5 Ways to Instantly Cozy Up Your Apartment

Have you ever walked into a house that was absolutely gorgeous and completely spotless? And you’d love to live there if it wasn’t so, well … perfect?

There’s a difference between a clean home and a lived-in one. While you’re busy making sure your apartment is clutter-and-germ-free, don’t go too overboard!

A clean home is great, but a cozy home welcomes you when you walk in the door. It’s a simple atmosphere to create if you have a few affordable essentials.

A degree in interior design isn’t required to set each room up the way you’d like it. You can make your apartment comfortable and homey with these five easy-to-implement tricks! 

1. Tone Down the Lighting

Harsh lighting serves a purpose. It wakes us up and alerts us to our surroundings. It does not, however, make us relaxed and peaceful.

If you prefer the welcoming warmth of a more comfortable apartment, tone down the light sources that you use. 

The light switch that you flip on when you first walk in impacts how you see the room. Change the wattage in your bulbs so that it’s not as jarring or install a different source of light to be your go-to.

You’ve probably gotten used to the habit of flipping on the nearest switch, which makes sense. No one wants to walk into a dark house and trip over something. 

With a little adjusting, though, you can change the default light source to one of these softer sources:

• Pendant lighting, a table lamp, or wall sconces as ambient lighting
• Track lighting along a section of the hallway or room
• Dimmer switches to adjust the harsh lighting slowly

Natural lighting is one of the best sources you can have, but during the day, it can be glaring. Opt for window treatments that limit the sun’s rays to mellow and cozy instead of bright and harsh.

2. Bring in the Outdoors

There’s nothing quite like being outside in our ideal environment to relax us. It’s ironic how being out in the fresh air can make you feel the most at home. 

If this sounds like you, don’t wait until you’re outside to feel this way. Bring the outdoors into your home by adding things like wooden decor and baskets.

Thousands of years ago, the outdoor elements of stone, brick, and wood were the standard wall in every home. Though they’re not the final material anymore, they have gradually made their way into the house again as decor.

Soften up each room in your home with little touches of the outdoors in things like:

• stoneware vases
• wooden sculptures
• bamboo baskets
• stone fireplace mantels

After you finish the inanimate accents, splash each room with plants as a finishing touch!

3. Add Warmth with Texture

Texture is always a winner when it comes to making a house feel like a home. If a room feels too austere and cold, cheer it up quickly with some fabric!

There are endless ways to add texture to your home. When you’re trying to create a mood of warmth and softness, use neutral or warm-colored fabrics to accent the room.

Don’t go overboard, but anywhere you feel the need for a little extra homey touch, add it by decorating with:

• some cozy throw pillows
• a soft area rug
• new fabric on your couch and loveseat
• a throw blanket draped over the back of the couch
• some woven art pieces

All these small accessories can completely change the mood of a room, depending on what color or pattern they are. Stick with warm tones to create that restful feeling.

4. Insert a Personal Touch

A hotel room can be inviting, but without the personal touch, it’s just not home. 

The same idea applies to your apartment. Without the things that make a room yours, it still feels unfinished and impersonal.

Everyone’s personal touches are unique to them, so you can decide what yours are. Perhaps pictures of you and your loved ones, your favorite wall art, or collectible knick-knacks that make you happy.

You don’t need a lot of clutter to do this. A framed picture here and there, a bookshelf with some memorabilia on it, or a panoramic vista of your favorite scene works just fine!

5. Adjust Your Furniture

If you want people to feel welcome in your home, you have to set the scene for them. The type of furniture you choose is integral in creating a relaxing environment.

Have you ever been to someone’s house where the furniture was so intimidating that you were afraid to sit on it? Or was it so uncomfortable that you couldn’t concentrate on the conversation because of the discomfort?

You don’t want to repeat those mistakes in your apartment, so you have to be cautious with the type of furniture you use and the placement of it.

Yes, having a smaller room will limit you on the type of furniture you can have. But if you focus on bringing in comfortable, relaxing furnishings, you can still set the right mood.

If you love the chair, but the color doesn’t scream “comfy and cozy,” don’t scrap it just yet. Instead, why not look into reupholstering to a color and material that’s soft and neutral?

Keep enough furniture to invite people to sit and arrange the furniture to encourage conversation. For example, place your loveseat across from the couch instead of horizontal, and keep a coffee table between both seats.

Conclusion

When you find the balance between clean and cozy, your house instantly becomes a home that welcomes everyone who enters it. 

These few tricks are easy to implement. And once you do, you’ll have a peaceful, homey apartment that will melt the stresses of the day right off your shoulders.

Author Bio:

Aaron Hunt is the property manager for Prime Place OSU. He can be reached by email at osu@myprimeplace.com or by call or text at 405-708-7605.