Tag Archives: Home decor

Creating Cozy Indoor Spaces: Design Tips for Fall and Winter

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As fall and winter bring cooler evenings and shorter days, there’s no better time to transform your home into a cozy retreat. Creating a warm, inviting indoor space doesn’t require a major renovation—just a few thoughtful touches can add a seasonal feel that’s perfect for relaxing, entertaining, or simply staying comfortable through the chillier months. Here’s a guide on how to create cozy indoor spaces with textures, lighting, color, and a few design elements that will add warmth and comfort all season long.

1. Embrace Warm Color Palettes

One of the simplest ways to shift a room’s mood for fall and winter is through color. Warm tones can instantly make a space feel more inviting and are easy to incorporate through decor and accents.

  • Incorporate Earth Tones: Shades like deep browns, rusts, ochres, and forest greens reflect the colors of fall and add a grounded, nature-inspired feel to your rooms. Consider earth-toned throw pillows, area rugs, or even an accent wall.
  • Add Pops of Rich Colors: Jewel tones such as emerald green, deep navy, burgundy, and mustard yellow bring warmth and a touch of luxury to living rooms and bedrooms. These tones are perfect for accent pieces like throws, vases, and picture frames.
  • Balance Neutrals with Warm Undertones: For those who prefer a neutral color palette, go for shades with warm undertones, like creamy whites, taupe, and beige. These colors maintain an airy feel while subtly warming up your space.

2. Layer Textures for Depth and Warmth

Incorporating various textures is key to making a room feel cozy and inviting. From chunky blankets to soft rugs, layering textures adds visual interest and comfort to your space.

  • Bring in Soft, Plush Fabrics: Add throw blankets and pillows made from materials like fleece, wool, or faux fur. These fabrics provide a cozy look and are perfect for snuggling up with on cold nights. Consider adding throws to your sofa or draping them over the edge of a chair.
  • Introduce Area Rugs: In cooler months, an area rug not only grounds the room but also provides warmth underfoot, especially on tile or hardwood floors. Choose rugs with high-pile or shag textures to maximize softness, or go with woven, bohemian-inspired rugs for a rustic look.
  • Mix Materials: Layering textures with materials like leather, woven baskets, and natural wood brings an earthy warmth to your rooms. Try adding a leather ottoman, a rattan basket for extra blankets, or wood accent tables to incorporate a variety of textures.

3. Use Lighting to Set a Cozy Atmosphere

Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a cozy, inviting space. Swapping out bright or harsh lighting for softer alternatives can make any room feel more relaxed and ready for fall and winter.

  • Switch to Warm Light Bulbs: Opt for warm-toned LED bulbs instead of bright white bulbs. Warm lights mimic the glow of a fire and add a soft, ambient feel to your space. This works especially well in lamps, sconces, and overhead lighting.
  • Add Multiple Light Sources: Instead of relying on one overhead light, layer your lighting with lamps, string lights, and candles. Floor and table lamps allow you to adjust the level of light based on your mood or activity, while string lights create a gentle, twinkling effect perfect for cozy nights.
  • Use Candles for a Warm Glow: Candles are a timeless way to add ambiance, and they double as decor. Choose scented candles in fall-inspired fragrances like cinnamon, vanilla, or cedarwood to bring a warm scent to your space.

4. Create Cozy Seating Areas

Arranging your furniture to create small, inviting seating areas can make a room feel more intimate and ready for fall gatherings or winter relaxation.

  • Add a Reading Nook: Design a cozy corner with a comfortable chair, a small side table, and a good lamp. Throw in a plush pillow and blanket for the perfect reading spot. A reading nook can turn even a small space into a cozy retreat.
  • Arrange for Conversation: Set up seating areas that encourage conversation. Position chairs or sofas to face each other or a central table, creating a social atmosphere. Arrange seats around a coffee table or near a fireplace to give the space a focal point.
  • Add Extra Seating with Poufs and Floor Pillows: Poufs and oversized floor pillows are great for adding seating in a casual, cozy way. They’re easy to move around and add a touch of personality to your space.

