Top Tips for a Cosy Home

Janice Anderssen

Brrrrrr! Got out of bed this morning with great reluctance – it’s freezing! We never seem to be prepared for the cold, and yet it hits us every year without fail.

While it would be impractical to paint your home with every change of season, colour does have a great impact on how comfortable your home feels. Greens and blues are referred to as the cool colours, as these tend to slow our heartbeat, relax our muscles and lower our temperature, making us feel cool. The reds, yellows and oranges of the colour wheel are referred to as the warm colours, as these colours give the effect of making you feel warm. Taking this into consideration, with a home painted in neutral or earthy hues, the quick and easy way to add warmth into your home - without having to continuously paint and repaint – is with accessories and accents.

Here are some more great tips:

- Splashes of warm colour can be introduced into your home in many ways; cushions, rugs, curtains and even accessories all add to the final look and create a cosy home.

- Add a deep or warm-coloured table runner or cloth to your coffee table. Position a few scented candles in the centre. Dark velvet-covered boxes, tapestry pillows, faux fur cushions, and candles are great accessories for adding instant warmth.

- An essential winter decor accessory is the throw. Choose soft and luxurious textures, warm colours and washable fabrics. Drape a thick and chunky throw over the arm or back of a sofa. When selecting a throw bigger is better – that way you can snuggle up together!

- Add rugs if you have ceramic tile or laminate floors. Rugs help to soften the look and feel of floors and add warmth underfoot. Rugs also add texture and pattern to a room. Again, choose deep warm colours.

- Lighting has an important role in adding a feeling of warmth to a home. Soft lighting from table and floor lamps add a feeling of instant warmth to a cold room. Use low-wattage globes for a soft, relaxing light.

- Bring the furniture closer together to give the room a cosier feel. Use heavy fabrics for slipcovers to add on more warmth. Velvet has a luxurious, warm texture and a soft sumptuous feel. Add on multiple colours and textures for cushions.

- Wooden accessories on tables, beautiful lampshades, brass and copper ornaments, and plenty of cushions will add a feeling of warmth to any living room.

- Get the fire burning and pull the armchairs up close. You don’t have a fireplace, that’s not a problem. The gas heaters available today can be just as attractive and provide enough heat to warm up a medium-sized room with ease.

- Even bathrooms can be given instant warmth for the winter months. Deep, fluffy red towels and mats, soft lighting and lots of bubble bath on hand to immerse yourself in warmth and luxury on those cold winter nights.

Once you’ve made your home all warm and toasty for those cold nights, remember that at least here in South Africa our winter is normally short and quick. Thank goodness - I’m already yearning for summer!

Janice

www.Home-Dzine.co.za