The following contribution is from another author.
The concept of cozy is something that is incredibly personal to the individual. There’s a variety of cozy aesthetic movements, for example, cottagecore, that aren’t just visually appealing, but do so much more. But when it comes to setting up a cozy existence, this can be at odds with the overly modern and technological approaches to living. Many people are looking to reclaim the simple life, and it’s easy to see why because of so much perfection being chased in the world there comes the time when we need to focus on the things that rejuvenate us. So when it comes to aesthetic renovation and design, what does it take to create a cozy ambiance?
Focus on Natural Elements
Natural materials will bring warmth and coziness. In terms of design, materials such as stone, wood, rattan, or jute add texture and warmth. These materials can be found in a variety of different implements, for example, linen curtains or a reclaimed wood dining table. We can also choose a natural color palette with sandy beiges, warm browns, and soothing greens.
We need to play with the psychological elements of natural materials because this is what will make us feel calmer and therefore cozier. In a modern home, one of the biggest issues we can have is very little in the way of natural elements, especially when technology takes over. If you want your large television and smart home tech, you need to overcompensate with the appropriate color palette.
Bring in Natural Lighting
Natural lighting is one of the best ways to achieve a soft and ambient glow. Modern homes can rely on harsh overhead lighting, and this is where relying on candles, sconces, and table lamps can create a softer hue. You can also incorporate natural lighting by very simply maximizing the volume of light in the home. For example, these stylish patio doors look fabulous, but they can also bring a lot more natural light into the home.
You can also benefit from adding skylights to the property. Natural light provides a range of benefits in the home, for example, boosting your mood, increasing vitamin D production, and creating a brighter and more inviting living space. When we bring more natural light into the space, this creates a bright and airy feel but also makes you feel more connected to nature, and the aforementioned patio doors can facilitate a smoother transition between the inside and the outside that contributes to a far more cohesive sensation.
Make the Bedroom a True Sanctuary
Enhancing the bedroom is an excellent way to improve that coziness. There are a number of methods to incorporate, for example, investing in high-quality bedding and incorporating soft textures, as well as calming color palettes.
Lots of people retreat to their bedroom because this is the only place where they potentially feel they can relax and if you are struggling to create something cozy, especially when the weather outside is frightful, then you need to double down on those after-used components that will enhance your comfort and relaxation. Making a space feel lived in is such a simple thing, but will do an awful lot in terms of cozy aesthetics.
Nature-Inspired Patterns and Motifs
We need to get the best of both worlds in creating a modern-looking home while also nurturing us and making us feel cozy, and this is why, in terms of design, you can benefit from incorporating nature-inspired patterns and motifs. It all depends on your taste, but you can incorporate stylized floral and botanical motifs, geometric patterns, as well as earthy color palettes.
Use the Concept of Blending
Smart home features can optimize a home’s ambiance in so many ways, such as controlling the lighting, but what we need to remember is that we should select the right types of devices that blend into the decor rather than standing out. Choosing smart devices with a thoughtful design, for example, picture frame TVs, can complement your interior style.
You should also choose the right type of tech that will make your life more comfortable, rather than just going for the wow factor and think about maintaining a clean and streamlined aesthetic, which will make a big difference in the overall look of your home. Functionality is such an important component, especially over something like flashiness, and we should take the time to focus on the features that will integrate naturally into our daily lives.
Do Not Forget the Senses
Parts of what sets a cozy mood is more than just how something looks but it needs to feel relaxing and rejuvenating. Depending on the season, you can incorporate seasonal scents and decor to help you feel more at ease. These could include candles or essential oils, and refreshing scents such as pine and citrus, as well as infusing the senses with seasonal experiences, for example, seasonal flavors and ingredients in your baking and cooking or if you are so inclined playing seasonal music or natural sounds.
The key is about layering in these elements that can transform your home into a welcoming reflection of what makes you feel at ease, as well as playing with the seasonality. The concept of comfort is something that is unique to the individual and our thoughts and feelings about it can change. This is why embracing things that make us feel more relaxed can help, especially if we don’t necessarily want to make huge aesthetic changes to our picture-perfect home.
Create Intimate Settings
One of the benefits of a great cozy retreat is the fact that you are making it more personable and personal. There can be a feeling that in modern homes that the propensity for formality overrides any sense of comfort. We are all guilty of it especially when we want to create that show home vibe. This filters into our whole attitudes towards the space, and if you spend a long time lusting after picture-perfect furniture that’s not comfortable or flooring designs that truly look amazing and make you the envy of your neighbors, but you won’t relax in the space in case there’s a minor scratch or scrape this will never become a truly relaxing environment.
This is where creating intimate areas and little nooks for relaxation can make all the difference. You may want to keep your kitchen or living room pristine looking, which is absolutely fine, but look at minimizing your desire for formality. Because if you start to think about making the perfect imperfect, you may find yourself slowly relaxing. Look at things like a little reading space or somewhere where you can conduct certain hobbies and slowly you become more in tune with the space because if you are focused on creating a show home will you ever truly relax in it? This is only something you can answer.
The hardest thing to achieve when it comes to cozy aesthetics is learning how it can work with the modern home that for all intents and purposes has been designed to do away with cozy and comfy. That show-home vibe is something we’re all lusting after because of the clean lines and minimalist design, therefore, many people don’t maximize their home’s comfort and coziness. It is certainly possible to have your cake and eat it with regards to these two conflicting approaches, but you need to remember that incorporating nature is something that can help you achieve cozier aesthetics. Comfort and functionality are not just about how something looks, and when redesigning a home, this should be our first port of call.
