7 interior design tips for a cosy home

Have you ever walked into a space and immediately felt comfortable, like the place was wrapping you in a hug? Well, that’s what we call warmth and when one talks about tastefully done interiors, it is not about how much fortune was spent on furnishings or how big the artefact is, rather, it’s all about a well-thought-through concept that makes a certain space worthy of its purpose.

A well-designed home should showcase an interesting balance between aesthetics and functionality and achieve this a seamless play of design elements is all that it needs. So, what exactly are these elements that help in creating a home which exhales a feeling of ease and comfort? In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Swapnil Sharma, Senior Interior Designer at Studio Archohm, revealed:

1. Defining spaces – Spatial planning is the most essential part of designing. It is all about understanding the space and categorizing it as per the functions. Zoning, sets the ground rules that help in associating certain activities and moods with their spaces like entrance foyers should be inviting, formal areas should be focal and entertaining, and personal spaces should be all about being user-specific and comfortable. This identification of spaces acts as the first step in achieving the transition of a house into a home.

2. Playing with volumes – Usually, people equate a small area with cosiness but does that mean that a big open space cannot exuberate the same? Can a double-height space not be warm? Well, that’s not true. All you need to do is, play with the volume and create focus using the height. Depending upon the function, artworks, tall sculptures along with plants outlining lonely corners can do the trick. One can never go wrong with a nice tall house plant, as it brings the outdoors inside exuding calm and subdue in its way. Adding decorative screens to divide spaces, and playing with the flooring pattern to facilitate visual impressions of a smaller room (without disrupting the flow of movement) are more ways to achieve the same.

3. Personalised corners – Cosines in homes can also be created by creating intimate seating spaces. They are not only conversation starters but also practical choices. Especially with huge living rooms that are well suited to entertain large groups, it can be easy to overlook the need for small seating arrangements. These little nooks usually become the favourite hangout spots adding value to every inch. Even an oversized sofa lining a space can act as the perfect tool to create an area that shouts out casual comfort.

4. Warmth with good lighting – Play of Light in interior spaces is way more important than most perceive it to be. It beautifully enhances the aesthetics, functionality, and efficiency of a space. Light coming from multiple sources creates mood, and contrast and adds to the design language. The proper combination of decorative and architectural lighting together produces the best results. As lighting is extremely space-oriented, understanding its use is important. For eg, for a soft late-afternoon cosiness, you may just turn on the decorative lighting to watch TV, read your book under a pretty lamp, exchange dialogues, or simply enjoy an aperitif. The ambiance of any space can be transformed with well-planned lighting throughout the day. It is the main player which has the power to add visual warmth and make everything and everyone look better.

5. Choosing the right materials and textures – Material palette plays a very crucial role in defining spaces. A material like wood not only acts as a decorative or functional feature but also provides balance by adding texture and warmth. Given its organic nature, using it on floors, walls and even in patterned ceilings helps bring in the natural cosiness to a space with ease. Soft furnishings, on the other hand, are the obvious choice for adding character. With a varied palette of textures having their distinct characteristics like the sheen of warm leather, the raw luxury of swede on sofas along with the softness of rugs, the wide range of soft furnishings helps in creating welcoming and alluring spaces.

6. Bringing in bold contrasts with accents – Cosiness can also be achieved by just adding accents. It can be a classic furniture piece, a feature wall creating focus, or an eclectic mix of small elements that can help in enhancing the narrative. But as not to overdo it equally important, answering the question, how much is too much should be carefully evaluated. Balance, rhythm, and symmetry are keywords that help in achieving the same. Careful curation of a space using a rich, saturated, and comfortable fabric seating with a play of patterned cushions accompanied by a muted wooden coffee table, and an interesting collection of books to do the talking is one such example of a simple yet evergreen warm living space.

7. Elevating with elements – Fireplaces are a classic. Designing a space around it immediately ensures effortless comfort and luxury. Even if a built-in fireplace is not possible, adding a portable one to any room in the house instantly takes the comfort quotient a notch above. Like fireplaces, artworks too are the other obvious answer. To add the perfect amount of warmth, an artwork of any type may it be a painting; a wall hanging, a sculpture, a handwoven rug, or anything that the user connects with, helps in creating the feeling of assured ease. Water features are one of the oldest chosen elements to add serenity to spaces, the steady burble of running water is still a popular choice that leads to providing contentment to the body and soul.

To sum up, a cosy home is a space, laced with warmth and effortless functionality that evokes comfort and satisfaction, achieved using meticulously done interiors.