Many of us have visited a home that exudes so much warmth and coziness that we curl up on the sofa and find ourselves falling asleep. But what is it that makes guests feel comfortable and want to linger? Is it the inviting colors, the clutter-free surfaces or the lively conversations around the kitchen table? And how can you get that feeling in your home?
You’ve painted the walls, purchased decent furniture, hung art and bought accents from Ikea and Pier 1 Imports, but you silently wonder, ‘‘Why doesn’t my place feel like that?’’
Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, author of ‘‘Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure’’ (Bantam Dell, $14), says making your apartment or house feel more homey doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. The solution could be as simple as rearranging your furniture for better air flow or adding small touches such as fresh-cut flowers and burning candles.
Even if you don’t go through Gillingham-Ryan’s entire eight-week process – which includes deep-cleaning your home, adding lighting, decluttering, painting, adding décor and finally throwing a party – he offers these suggestions to make your house or apartment feel more inviting:
— Light it up: Get more lamps; don’t rely on the overhead light in the center of the ceiling. Have three points of light at eye level when you’re sitting in each room and tie them in to points in a triangle. This will create the warmth you’re seeking.
‘‘The right light can make a room feel very warm or very cold,’’ agreed Marc Bordet of Bordet Interiors in Quincy. ‘‘Candles can create a mood and there are so many scented candles, so you can find one that reminds you of something comforting, like coffee. When I travel, I always bring a candle with me because the scent of a candle makes a big difference.’’
— Don’t let your television control the room: Avoid furnishing your living room like a movie theater. Instead of placing the sofa across from the TV, create a more social space with at least three points of seating facing one another. Consider hiding the TV in an armoire.
Marcia Connors, a partner in Growing Space Interior Design in Canton, recommends arranging furniture in a circle or U-shape and spacing seating areas 2 to 8 feet apart to promote good conversation.
‘‘That way … people can see each other and talk to each other,’’ she said. ‘‘You might want to do an L-shape with a sofa and loveseat or a sectional and possibly a couple extra chairs you can bring in to make it a circle.’’
Bordet recommends creating a reading nook, a TV-free zone that is filled instead with a chair, comfortable pillows and quilts, candles, fresh flowers, maybe soft music and a side table to hold a cup of tea. Bordet has created reading nooks out of old bathrooms, closets and other unused spaces in homes.
‘‘People lead such busy lives,’’ Bordet said. ‘‘A reading nook is what’s becoming most popular as a cozy spot in the house. It takes you away from everybody and becomes a personal spot to relax.’’
— Cook at home: The heart of the home grows cold when you don’t cook at home. Buying food is one of the most affordable ways of spoiling yourself. It provides the best aromas, creates good energy and sends off a signal that you use your home, giving it that cozy feeling.
— Create a landing strip: So much of what clutters a house comes through the front door. Create a place near the front door to toss or sort through mail, slot things and manage correspondence such as junk mail, magazines, letters and bills. Also, leave sunglasses, wallets, keys and other items that create clutter elsewhere in this spot.
Ellen Rossano of Madison James & Co. in Hanover said organizing items can go a long way to making a home feel more livable. Use baskets or fabric-covered boxes and put like things together, she said, such as newspapers in one box and mail in another.
— Clean up: New décor is not going to solve a home’s ‘‘breathing’’ issue. Get rid of clutter, then grab a broom, mop, dust pan, vacuum cleaner and get to work. It’s the most affordable way to revitalize your home.
— Draw from inspiration: Use any collected group of colors from a necktie, scarf, pillow or rug. That’s your color world. Stick to it while decorating a room and you’ll never go wrong by choosing a jarring color that doesn’t go with the room.
Rossano said a plain sofa can be made cozier by adding layers, such as pillows and throws. Even some brush fringe on a pillow or a monogram on a throw adds yet another comfy layer.
— Honor yourself: Choose some favorite items that hold great significance or tell a story about your life – such as family photographs, your college diploma or vacation mementoes – and prominently display them in your home.
Bordet said a homeowner can make a place cozy by personalizing it.
‘‘What makes a house cozy is what people love: a picture of their children, mementoes that have been passed down from family member to family member, a collection of things to show where someone has traveled. It shows the soul of the person, what they like to do. The essence of your coziness is what you are and what you love.’’
Rossano said a simple bookcase can be dressed up by including personal items: artwork, plants, pottery, photographs.
‘‘You can lay some books on their side and put a little frame on top of it,’’ to use the books like a stand, she said. ‘‘Don’t do it in the same place on every shelf, but alternate right and left. We also like to put like things together. With travel books about Italy, you might put a photo of Tuscany.’’
She also recommends accessorizing unusual places, such as the spaces above doors and windows. Use small pottery dishes or plates, she said. Or you can stencil and paint a cherished saying, such as ‘‘Live, love, laugh.’’
Tags: Home Furniture
