Your home is your own private sanctuary, which is why it’s important to make it as relaxing and comfortable as possible, especially at Christmas, but at any time of the year too. By making your home cosier, you can enjoy your surroundings all the more, not only during the festive season but all year round. As well as benefitting yourself and the people you live with, a cosy home is also a welcoming environment to entertain family and friends, so you can spread warmth and joy all year round when you create a snug, relaxing environment. For inspiration, take a look at these cosy home hacks for Christmas and beyond and start transforming your surroundings today:

Use Layered Lighting

Layered lighting allows you to adjust the ambience in any room in an instant. With different types of lighting, you can create multi-purpose environments that lend themselves to any purpose. If you’re working from home or preparing a complicated recipe, for example, a bright desk lamp or cool, under-cupboard spotlights might be what you need. However, when you’re relaxing in the evening or enjoy a family meal, softer, accent lighting may be more appropriate. With a range of lighting options, it’s easy to make your home feel cosier at any time. 

Add Texture

Using different textures to decorate your home increases your comfort and makes certain features stand out. Textured wallpaper or paint makes rooms feel more intimate, for example, while soft throws and blankets offer added warmth. When you incorporate pillows, cushions and natural textures, like wood and cotton, into your interior design, you can create a snug atmosphere and enjoy ultimate relaxation. 

Update Window Dressings

Bare windows are out of the question if you want your home to feel cosy all year round. However, you don’t have to settle for standard drapes or curtains either. If you want to add extra warmth to your décor, try adding shutters to your windows. Whether you want to redress bay windows or opt for a partial, café style, shuttercraft.co.uk have a wide range of styles and options. With waterproof coatings, you can even use shutters to enhance moisture-rich rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms. 

Light the Fire

A roaring fire isn’t just the perfect Winter accessory, it’s a great way to keep your home feeling cosy all year round. Whether you have a log fire, wood burner or a state-of-the-art electric fire and LED screens, it’s the ideal way to add warmth to your living areas on chillier Spring and Summer evenings. As well as creating a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a fun way to keep your home feeling festive throughout the year too. 

Use Scents

Using the right scents can transform your home into a relaxing retreat from the world and leave you feeling cosier than ever. Lavender, lemon and jasmine are known for their relaxing properties, while cinnamon, vanilla and ginger evoke happy Christmas memories and bring cheer at any time of the year. Use scented candles, essential oils and diffusers to enrich your home with scents and aromas that promote tranquillity and help you to unwind. 

Choose Dark Colours

If you want to make rooms more feel warmer, choose a dark colour for the walls. Forest greens, navy blues and rich burgundies are perfect for a cosy feel. If you’re worried that a dark colour will make a room feel too small, don’t be. With contrasting white trims, you can maintain a spacious feel, while using the colour to create a sense of intimacy. Alternatively, use a dark colour on an accent wall to keep the room feeling cosy without closing it off too much. 

Get Rid of Draughts

Your home will never feel cosy if you’re struggling to stay warm, so make the effort to eradicate draughts. Weatherstripping is an easy way to stop warm air leaking out of your property and it only takes a few minutes to apply. As well as helping to keep your home warm and cosy, it also boosts energy efficiency and can reduce the cost of your heating bills too!

Investing in a metal roof can also keep your home warm and cosy.  These are great for protection from rain and snow, and they are long-lasting, so purchasing a metal roof is a great investment for the long run!  If you live in a cold climate or simply want to be prepared for the winter weather, metal roofing will keep the cold out and insulate your home.

Warm Up Wooden Floors

Wooden flooring can look spectacular and it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a low maintenance and durable flooring option. However, a bare wooden floor can feel cold underfoot and may detract from the warmth of the rest of your décor. Fortunately, a soft rug is all you need to restore the balance and make a room feel more welcoming.

Create a Cosy Corner

Look for areas in your home where you’re not making the best use of the space available and use it to create a cosy corner. A comfortable chair, floor lamp and a throw on your landing or in the corner of your kitchen is too inviting to resist and will be a popular feature with anyone who visits your home.

Make Centrepieces

Adding a centrepiece to your dining, kitchen or coffee tables allows you to bring your décor together and puts the finishing touches on your interior design. Use seasonal foliage to reflect the time of year and you’ll have an on-trend addition that ups the cosiness factor yet keeps your home feeling fresh.

Transform Your Hallway

The hallway is the first part of your home you step into, so you’ll want to maximise the impact it has and make it feel welcoming and warming. Many people overlook the hallway because it’s not somewhere they spend a lot of time. However, it has a big effect on the ambience of your home, so it’s worth spending a little extra time on making it look and feel special. A bench or coat stand is versatile and functional but adds character to your home too. Similarly, adding a mirror to the hallway can brighten up a dark area without resorting to harsh lighting. 

Bake Some Cookies

The smell of home-baked cookies is hard to beat and it’s certainly a great way to make your home feel cosy! If you want to recreate a Christmassy feel at any time of year, pop some gingerbread cookies in the oven. As the aroma fills the room, you’ll be reminded of festive celebrations and all the joy they bring. 

Rearrange Your Furniture

Changing the layout of your home can have a big effect on how cosy it feels. Moving furniture away from the walls and closer to a fireplace or stove will keep you feeling snug while positioning furniture closer together makes the room feel more intimate and prompts group conversations. Whether you’re relaxing with your family and entertaining guests, rearranging the furniture is an easy way to change the dynamic. 

Hang Your Favourite Photographs

In a digital era, it’s easy to leave your favourite photographs on your phone or laptop. However, having them printed and hanging them around your home reminds you of the people you love and incorporates your true personality into your décor a bit more. Choose a black and white or sepia tone to add warmth or design your own photo wall to create a unique feature. 

Make Your Home Cosier from the Outside In

When you’re making your home feel warmer and cosier, you’ll be focusing on the interior of your property. However, don’t forget to upgrade your front door and entranceway too. This is the first part of your property that people really see, so it can make all the difference. With new door hardware, exterior lighting and plant pots on either side of the door, you can reflect the cosiness of your home before anyone even steps inside. What’s more – your cosy styling will bring a smile to your face every time you approach your home.