Five Ways to Make a Room Cozier

Do you have a room that you always hang out in because it feels so comfy and welcoming? We do. And then we have a room that we might as well rent out to someone because we use it so infrequently. Both rooms have sofas. Both have cable television. Both have toys. So, why is one so much more appealing than the other? I would say part of the reason is location, location, location. It is right off the kitchen and is easy to hang out in. But it is a bit more than that. I think we can make the other room a cozier and more frequently used spot by:

• Adding a comfy chair. There is nothing better than a just your size chair that you can snuggle up in with a good book. Put a little table beside it to hold your tea or water bottle, a good light behind it and a cozy afghan nearby and you’ll find yourself drawn to that spot again and again.
• Using a welcoming scent. I have a lavender smelling plug in because I love the way it smells, but most people seem to prefer vanilla.
• Removing clutter. If there is a pile of magazines to sort through or a box of stuff to put away, you will subconsciously be nagging yourself to get to work on them instead of relaxing.
• Changing the wall color. We went with Magnolia for the whole room. It is a nice, neutral cream color, but it isn’t very inviting.
• Adding an electric fireplace insert. I don’t use the fireplace because the smoke bothers my allergies. (I guess that makes sense, since I am allergic to just about every type of tree out there and burning logs just puts all those allergens all over the place.) But an electric insert with realistic looking flames will make the room feel very inviting and a little warmer, too.

Do you have a room that needs to be cozied up?

Photo: SXC