Stories & Haven

A beautiful home isn’t only about how it looks; it’s also about how it makes us feel.

Creating that feeling usually has very little to do with buying more furniture or following the latest trend, but it’s the quieter details; the lighting, the texture, the unique objects and little rituals of everyday life that make a room feel warm, comfortable and personal.

Here are five of my favorite ways to create that feeling:

1. Layer Soft Lighting

Overhead lights rarely create an inviting room, instead, think about the addition of a table lamp beside your favorite chair, sconces above the fireplace, a small accent lamp on the bookshelf, and definitely candlelight. These additions will create pools of warmth throughout a room and instantly makes it feel softer and more welcoming.

2. Add Cozy Textures

Texture keeps a neutral room from feeling flat. This is how to not only add in warmth, but also a bit of your personality. Have that chunky knit throw that was made for you years ago draped over an ottoman, or a rich velvet pillow sitting on a simple wooden chair, an oversized woven basket resting on the floor ready to be filled, and a softly worn rug can completely change the way a room feels without changing the furniture at all. A beautiful room should have things that make you want to reach out and touch them.

3. Bring in Natural Elements

Natural materials have a way of making a room feel grounded, and you don’t need much; a bowl filled with pinecones, branches clipped from the yard, fresh blooms from your garden, a rustic wooden tray or a beautiful oversized ceramic vase can be enough. It’s less about decorating with nature and more about bringing a little bit of the outside in.

4. Style With Meaningful Pieces

This may be the most important one, as not everything in your home needs to have been chosen because it perfectly matches the room. Display the books you’ve actually read, the interesting bowl you found while traveling, your grandmother’s candlesticks, or the slightly imperfect antique you couldn’t leave behind. These are the things that turn a house into a home.

5. Create a Calming Routine

And finally, remember that a home isn’t a photograph to be looked at. Light the candle, turn on the lamp beside your favorite chair, make the coffee (or pour a glass of wine), put on some music, and pull the throw over your legs and open the book you’ve been meaning to finish. Sometimes creating a warm and inviting home has less to do with what we put in it and more to do with how we live in it.

You don’t need to redo an entire room to change the way it feels. Start with one lamp, one beautiful texture, something natural, and something meaningful. Layer by layer, those small choices are what give a home warmth, personality and most importantly, a story.

What small changes will you start with?

Every home has a story. Let’s make yours beautiful.