15 Cozy Home Hacks: Simple Ways To Make Your Home Feel Cozy

I didn’t choose Cozy Home Hacks as a blog name at random. 

I chose it because, for me, having a cozy, warm inviting place to call home is important. It’s what I like to spend my time in, and what I like to offer to my guests. 

That’s why I want to help everyone create a cozy home for themselves, in which they feel safe and at peace. 

This post is designed to offer exactly that: tips & tricks that will help make a home feel cozy. Some were learned from interior design experts, others were personally implemented by me in my own house, and I think they definitely did the trick. 

Before we start, I have to say that these cozy home hacks below are simple suggestions and recommendations based on previous experiences. While most people would feel good in these types of spaces, I’m sure there are some who feel at ease in dark places, or in minimalist, very clean houses. So take this advice and adapt it to your needs and preferences. The most important thing is for you to feel good in that space. And that could look differently from case to case. 

Let’s go! Here are 15 cozy home hacks to help you make your home feel cozy:

1. Declutter your home

During the pandemic I realized I had to create a more relaxed, peaceful environment for me and my partner to live in. And the first thing I did was to declutter my home. (it didn’t hurt I suddenly had all the time in the world, but that’s another topic)

I wrote down all the areas I wanted to declutter or felt were too crowded, then I made a plan to tackle one at a time. One day I tackled my kitchen cabinets, another day, the closet, and so on. 

You can definitely go even smaller, and do one drawer at a time. Whatever moves the needle, like a girl on YouTube always says. 

The goal here is to declutter all the things you don’t need or want anymore, so you can create space – for yourself, your guests…or other things 🙂 Also, the decluttering process also helps make the room seem brighter and more inviting, therefore cozier. 

2. Use warm tones (wood, yellow, orange, red, beige)

This is an interior design recommendation I see everywhere and I have to agree with it: use warm tones in your decor, because it helps create a warmer space. 

I have a lot of beige, warm yellow, and some reds and oranges in my living room and I love it. I also go for wood when it comes to furniture, in bright or slightly darker colors. 

These warm tones can also be found (and used) in couch colors, throw pillows, blankets or even wall art. 

3. Add throw pillows to the mix

Throw pillows always make a room better. Just kidding, not always, but they do help give a pop of color and / or personality to a specific area of your house. 

For example, I love adding throw pillows with geometric design to my living room couch. For my bedroom, I go for yellows, oranges, beiges, you name it. 

This is probably one of the easiest cozy home hacks to implement: just make sure you have at least 2-3 throw pillows in any lounging, sit down area in your house!

4. Make the house smell nice

When it comes to creating an inviting environment for guests, one of the best ways to do it is to make the space smell nice. 

There are so many ways to go about it. You can have candles or oil diffusers. Or use wall plug-ins. You can even create a simmer pot, especially during fall or winter. Check out my post on How to make your house smell like fall for more ideas. 

Either way, make sure your home smells nice, trust me, it will make a difference! 

5. Cozy it up with rugs 

I love adding rugs to my home. Not only do they make my feet warm and cozy, especially during winter, but they can also brighten up the space, and add warmth both in appearance and functionality.

I have a beige IKEA one for my living room, and it’s great. Matches with the rest of the furniture, and it feels so good to walk barefoot on it. I bet it won’t be that good when I decide to have a baby or get a pet, but for now, for the two of us, it works. 

In my opinion, all living rooms need a rug. Also, consider one for the office (if you have one), and one for the bedroom, of course. I would even go as far to recommend one for the hallway, but that’s just me, you do you. 

Don’t know how to choose a rug? Check out this post!

6. Play with soft lighting 

If you’re the type of person who likes to have a bright, open home, then you probably already know what I’m about to recommend. 

Soft lighting solutions, like candles, string lights, a fireplace, or warm light bulbs, help give a wonderful glow to a space. This is actually one of the most underrated cozy home hacks out there. 

Since I don’t have a fireplace, I rely a lot on candles and string lights, and it looks so cool! I love the vibe it gives. Try it out for yourself!

7. Add personal elements to your home 

People feel safe and at ease in friendly, social environments, not in industrial, bare spaces. If you want to give personality and a human touch to your home, you need to incorporate personal elements. 

You can do that by decorating your house with frames (pictures of you and your family & friends). Or by having collages or your own artwork displayed on the walls. Similarly, if you have kids, you can display your kids’ drawings in the kitchen or office area. 

There are so many things you can do. The trick here is to make it as human as possible. 

8. More seating options

This is one of the cozy home hacks that I learned recently, from an interior design course, and I love it, because it makes so much sense. 

In order to make your home more inviting and cozy, you need to think of it as a place for gatherings, so that means more seating options. Because the more spacious and more inviting it is, the cozier it will feel. 

The picture above is a great example. Not only does it have two couches, but it also offers two chairs and an ottoman. 

Another thing you can add as a seating option are floor pillows, if you don’t want to invest in something bigger or don’t have the space for it. 

9. Large coffee table or dining room table

Similarly to the idea of having more seating options, having a large table also suggests the idea of socializing. 

A big table brings to mind lunches and dinners and snacks, or board games and card games. It makes the space feel inviting and cozy. 

For example, our dining room table always doubles as a great board game table, and it’s probably my boyfriend’s favorite purchase of the house.

10. Add mirrors 

Did you know that mirrors help the light bounce around the room, adding warmth to darker areas? So, since you’ve already added the soft lighting, now it’s to maximize its power with mirrors. 

The cool thing is that they also make the room seem bigger, so double win!

I have one in my hallway, and one in the living room, and it definitely helps reflect more light. I highly recommend getting mirrors. 

And if you’re in the market for a cool mirror with a unique design, check out these Amazon dupes for the famous Anthropologie mirror. 

11. Cozy home with cozy blankets 

If you want to go an extra step and make your place even more cozy and warm, definitely invest in some quality blankets. The fluffier, the better. 

I love this Amazon sherpa throw blanket: it has two sides, and it comes in so many colors, just take your pick. You can get it here!

They are suitable for colder months, yes, but you can get thinner ones for spring and summer, too. 

12. Incorporate texture

Texture can also warm up a space, and you can do that with more than just your regular throw pillows or blankets. 

That means leather stools, wicker baskets, velvet pillows, window treatments and so on.

Next on my home renovations / decorations list is a leather chair, I already have it picked out, I just need to budget for it, but that’s a whole different discussion. 

13. Decorate for the holidays 

Decorating for the holidays is one of the most underrated cozy home hacks. 

A decorated home is not only festive, but also inviting, So that makes it cozy for most people. 

So next time Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter rolls around, consider a few festive decorations around the place, it will make a difference. 

14. Plants

Plants are amazing for a home: they help clean the air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity & producing oxygen. Honestly, you need plants in your home. 

But they also look great and can provide privacy and reduce stress. 

Honestly, there are so many benefits to plants! So many, actually, that they help create a nice environment, so yeah, plants should definitely be on the list of cozy home hacks. 

15. Wall Art

This might be a controversial opinion, but some people think blank walls have no personality. And I tend to agree, although I strongly believe you don’t need to cover absolutely every wall in your house. Actually, a blank, white wall can have a very powerful effect on a space. 

But for most cases, I do think you need to use your walls and decorate them somehow, be it with an actual painting, or prints. This hack ties in with #7, adding personal elements. That helps create an inviting environment. 

CONCLUSION

These days, it’s easier than ever to create a cozy home for yourself and your family. You don’t even need to spend that much money on it. I hope my 15 cozy home hacks will help you create a wonderful, peaceful space!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.