From stacking logs by the fire to adding candles and faux fur rugs, there are plenty of ways to optimize staying cozy at home while we wait for spring to arrive. In Denmark, they call this hygge; and here in the U.S., we’re not immune to its charms. The core idea is simple: when it’s dark outside, we bring the light inside, creating a soothing space that will lift the spirits.
To help you optimize staying cozy, our Charleston interior designers suggest trying some of the following tips at home.
Accent with Wooden Charleston Home Furniture
There is an inherent warmth that emanates from wooden floors, and the same is true of other elements of wood in the home. If you are looking for just a few pieces of Charleston home furniture to instantly revitalize a space, look to wood first. A dark stained wood sculpture, wooden chandelier, or wooden end table adds a touch of natural elegance that instantly cozies up a room. For a simple upgrade that will bring organic vibes to your kitchen table, our Laurel Wooden Bowl is a must!
Layer Rugs Around Your Charleston Home Furniture
When it’s chilly outside, there’s nothing worse than bare feet on ice-cold floors. Luckily, there are numerous ways to use rugs as cozy home decor. If you want to change the way a space looks, start from the floor and work up. Adding a large rug can completely change the feel of a room, and our Charleston interior designers are happy to help you create a custom-fit rug. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also try your hand at layering rugs for an extra cozy aesthetic. Keep it simple with a plain rug underneath and a patterned one, like this vintage beauty top. Or, if you’re feeling brave, you can mix and match patterns as long as the rest of the room is relatively simple without a lot of ornate furniture.
Add Vintage Cozy Home Decor
If you think about it, making a space cozier all comes down to psychology. When you want to feel comforted, what do you reach for? Things that are familiar to you, like your favorite home-cooked meals, family traditions passed down to you, and that old sweater that you’ve had since college. The same is true for your home. To make a space cozier, don’t add more shiny chrome fixtures; rather look to vintage fabrics and styles. A vintage rug in a contemporary space can provide the perfect balance for the home so that both warmth and modernity are represented.
Incorporate Texture into Your Space
Embracing minimalism in the summer is a welcome relief from the heat, but in the winter, it’s all about texture! Fringe, baskets, and natural fibers like wool, brick, and leather can add a much-needed touch of texture to a room. Our goatskin Bone Chair chair is practically tailor-made for sitting by the fire with a cup of cocoa. The best cozy living room decor will seem inviting even in the middle of winter!
Pillows, pillows, pillows!
Nothing says luxury like a bed or sofa full of every size pillow imaginable. There’s something truly so wonderful about an abundance of accent pillows, especially when it’s cold outside. Mix-and-match — the more the merrier, we say. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your pillow covers. What could be more appealing than curling up on a mixture of velvet and faux fur pillows?
Upgrade Your Lighting
Last, but certainly not least is the lighting in your home. Having the right types of light fixtures can instantly make the mood in a room cozy or harsh. Besides enjoying a roaring fire and lit candles, look for lights that cast a warm glow around the room. To achieve this, a light fixture should be made of natural fibers, like our braided Willow Chandelier. Don’t turn on overhead lights, instead blend a mixture of floor and table lamps, as well as wall sconces. If you are able to install a dimmer switch, this can achieve a more nuanced ambiance.
The beauty of these cozy home decor ideas is that they apply year-round! Decorating your home is a constant evolution and the longer you live somewhere, the cozier it will feel. Our Charleston interior designers are always here to help make suggestions, from the start of the planning process to the finishing details.