store what you need within arm’s reach – you don’t want it hidden away in the back of a dark, forgotten closet.
The 5-minute-rule
Declutter for just five short minutes! Set a timer and when it goes off, you can stop if you want. More often than not you’ll end up enjoying your task. But be honest with yourself. If you don’t want to keep going, don’t. That’s fine. Five minutes are much better than zero! The key is to respect your feelings so the 5-minute rule keeps working in the future.
3. Illuminate Your Space
If you want to brighten your room instantly, lean a large mirror against a wall to create the illusion of more space and reflect natural or artificial light.
Maximize natural light
Exposure to natural light is essential to your well-being. Clean your windows and open your curtains and blinds all the way. If you have windows that face east, which is where the sun rises, make sure to enjoy that beautiful morning sun to the fullest.
Use artificial light strategically
Create multiple warm light sources per room. Use floor and table lamps instead of overhead lights for a cozy feel. You can light a few candles as well if you want it extra cozy. And the next time you go shopping, look out for 2700 Kelvin lightbulbs for a nice, warm light.
Don’t forget to open the windows and let in some fresh air, too! By letting in fresh air and maximizing light you can create good Feng Shui. So trust the ancient Chinese on how important these two tips are for your well-being at home.
4. Style Surfaces
Empty surfaces can make a room look minimalistic and elegant. But they can also make it look cold and un-designed. So balance is key! If you look at empty shelf boards every day, or if you have a sideboard or table you rarely use, consider decorating it.
Add different textures and colors and create a beautiful space that makes you happy when you look at it.
Books
When I first saw designers use books as decoration, the rebel in me said, “I will never do that.“ I felt that showcasing books like that was going to look fake, and I was wrong. So, horizontally stack two or three of your favorite books on your empty surface, and make it look cozier and more inviting. But don’t call it a day just yet: you can place a decorative vase or bowl on top!
Decorative vases
We’ll talk more about plants in a little bit. But for now, let’s add a decorative vase to your design – with or without plants! Larger vases can make a bold statement, while smaller ones can add a touch of charm to your design.
Decorative bowls
Can you dust off and repurpose that poor bowl that has been sitting in your kitchen cabinet forever? Just like a vase, you can display it empty and set it on top of that stack of books. Or you can arrange colorful fruits like oranges and bananas in it for an extra pop of color.
Mirror
You can place a big mirror (or painting) on the surface you’re styling and lean it against the wall, or you can hang it two hand-widths above the surface. Now it is time to go big or go home! Make sure the mirror is almost (but not quite) as wide as the piece of furniture. You don’t want it to appear lost.
There are so many more ways you can style surfaces, like adding smaller paintings and leaning them against the wall, sourcing decorative sculptures, and using personal memorabilia. You can also leave a couple of books or magazines on your coffee table to make it look more homely. What counts is that you love the result and it makes you smile.
5. Create Your Gallery Wall
Maybe you already have some pieces of art up on the wall and can repurpose them or use them as a starting point for your gallery wall. Instead of leaving the rest of your walls white and empty or buying new art, you can frame photos, postcards or even fabrics, jewelry, dried flowers, or any item that you find pretty or bears meaning to you.
Don’t hold back! Whatever comes to mind, try it out. If you don’t like it, you can always undo it.
Reference points for cohesiveness
When mapping out your gallery wall, place its center roughly at eye level. Then look for reference points in the room. That can be furniture or a window.
To create unity, you can hang your collection of framed masterpieces two hand-widths above a sofa or other piece of furniture like the surface you just styled with decorative items.
If there is a window nearby, that can be a great reference point as well. You can arrange the top and bottom lines of your gallery wall at the same height as the window frame.
That’s how you create cohesiveness and create a cozy feeling at home.
Here are some gallery wall layout tips:
- Measure the designated wall and find a space of that size on your floor. Lay out all your pieces and move them around until you’re happy with the design.
- Start with the largest piece and place it a little off-center. I will serve as the base of your design.
- Position other large pieces separate from the first one. Spreading out large pieces gives your design balance.
- Now add the smaller pieces in between. Mix vertical and horizontal frames to add character and make the gallery wall more interesting to the eye. You can even add unframed three-dimensional pieces like wall plates to the mix.
