A few decorative touches can help to visually warm up your home’s interior–and some can physically warm it up, as well. Does your house seem bare and a little chilly? Minimalistic design can look very contemporary, but it can also seem cold. No matter your style, you can add some cozy touches to help warm up your home decor. Here’s how.
Warm up cold floors
Rugs not only warm up wood or tile floors, but they can visually pull together the furnishings in a room. For example, do you have a seating area? Add an area rug to help define the space with lines that you can actually see. Even in a contemporary space, adding a shag rug that matches your existing floor color gives the room texture and warms up the space–visually and physically.
Block drafty windows
Window treatments can warm up a room, even if you don’t have drafty windows. Bare windows can look cold and uninviting. Warm up the room by adding window treatments; curtains, draperies and swags are all great choices. Want to soften the room without blocking your view? Hang swags that lie just above the top of the window and drape along the edges, or install an extra-long curtain rod so your panels can be opened without blocking the outdoor view.
Choose warm colors
Colors have been known to affect how you physically feel in a room, temperature-wise. That is to say, cool colors can give a chilly feeling, while warmer colors can help to warm up a room. This doesn’t mean you necessarily have to decorate with red and orange. If you prefer neutral colors, choose tans and whites with red or yellow undertones. Or, simply add a few warm-colored accents to the room.
Decorate with greenery
Plants and flowers are cozy touches that can help warm up the home decor. Choose greenery that works well with your existing decor. If you have lots of open floor space, perhaps a tree or larger plant can help to fill it up and give the room a cozier atmosphere. Soften furniture (cabinets, entertainment centers, etc.) with smaller potted plants–perhaps one with leaves that can grow to overhang the furniture.
Incorporate texture
Rough textures can give any space a warmer appeal. You can incorporate texture into your home decor with plush rugs, textured curtains, accent pillows, throw blankets and so on. Varying your patterns can also help to add visual texture, and to warm up the space.
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