What makes a cozy home?

[Cricket1]

My house has some stark areas and I'm working on cozying it up a bit. Any of you have tips on what makes a cozy home? I'll post before and after pics in a few days.

[Jamauk]

Quilts!! Wall hanings, table toppers, lap quilts folded over rocking chairs, etc....

Nothin' says cozy like a quilt!! (I may be biased!)

[Buc-O-Mama]

To me, no matter what your decorating style, personal touches make a home cozy. Family photos, kid's artwork on the fridge or cabinets, etc. Light a few candles and you've got cozy to me. The most stark apartment can be warmed up with personal touches that remind you of your loved ones. That's just me.

[The Muse]

Cats! Just seeing my 3 cats lounging around and hearing them purr gives me a cozy feeling.

[carlitasway]

A clean house that smells good! And flowers!

[shoiji]

I like plants. Unfortunately so do my cats. SOOOOOO, I have many "silk" plants and only two live plants strategically placed.

[hwmabire3]

Well, I think this might echo what everyone else said, but quilts, blankets, throw pillows, candles, family photos, etc. all give warmth and coziness to a home. Flowers do well, too. I used to buy a bouquet of flowers once a week along with my groceries. That way, we always had fresh flowers in the house. You could always use fake ones. Sometimes they look just as pretty in a vase. Get creative and have fun!

[Droppedonmyhead]

It's whatever makes your heart sing.

Cozy to me is a nice chair or couch to snuggle up in. Nice soft throws and pillows for catnapping. Scented candles burning. My favorite books and magazines close by. Personal touches that make me smile when I look at them.

[Bethany]

I looove seeing a few great books around that are just waiting for me to see them. I think that the cozy factor comes from the little details. Wall sconces are so nice, we have received more compliments on ours. The cast a beatiful splash of light on a wall. I think nice baskets are homey. A collection of anything is great. A nice blanket thrown on a chair is so inviting. Different textures in a room makes for interest (like others said, quilts, blankets.) Different lines...for example, if the room is very square or boxy, try an oval coffee table. Homey doesn't mean cluttered. I think that the two get confused.

[Suzi T.]

I agree that a clean smelling home is cozy along with scented candles. But often overlooked is LIGHTING.A room with one ceiling bulb is cold and stark.A room that mixes ambiant lighting and task lighting makes any clean room look cozy. Oh I forgot!!!! a fire!!!

[forHISglory]

Fabric
Flowers
Fire
Furniture

These four F's can combine to spell "cozy."

Personally, I like books and art also in a room.

[hwmabire3]

You know what they said on a decorating show once? "When you light everything, you light nothing." It's SO true! It's better to have a few lamps in the room then it is to have one big one hanging from the ceiling.

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

I love quilts too. I have them everywhere in my home. I roll them and put them in baskets, fold them over doors, sometimes put them over the dining room table, have one hanging out of my antique oak clawfoot dresser in my family room, etc. I think that quilts are so inviting. I also love white crochet table cloths or dolies. I love to put vintage sterling silver picture frames, candlesticks, spoons in a crystal cup, small trinket plates, etc on them. There is just something obout silver and crochet white. I love the smaller decor lamps too and there are so many cute ones to choose from. Love all of your ideas here!

[Its_Donna]

Prim Country decorating is cozy to me.

[tbs727]

It sounds like everyone has their own ideas of what makes a home cozy. I think you should sit down and make a list of things you like, just everything you can think of that you really like to see. My list would look something like...

red
flowers
vintage
white
pets
yellow
glass
baskets
uncluttered
hanging lamps, etc.

I hope that helps.