We tend to want different things from our home, depending on the season. In the summer months, we want to feel the warm air and to have a yard that allows us to enjoy the season to the fullest. In the winter months, we hope that it’ll be a place where we can sit back and ride out the cold weather in peace and comfort. Of course, these things won’t just happen. You’ll need to make it happen.
In this blog, we’re going to focus on how you can make your home more cozy and inviting. You’ll feel the benefit of this all year round, but especially during the winter months.
Lovely Beginnings
Making your home look and feel more inviting begins with the front yard. This helps to set the tone for the rest of your property. Plus, it’s just so much nicer to return home after a long day of work to see a home that looks perfect from the first moment you see it. There are plenty of things you can do that’ll help you to have this feeling! It largely comes down to time and care. If you can set some time aside to landscape the front, hang outdoor plants, and correct the imperfections that accumulate over time, then you’ll be mostly there.
You can make the front of your home extra inviting during the winter months by adding outdoor lighting. This can really cheer you up if you’re arriving home when it’s dark.
Through the Front Door
Next, think about what happens when you walk through the front door. In many homes, this is a bit of a chaotic area, one that’s filled with coats, keys, shoes, and everything else. You can make the front easier to manage by making a few simple changes—for example, a little bit of organization. If you have a place for your belongings, then you’ll prevent many of the problems that other homeowners have. Also, think about lighting — it should be bright. Some fresh flowers will help to complete the look.
Change the Windows
People don’t often think all that much about their windows, but they should. They have such a big impact on the look and feel of the property. For instance, they determine how much natural light can pass through into the home and also how much heat escapes. During the winter, you want to maximize sunlight and minimize heat escape, and good windows can do that. If it’s been some time since you upgraded your windows, look at getting in touch with a company such as Danbury Window. They’ll be able to fit beautiful windows that make your home cozier and more inviting in subtle but impactful ways.
Other Heating Boosts
Of course, you can’t expect your windows to do all the work when it comes to keeping you and your family warm. You’ll need to make sure that your home is warm from top to bottom. Because after all, is there anything worse than sitting in a cold home? Even if the place looks great, this is something that’ll have you look at real estate listings in your area. You can make your home warmer by investing in insulation, upgrading to a new boiler, and taking care of any areas where heat might escape. The result will be a property that keeps you warm no matter how chilly the weather gets, without costing you the earth.
Dangling Plants
Plants are a really underrated way to make your home look and feel nicer. They’re affordable, they’re beautiful, and you gain something just by looking after them. So why not look at adding a few to your property? While all plants will bring something to your home, there are some that will deliver more than others. The best ones are plants that are long and winding, plants that just seem to crawl in any and all directions. There’s something pretty special about unwinding in a room that feels like nature is trying to reclaim it.
Textile Goodness
It’s not rocket science to say that the more comfortable the materials you have in your home, the more you’ll enjoy being there. But it’s worthwhile saying because of how much of an impact it can have. Head down to your local home goods stuff, and look at investing in throws and rugs that are extra plush. You’ll have no problem getting out of bed on those cold January mornings when you have a warm rug beneath your feet. Also, this is an area where it’s OK to go overboard — get as blankets as you can! When they’re not in use, you can keep them in a wicker basket in the corner, which in itself will add a lovely decorative touch to your home.
Comfortable Seating
Your home might be inviting to look at, but the true measure of its comfort levels will be, well, how comfortable you can be when you’re there. While there are some couches that look nice, they’re not necessarily comfortable. And since this is your home and not a showroom, there’ll be no good if you’re hoping to sink into relaxation. So look at investing in comfortable seating for you and your family. You can pay some attention to the aesthetics of the couch, but ultimately, it’s the comfort that should come first!
Sensory Upgrades
If your senses are happy, then you’ll be happy. You can ensure that your eyes, nose, and ears get what they want by making a few subtle changes to your home. If you have soft lighting, incense in the air, and soft classical music coming through the speakers, then you’ll be deeply relaxed. It can change the complexion of the entire home, and the best part? It requires little to no effort, and can have an impact in an instant.
Nook Spots
There are times when you want to just sink into the couch and watch Netflix. But that’s escapism. When the rain or snow is falling, there can be a lot of value in embracing the season, albeit from a position of utter warmth and comfort. One of the best ways to do this is to create a cozy nook next to a window, ideally, one that offers a view. With pillows, blankets, and your favorite book, you’ll be able to sink into the best that the winter season has to offer. It’ll be the best place on earth to ride out a long Sunday spent indoors.
Touches of You
Finally, don’t forget to add some personal touches to the proceedings. If you took all the tips on this list, you’d have a comfortable house, but it wouldn’t necessarily be your home. In order to sink into true comfort, you should feel like you’re in a place that’s well and truly your own. So look at adding touches of you around the place. You can do this by putting photos on the walls, showing off your hobbies, and all-around designing the place in your image. There’s no reason not to — this is your own corner of the globe, the only one you have. Make the most of it!
Conclusion
Your home can be so much more than just a place to store your belongings and to lay your head at night. It’s a place where you should recover from the stresses and strains of the outside world. So embrace all the possibilities that it brings to you. When the biting winter winds come your way, you’ll be happy that you did it.