5 Easy Ways to Cozy-Up Your Home (on a budget)

It has been raining pretty much non-stop for the past few days here in Southern CA. This is something very unusual for this area and it can be quite dangerous to drive because the drainage systems aren't built for this amount of rain. This has me home and thinking a lot about the importance of having a welcoming and cozy space. You don't need a big home or a lot of money to totally enhance your space. It should be a place you look forward and enjoy relaxing in!

Here are some easy ways you can enhance your space!

1. Add candles/or decorative lighting (low lights)

Layer your lighting so that in the evening you can avoid your general lighting all together. This doesn't just help with adding warmth and coziness; but it also helps you produce melatonin and wind down for bed! It also important to consider the color emitted from the light bulb. While led lights are great for the environment, they tend to emit cooler lighting. I suggest investing in wifi-powered led light bulbs-where you can change the color on your phone!

This is what I purchased for my apartment. It is super affordable and can definitely set the mood for the environment. You can click or tap the image for the link. (Not sponsored).

2. Minimalism

Now you may be thinking this is quite contrary to a "cozy" home. When a lot of people think of minimalism they think of a cold, empty space, but that is not reality. Eliminating excess clutter can actually soothe your mind and allow you to think clearer.

Keep your space as organized as possible/clean the DAY BEFORE so you have a comfortable stress-free environment to come home to.

This was quite easy for me before I had a baby and now it is much more difficult. My best advice for this is to start small and have lots of grace on yourself! Set little goals such as just to declutter 1 drawers a day-or 1 weekend day. I am definitely still working on this myself...but ask yourself-do you use it? Does it truly add meaning to your life? In this day and age it is so easy to get sucked into consumerism-with social media always promoting the newest product. While I love shopping, it is important to remember what is most important in life-people love you for YOU! Not for what you wear or have!

3. Soft rugs and throw blankets

Physical touch is very important for humans to function. It has been said that a person's happiness can be greatly elevated by 10 hugs a day. This is because of the release of oxytocin (the happiness hormone) in the brain. This is why babies and young children will want to be held or hugged so often-it calms and relaxes them. For adults is not possible for everyone to archive, and some people do not like physical touch. Having a weighted, soft blanket has been shown to help people-especially people with anxiety and autism that cannot tolerate hugging.

I found this article really interesting in how many benefits there are to weighted blankets! I recently was gifted one myself and I absolutely love it!

If you are not into throw blankets, you can also add textured accent pillows and rugs to your space. Texture and warmth go hand and hand!

4. Use Color (Tactfully)

Contrary to popular opinion right now...color is not all bad. Now trust me, I am 100% a neutrals girl but thanks to university I was taught how to appreciate color. Color has the power to evoke emotions and even improve mental health. I wrote a whole separate blog post on it that you can read here.

Pops of color can add warmth and a homey-ness to your space. In my internship I learned how to tactfully place pops of color. This can be done by only including it in things that can be removable such as a decor pillow, blanket, etc. Personally I suggest incorporating some shades of pink, red, or green. Now I know when you think pink you're probably thinking of barbie but there is lots of variations of pink. This is a beautiful example from Farrow&Ball.

Some other colors I am loving right now are deep browns and oranges. Tactfully adding pops of color can allow for so much flexibility as you can change your decor depending on the season!

5. Thrifting!

Thrift stores serve a very useful purpose!

1) You can bring stuff you no longer need

2) You can find unique pieces to fit your unique home!

Recently I visited an antique fair in my area and there were so many unique vases that were just a fraction of the prices I was looking online for a particular client. Once you have a vision I suggest first going to a few fairs and thrift stores before considering purchasing new. While it may take a bit more patience and time, it is definitely worth it.

If you need help finding a vision for your space I would love to help you! I offer consultation and renderings to further assist you in envisioning your space. The possibilities are endless! Even if you live in a rental! Find more here.