Cosy your home
Cosy your home
Amanda Delaney has the lowdown on creating a gorgeous retreat for the colder months
As the temperature drops, it’s the perfect time to look at how we can add warmth and comfort into our homes to create that perfect cosy retreat.
FIREPLACE FOCUS
Lighting a fire immediately conjures up the feeling of cosiness and warmth. Whether you are using wood, gas multifuel, bioethanol or electricity, the flames provide a perfect focal point, instantly turning your living room into a warm and relaxing retreat. Considering adding a new fireplace? The choice is endless, from stunning period fireplaces to contemporary double sided or ceiling hanging stoves. If you have a fireplace but no flue it is still possible to add a contemporary bioethanol fire. Simply styling this area with logs, fairy lights and candles will also make a difference.
Trending: Bio fires – fuelled by bioethanol liquid made from plant extracts.
SEASONAL AROMAS
We use all our senses to form our emotions and smell is an important element to consider when we want to seasonalise a room. Adding a beautifully scented candle or room diffuser creates feelings of relaxation. Rich and spicy aromas create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, for a final finishing touch.
Trending: Electric diffusers – wellbeing at the touch of a button
LOVE YOUR TEXTURES
We all love to snuggle on the sofa with soft warm throws and cushions so now’s your chance to indulge. Take away the chills of autumn by mixing your textures using wool, plush velvets, boucle, soft weaves and faux fur. Combine heavy textures with refined ones and mix large and plain patterns to create a sense of comfort and luxury.
Trending: Chunky knits and faux fur throws.
LAYER YOUR LIGHTING
Switch off your downlights and combine table and floor lights with warm pendant lighting, to create a softer glow. Now is the time to turn your dimmers down and take control of the level of light for a cosy setting. Add led strip lighting under shelves, worktops and in display cabinets for even more atmosphere. Candles are a great addition, especially on shelving and fireplace surrounds. Introducing warm twinkly micro lights in hurricane glasses gives a special glow.
Trending: Fabulous fringes and animal inspired lamps.
HEAT UP YOUR ROOM COLOURS
Adding a rich colour palette to your home will instantly turn up the heat. Introduce beautiful velvet or textured cushions and accessories in burnt oranges, ruby reds, deep blues and jade greens. Add a little matt gold or brass as an accent colour in a coffee table, lamp bases, vases and picture frames. Embrace colour and add it to your walls. Consider the current trend for adding colour to the ceiling. Hanging rich coloured wallpaper or even a mural on one wall will immediately increase the level of cosiness.
Trending: Deep colours on ceilings as well as walls.
WARMING THE FLOOR
Adding a textured rug will visually warm your room and take the edge off cooler wood and stone floors without underfloor heating – the larger the better. Ensure that it runs up to or under your sofas for a neat finish, or place in front of a statement chair and floor lamp to cosy up a reading nook. Flatweaves and outdoor rugs are perfect to add to kitchens and open plan kitchen/dining areas where there is heavy traffic flow and the likelihood of spillages as they are easier to clean.
Trending: Outdoor rugs are heading indoors.
Amanda Delaney is an interior design expert from Decorbuddi.com
