If you’ve invested in a contemporary house or apartment, then you might find that the existing decor tends toward minimalism. Sleek, sharp edges, chrome fittings, and off-white walls might appeal to a broad selection of modern homeowners – but they can sometimes make an environment feel sterile and lifeless.
Let’s take a look at a few ways we can introduce a little bit of homeliness and help you to feel comfortable in your surroundings.
Layered Textiles and Soft Furnishings
Perhaps the easiest way to add warmth is through the use of contrasting textures. Coarse textiles can be layered around living areas. Throws, blankets, cushions, and rugs might be used to add life to a leather sofa and help you to truly relax in the space.
Warm, Ambient Lighting with Intentional Fixtures
Artificial light is a necessity in the modern home. But if the light is too cold or positioned incorrectly, then the environment can often seem stark and alienating.
Try to position lights in many different places. This can help to avoid ugly shadows and to even everything out. You might employ a combination of ambient, task, and accent lights, depending on the space. In home office environments, it’s worth ensuring that the space you’re working in is well-lit, especially in the winter.
Smart bulbs are a good investment, finally, because their hue can be tweaked depending on your priorities. You can make the space as warm, or as cold, as you like.
Natural Materials and Earthy Accents
If you’re surrounded by materials that don’t occur in nature, then you might find yourself feeling slightly uneasy. Often, this effect is subtle enough that you can’t consciously perceive it – but there’s a reason that a walk in the woods, or along the beach, feels better than a walk through a car park.
You can exploit this psychological principle with the help of the right natural materials. Stone, timber, wicker, and even running water can help a modern space feel organic and inviting.
Nostalgia Decor for Personal Connection
If you are fond of a particular time or place, then you might evoke it with the help of your decor. This might mean favouring artworks from a certain era or by a certain artist. The frames you use, the patterns on your textiles and wallpaper, and your choice of photographs can all help to make a space feel truly welcoming.
Of course, your furnishings can also be a means of expressing your passions and hobbies.If you’re a fan of music, for example, you might have a shelf filled with vinyl records.
Creating a Snug: Your Cosy Corner
If you want to feel cosy at home, then you might set aside a space where you can maximise that feeling. Thus might come with comfortable seating, rich, deep colours, and soft lighting that’s strong enough to read by – or dim enough that you can simply sit and think.