Cozy. Warm. Inviting. These words describe the perfect home that exudes comfort and security. Warmth transcends all areas, from physical warmth to social warmth; according to the Mindfulness Alliance Organization, “Research suggest the same part of the brain involved in processing physical temperature is also involved in processing interpersonal warmth (trust) information.” The two are most certainly aligned, with warmth signifying safety, connection, and trust, and when an individual experiences that physical warmth, they more often, experience those feelings as well. This is why it’s important to create warmth at home. How do you create warmth in your home?
In an article, “6 Cozy Décor Trends That Will Make You Excited to Stay Home This Winter” by Real Simple, they recommend “pouring a little love into the focal point of your living room or family room with thoughtful fireplace accents—like a vintage wood bin, tools or fireplace fender—which are having a moment in the design world.” Here’s a few more tips on how to create warmth at home.
Tips for Adding Warmth to Your Home
Textures & Layers
The more you mix and match textures, the cozier your home will be. From fuzzy, plush rugs to tactile fabrics like chenille and suede, to material like rattan and wicker baskets, each texture can provide layers to your space, while simultaneously creating both physical warmth and authentic connection.
Soft Lighting
More often than not, harsh lighting takes precedent in our rooms, affecting our moods and the spaces that we’re in. Soft lighting can set the tone and ambience of a room, emanating relaxing and calming vibes. Whether you opt for soft white bulbs, candles, or the warm flames from your electric fireplace, each lighting has its merits for cultivating an ambient ambiance.
Fragrances & Scents
Similar to lighting, finding the right scents can dictate the ambiance of the room. Discovering scents that you like and that are suitable for a certain room can be a fun process. A few popular, relaxing scents include lavender, chamomile, vanilla, jasmine, sandalwood, cedarwood, and eucalyptus. Choose between candles or diffusers.
Earthy Colors and Rich Shades
While beige is a staple neutral to color your walls, earthy colors and rich shades can still create warmth in an interesting balance of light and dark shades. Mixing evergreen, chocolate, mustard and burgundy with wall colors and accents can help you achieve this visual warmth in unique ways.
Biophilic Design
“Biophilic design” has been an increasingly popular term in the interior design world whose meaning is the innate, human tendency to connect with nature and the natural world around us. Designers agree that having natural elements like live plants and wooden accents, add to the liveliness and overall warmth of a home. Herbs, leafy plants, and flowers – these houseplants not only add more zen to a room, but add more color and dimension, too. In addition, there is something special about wooden accents that exude more warmth than metal, glass, and ceramic counterparts. This organic material can take root in your home as a coffee table, a bookshelf, or even paneling or flooring.
Customized Touches
Finally, the last piece to creating a warm home is to add your own personal touch to your interior spaces. Hanging family photos, adorning shelves with trinkets from your travels, displaying your favorite books, or experimenting with patterned wallpaper, are just a few ways you can express your personal style. Each element adds up to a lived-in home that displays coziness, sanctuary, and of course, warmth.
