The last year saw most of us spend inordinate amounts of time at home and this year isn’t going to be very different. Vaccine or not, a lot of people are still happy with the idea of spending their evenings at home, curled up in a blanket surrounded by the people they love and many people have opted to work from home for most of 2021.

This got me thinking, for someone who allocates and spends most of her money on travel and experiences, what are the little things that I can do to ensure a warm, comfy, relatively toxin free, cozy home.

Here are some of my tips:

Find your Nook– whether you are living with housemates, your partner, your family or by yourself, you would’ve by now found a corner that makes you feel anchored and well, comfortable. I’ve found mine and Its my go-to place on long dreary days but also when Im looking for a little inspiration. You can personalise your space with your favourite scent, adorn your walls with some photographs or a print, keep a stack of your favourite books(neatly, of course) and add a fluffy throw for texture and warmth.

The power of Scent: we all have that one scent that transports us back to our childhood. scents have this incredible quality of sending you back to a familiar space but also of making you feel at ease, to help you unwind and help you relax. whether its a diffuser with lavender essential oils, a spritz of your favourite perfume, jasmine flowers, soy scented candles, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or baked cinnamon rolls; find what you love and incorporate some of that into your day.

Change up your lights: wherever possible, try and switch over to warm, yellow LED lights to add warmth to a space. You can play around with wall sconces, table lamps, standing lamps or even pendant lamps. You could also invest in smart lighting with the added option of a dimmer to change the mood for a romantic evening or games night with the kids.

Bring out your candle stands and light some of your favourite soy scented candles after sunset. Please make sure to not leave the candles unattended and to have someone keep an eye on them during the course of the night.

Fairy lights or string lights, particularly the LED ones or battery operated ones are inexpensive, easily accessible and really add a lot to the space. You can cozy up just about any nook with the warm glow of the fairy lights.

Add some rugs/ carpets: floor coverings particularly in the colder months make you feel snug and warm and well looked after. You can add some in the entryway or hallway and definitely add some in the bedroom so you are comfortable getting in and out of bed.

I personally love layering rugs and like to change them around every couple of months. If you feel like carpets are too much work, you can always grab some of those fluffy+ fuzzy ones from Ikea or a home furnishing store that are light, durable and easy to clean.

Stock up on the AC blankets: whether you are having a romantic dinner with your partner, having a movie night with your family or have a few friends over for dinner, adding throws+ tv blankets in the living room is a really easy way to make people feel warm+ at ease. These guys are easy to wash, require very little maintenance and will make your family+ friends feel very comfortable.

We dropped a whole bunch of these into our wicker basket so people can come in and grab one if they are feeling cold.

Bring the Outside In: plants help purify the air, rid the space of formaldehyde and other nasty chemicals but they also have a therapeutic element not to mention, they look lovely inside the house.

If you don’t have a green thumb, pick plants that are relatively low maintenance and do not need too much supervision and have a look at the ASPCA website to ensure your plants are pet-friendly before you make a purchase or head to the nursery.

When in doubt, go natural. Fibres such as jute, bamboo, cane are great at adding texture, changing the aesthetic of the place and lending warmth. You could do this with wicker baskets, cane chairs, bamboo wall hanging lights or even a room divider.

Head over to Pinterest for some inspiration and check out some of your local online stores to see what they have by way of bamboo + cane home decor items.

If you aren’t able to do this, even a macrame wall decor piece or a macrame hanging planter, could do the trick.

Here’s wishing you a lovely week ahead. Stay warm. Stay Well <3

Remember, these seemingly tiny changes can make a huge impact on the way that you and your loved ones feel in your living spaces. Plus, they don’t have to cost a lot and you don’t have to do all of it together. Pick the bits that resonate most with you and start with that.