Creating A Cozy Spot

Having a warm & cozy spot to snuggle up is important as well as renewing. Creating intimacy in your home, or at least in one area of your home, requires a little imagination and some gut feelings. How does your family room or sunroom make you feel when you walk into it? Are the colors inviting? Is there comfortable seating? Winter is the best time to paint and spruce up your rooms because you can take advantage of all the white sales.

If you like to investigate with a "hands on" approach, hop in the car and go to your favorite design stores (listed under Interior Decorators & Designers). Look at the colors they're using as well as the kinds of furniture and fabrics. Observe the accessories like throws, candles and mirrors. You can get ideas from all kinds of stores like Pier 1, department stores and small boutiques. Picture in your mind how that still life would look in your home, take notes and try to understand how it made you feel. If this is a cozy spot in which you'd like to plop down right now and read a long novel, you've hit gold.

Do the same investigating on the web by scoping out stores, designers, designing sites, decorating websites and how-to forums. Begin to learn why you like or dislike certain elements, colors, etc. You're working toward a focus on a comfortable spot in your home.

Here are some easy steps:

Invest in a warm color for your walls, inexpensive draperies on simple pole rods with classy finials and a chenille throw (and maybe even a "bear" rug!). Move your main chair close to the couch, add some lovely greenery items, candles and statuary to the coffee table and you're set! Be sure to have a side table available to place your book and cup of tea on while you enjoy your warm surroundings.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated, Lisa@HGPgal.com.

Lisa is a WAHM and decorating consultant in the central Illinois area. Get deco ideas and home décor at Decorating with HGPgal. Submit an article, sign up for our monthly newsletter & contest and join in the discussions on the DecoForum! http://www.HGPgal.com

---

Choosing Candles & Scents Part 1 - Candles for July

Deciding on just a few candles is rarely easy. With... Read More

The Hunt for Vintage Kitchen Sinks

Want to relive the excitement of California's gold rush of... Read More

The History of Cuckoo Clocks

Although the exact date remains a mystery, it is commonly... Read More

Feng Shui Tips for Your Kitchen

Feng Shui (say "fung shway") associates the kitchen with both... Read More

Outdoor Cedar Patio Furniture Goes Indoors!

It would be obvious to assume that the sudden boom... Read More

Are Your Houseplants Safe?

There is nothing more attractive and cheerful than a room... Read More

The Magic of Design

There was a time people thought the world was flat.... Read More

Decorating a Kids Room

The most important thing to consider when decorating a child's... Read More

The Function of Wine Storage Racks

Storing wines is crucial to keeping wines flavor and letting... Read More

The Art Of Selecting Your Homes Art

Art should be personal. Selecting pieces that you really love... Read More

Home Décor Tips To Impress Your Friends

Step 1: Pick a motif and go with it! Don't... Read More

Furniture Bench - The Many Varieties & Uses For One In Your Home

Furniture benches are benches that can be used indoors and... Read More

An Introduction to Picnic Baskets

Picnic baskets are the best way to eat outdoors, and... Read More

Blackout Blinds

Tired of waking every morning with a stripe of blinding... Read More

A Review of Popular Wood Stove Manufacturers

There are several world renowned wood stove manufacturers that make... Read More

Corner Bakers Rack: Create Extra Storage Space and Style

One of the most highly sought after pieces of furnishings... Read More

Faux Wood Mini Blinds

Though wood blinds and shutters are the most popular window... Read More

The Art Of Home Decoration

If you would have your rooms interesting as well as... Read More

Magic Carpet Ride?

There are hundreds of choices carpet choices out there! How... Read More

The Benefits of Owning Wood Mini Blinds

Wood mini blinds are one variety of wood blinds for... Read More

Soothing Symbols as Home Decor?

Did you know that our bodies can automatically react to... Read More

All You Need to Know About Murphy Bed Hardware

The Murphy bed, once the best way to fit into... Read More

An Upholstered Bench To Incorporate Style and Function

How do you envision your dream home? Is it rich... Read More

Fireplace Candelabras - The Easy Alternative To Burning Wood

It wasn't that long ago that the fireplace was the... Read More

A Look at Fruit Gift Baskets

The original, the granddaddy of all of today's items bought... Read More

An Introduction to Bamboo Flooring

A little known fact: bamboo is technically not a tree... Read More

Nursery Decorating Ideas: Creating a Timeless Retreat

Decorating a baby room is a wonderful opportunity to create... Read More

A Guide to Wedgwood China

It all came about due to a cry from English... Read More

A Guide to Acrylic Kitchen Sinks

Unlike laminates, acrylic and/or polyester plastics are homogenous nonporous material.... Read More

Home Decorating & The Smaller Place

"Big Things Come In Small Packages" We're all familiar with... Read More

Decorating With Room Dividers

Room dividers can be both decorative and practical. They can... Read More

Dont Hire Someone to Steal Your Joy: Decorate Your Home Yourself!

In researching what makes people happy, I discovered that "Planning"... Read More

Varieties of Fabric Shower Curtains

If you are looking for an easy, inexpensive way to... Read More