How to Make Big Spaces Feel Cozy

As we enter the colder seasons, sometimes it’s nice to stay inside with a cup of tea. Being able to feel comfortable in your home is one of the key components of what makes it welcoming and usable. Think of places where people spend the most time in your home; often coziness and warmth is a big factor of where people gather. However, being able to create a space like this takes intentionality.

The Challenge With Big Spaces

Oftentimes, larger spaces can feel airy and grand. For example, If the ceilings are high, or the space is hard to keep warm, it may be hard for people to feel comfortable snuggling up on the couch. This isn’t always a negative, but when you’re wanting to make a place in your home more warm and welcoming, it can add an extra challenge.

What Does Cozy Mean to You?

Feeling comfortable in a space is the most important thing, and preferences for coziness can be subjective. Finding the sweet spot where your home and large spaces feel cozy can take time and practice. When looking at the next few tips, consider the ways in which you can integrate your personal touch into them. Perhaps, for example, you are a tea-lover. Adding a simple tea station with a small kettle, some of your favourite mugs, and a few tea options could add a personal touch to help make the space more comfortable for yourself and guests.

Small Steps to Take

When altering things in your home, small changes can go a long way. Playing around with little things can help you slowly get to the place that you want your large spaces to be. Below are some easy changes that can be made which may help your space feel cozier:

Colour

Colour can make a huge difference in the way spaces feel. Integrating warm and natural tones into your decorations can help to add a more cozy feel to a room. Colours like reds, oranges, and greens are known to evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. Try using one of those on a throw pillow or blanket, and decide how to move forward from there. Perhaps a small splash is all the room needs, or maybe it ends up needing a bit more. Either way, it’s best to move incrementally, without committing to painting the entire house red right away.

Texture

Next to colour, texture can be most important when making a space feel more welcoming. If every surface is flat and flawless, it may be difficult to sink in to watch a good movie or enjoy a glass of wine. Consider using different fabrics in order to add to the warmth of a space. Knits, velvet, wool, and quilts are just a few of the textures which have a more soft and cozy aesthetic. Even adding in a thick rug underneath a coffee table can create a higher level of comfort and warmth in your space. Not to mention, rugs are a way in which to compartmentalize a large space into smaller pieces.

Create Smaller Spaces Within Your Big Space

Sometimes, coziness comes from an area being filled with cozy things. This can be challenging to facilitate in a large space, however, within that space, it’s possible to create a few different areas. You can compartmentalize a room, creating several cozy spaces inside of the large space. For example, you could split a living room into a space for entertaining, while dedicating a small corner to reading. This would allow for your room to have a few different purposes, some cozier than others, depending on who is there or how you are feeling.

Natural Elements

Bringing in features like wood finishings and large plants can help to make the space feel more welcoming. Adding natural finishings can help to create a cabin-feel and bring in the warmth from both texture and natural colours. Along with this, large plants can make a space feel more natural and earthy, which can help the space feel more relaxing. We already have an article on plants that are easy to keep alive, if you need some advice.

Having large, open spaces means that you have a world of opportunity in what you can create. It also means, however, that you have a lot of open air that needs to be filled, which needs to be done intentionally to feel right. Creating a warm, cozy feeling within your large spaces can be tough, however, the clever use of colour, texture, natural elements, and compartmentalization can do a lot to help you along your coziness journey.