Photo: Lownen Home

With fall approaching, it can get us thinking about transitioning our spaces from light and breezy to warm and cozy. If you’re not ready to pull out the pumpkins and start decorating for fall yet but you do want to start warming up your home for the cooler months ahead, these tips are for you! 

Read to the end for a bonus tip and please share your favourite ways to make your home cozy in the comments below. 

1. Soft Layers

Photo: Cotton and jute fringed table runner – Simons ($24) 

Adding soft layers will instantly make your home look and feel warmer. You can add cushions and throw blankets to your sofa, rugs to your floors, a runner to your dining table or drapes to your windows. Remember, the more layers you add, the cozier it will be! Already have a throw blanket on your sofa? Drape another over the arm of the sofa or put an extra one in a nearby basket. Double the impact by combining this with one of the other tips below, like adding a cushion that also happens to be textured or in a warm colour. 

2. Low Lighting 

Photo: Flameless Candles (Set of 3) – Da By on Amazon ($27.99) 

Lighting can add so much warmth to a space when it’s done right. The key is having multiple sources of lighting and keeping it low. This means turning off the overhead lighting and turning on the lamps, sconces (great option for small spaces!), picture lights and candles. If you only have a ceiling light in a room, start by adding one additional light source at a time and increase as your budget allows. Candles (real or battery-operated) are an affordable and easy way to get started. 

3. Warm Colours 

Photo: Felipe Natural Decorative Lumbar Pillow – Bouclair ($42.99) 

Adding shades of brown and beige or traditional fall shades like mustard or burgundy can add a lot of warmth to your home. These warmer tones are also very on trend so you can make your space feel more current while making it cozier. There are many ways to incorporate this in your home from larger projects like painting a wall or piece of furniture to quick swaps like tea towels, artwork, bedding, cushions, blankets and vases in warmer shades. 

4. Variety of Textures 

Photo: Place mat water hyacinth – IKEA ($7.99) 

Bring in multiple textures to up the cozy factor in your space. If you prefer a neutral colour palette this is especially helpful because texture can add warmth and interest without adding too much colour. This can be achieved by adding items like woven placemats to your dining table, a knit throw over an armchair or a velvet accent cushion to a bed. Take a look around your space and try to identify some missing textures that could be added. 

5. Natural Materials 

Photo: Small Wooden Cutting Board – H&M Home ($19.99) 

Bringing the outdoors in always makes a space feel cozier. Introduce more natural materials like wood, stone, glass, terracotta and florals or greenery to your space. This could be a terracotta pot with a plant on your desk (two in one!), a wooden cheese board on display in your kitchen or stone coasters for your coffee table. 

Bonus Tip: Personal Items

Photo: Joanna Gaines on Pinterest 

Displaying some of your favourite things can make your space feel cozier because the items add layers, textures, and colors while also infusing your personality and memories into your space. You might choose to add your favourite cookbooks to a kitchen shelf, family photos to a gallery wall or pottery from your travels on a console table. 

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Note: Product links and prices are Canadian (taxes and shipping not included) and reflect the original price (not sale price) as of the original blog post time and date.