- Don’t forget to take a photo of the result. Now all you have to do is transfer the design from the photo to your wall.
6. Utilize Texture
Soft textures make rooms warmer and cozier and should not be underestimated. Rotate throw pillows between rooms for a quick fresh look. Fold a cozy throw blanket at the end of your bed or couch, or drape one over a chair for added texture. Maybe you can create a whole cozy corner with throw pillows and blankets?
If you’re super motivated, you could also rotate curtains to give your windows a fresh look. If you have throw rugs, you can flip them over and enjoy the other side’s color.
I need a minimum of one rug in every room, preferably more if the size of the room allows it.
- Place your dining table and all the chairs on a large enough rug.
- Place at least the front legs of chairs and couches in your conversation area on a rug. If your rug is big enough, place all the furniture in that area on it.
- You can also place a rug under or at the end of your bed and a long rug in a hallway.
A rug ties the room together!
💡 Extra tip for your rug-related questions
When in doubt about the size, go bigger. In case you don’t have a big enough rug, you can combine two or more smaller rugs.
If you’re looking to purchase new textiles like cushions or rugs, opt for soft materials and warm colors for extra coziness. If you wish, you can of course throw in other types of textures like faux leather pillows.
7. Bring Nature Into Your Home
Remember I promised we’d talk more about plants? We are almost there, but first: how much time do you think we spend indoors? If you said anything around 90 percent, you’re good!
A 2007 study suggests that people in seven regions of Europe
spend over 90 percent of their time indoors.
That is a lot of time. Oh, and just in case you don’t live in Europe, the same goes for North American countries and probably many other places in the world.
As for the good news: don’t underestimate your trusty houseplant, because it can make you happier at home! It seems humans like to be connected to nature. We all know plants can improve air quality. But did you know that being around plants can also reduce stress and boost your mood? And that is just what we want.
If you have plants at home, you can rotate them for a new vibe. Try to have at least one plant in each room. Larger houseplants look great on the floor and smaller plants on your furniture.
Knowing my not-so-green thumb, I buy low-maintenance plants. I also set a weekly reminder on my phone to water them because otherwise, I would just forget. (If you have any plant-related insider tips, post them in the comments and I’ll be eternally grateful.)
Of course, you can also easily add a touch of color and life with fresh-cut flowers in a vase. Just make sure you replace them before they wither.
Speaking of which, if you are just now remembering that poor, dead plant on your window sill, accept its fate and throw it out. You want to bring life into your home, and a dead plant does not do that. Dead plants and dried flowers are not good Feng Shui either, in case you didn’t know. (Don’t tell anybody about the dried lavender on my dining table, please.)
8. Make Your Own Room Scent
When I started to create my Happy Home, I overlooked anything that wasn’t visible or at least touchable. I missed out because smell is such an important part of design. Luckily, I know that now and making your home smell good is an easy improvement you can make for a happier home. Follow this recipe for your own natural DIY room scent:
Pick 2 or 3 of these ingredients:
- Fruits: oranges, lemon, lime, apples, pears, berries
- Spices: cinnamon, ginger, grated nutmeg, cloves, whole black peppercorns
- Herbs: mint, lemongrass, rosemary, thyme, a little bit of lavender
- Others: vanilla, rose petals, pine needles
Mix the ingredients in a pot and add water. Place on the stove, wait for the water to boil, turn down the heat, and leave the mixture to simmer. Top up the water level with hot water as needed to keep the simmer going, and enjoy how good your home smells.
❗️ Keep an eye on the pot and turn off the heat if the water level gets too low to avoid burning the ingredients.
In case you don’t know where to begin, here are some proven combinations for you:
- Orange & lemon slices and a little bit of mint for a citrusy and refreshing scent
- Apple slices, cinnamon sticks and cloves for a warm, inviting Christmas vibe
- Rosemary, lemon slices and a little bit of lavender for herbal relaxation
Remember that scents are personal, and what I like may not be your cup of tea. This is your chance to experiment and find your favorite ingredients and combinations.
That’s it, these are the 8 changes you can make today to create your cozy home.
Now I’d like to hear from you
These are my eight tips you can use to make your home happier today. Which one will you use first? Or maybe I didn’t mention one of your favorite tips. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
