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Lately my day job, combined with being almost seven months pregnant, is leaving me pretty tired by 5 p.m. I’ve been thinking more and more about what makes my home a comfortable place to be — something anyone can relate to. Here are some of our best tips for making your home a cozy place that you’re always happy to come home to.
1. Diversify lighting. I’m a proponent of having three points of light in a room. Make your home work for you by being able to switch between brighter, more concentrated light when you need to focus and something softer when you want to relax. Build in that kind of flexibility by installing a dimmer switch for an overhead light or table lamp — both doable DIY projects.
2. Invest in comforting textures. What’s cozier than soft pillows, throws, and blankets? The bonus is they’re inexpensive and portable. I’m a fan of other small splurges too (for me, it’s good-smelling hand soap).
3. Don’t kill yourself getting clean;
accept the never-ending cycle of household chores
. I feel better in my home when it doesn’t look dirty or really disorganized, but I also don’t want to feel as if I’m constantly cleaning. While many people like keeping a cleaning schedule, I like
incorporating chores into my daily routine. I’d also point you to
4. Carve out a space for what you care about. Even when you’re short on space, there’s always a way to prioritize what’s meaningful for you. Whether it’s
turning a closet into a craft zone, designating a cozy
reading nook or a
place for your bike, or
making your kitchen more functional with pegboard, follow your bliss.
5. Make space by paring down. Right now I feel like I have a lot of
stuff that I no longer want to give room in my home. A combination of donating and throwing things out will lighten the load in terms of your home’s need for storage and your (perceived) need to organize.