5. Add Seasonal Greenery and Natural Decor

Incorporating natural elements indoors brings a touch of the season and enhances the cozy, grounded feel of your space.

  • Bring in Dried Florals and Branches: Dried florals, pampas grass, and eucalyptus are perfect for fall and winter decor. Place them in a vase on a mantel, coffee table, or entryway to add an earthy, rustic element that lasts all season.
  • Add Indoor Plants: Indoor plants not only improve air quality but also add life to your space. Consider plants that do well indoors during cooler months, such as snake plants, pothos, or succulents. Place them in decorative pots that match your color scheme.
  • Use Pinecones and Seasonal Accents: Pinecones, acorns, and small gourds are perfect for fall and winter decor. Use them in a centerpiece, add them to a wreath, or place them in a bowl on your coffee table for a festive, natural touch.

6. Incorporate Wood and Stone Elements

Wood and stone add an organic warmth to your home that feels particularly comforting in fall and winter. These natural materials are versatile and add depth to your decor.

  • Wood Accents: Wooden furniture, wall shelves, or picture frames add warmth to any room. If you have a fireplace, a reclaimed wood mantel can make it a stunning focal point. Wood tones from light oak to dark walnut can work with various color schemes.
  • Stone Details: Stone adds texture and an earthy feel that’s perfect for colder months. Consider adding stone elements through decor pieces like marble trays, stone coasters, or a natural stone coffee table. If you’re up for a more extensive change, a stone accent wall or tile backsplash is both cozy and timeless.
  • Use Faux Wood Beams: If your home has high ceilings, adding faux wood beams can bring a rustic, cabin-like warmth to your space. This feature can add architectural interest and makes larger spaces feel more intimate.

7. Decorate for Function and Style

In the fall and winter, make functional pieces part of your decor. Items like blankets, baskets, and trays serve practical purposes while enhancing your cozy aesthetic.

  • Blanket Baskets: Place a woven or rattan basket near your seating area filled with blankets or throws for easy access and a homey touch.
  • Trays for Warm Beverages: Use decorative trays on coffee tables or kitchen counters to display mugs, hot chocolate mix, or seasonal spices. This makes it easy to grab a warm drink on cold days while adding a cozy touch to your decor.
  • Display Books and Board Games: Stack a few books on a side table or keep board games on display for easy reach. This encourages relaxation and makes your space feel like a hub for connection and cozy moments.

8. Make the Fireplace a Focal Point

If you have a fireplace, it’s the perfect centerpiece for fall and winter. Adding decor around the fireplace can make it an even cozier element in your home.

  • Decorate the Mantel: Style your mantel with seasonal decor, such as candles, dried flowers, or small potted plants. This creates a festive, inviting atmosphere.
  • Create a Cozy Fireplace Seating Area: Arrange a few chairs or a bench around the fireplace to create a cozy nook for enjoying the warmth. Place a soft rug or throw nearby to enhance the comfort of the area.
  • For Electric Fireplaces, Add Ambiance: If you have an electric fireplace, use it as an ambiance piece. Many electric fireplaces have adjustable settings, allowing you to control the warmth and light. Pair it with candles and soft lighting to enhance the cozy effect.

With a few seasonal changes, you can transform your home into a warm and inviting oasis perfect for fall and winter. By using warm colors, layering textures, incorporating natural elements, and enhancing lighting, you can create a cozy space that’s ready for cooler days and relaxing nights. Whether you’re hosting friends, spending time with family, or unwinding with a good book, these tips will help make your home a comforting retreat all season long.

Decorating For Fall

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Put away the white linen, beach towels and cool toned accessories. It’s fall and it’s time to breakout the corn husks, pine cones and other harvest decorations. Here are a few simple ideas:

Decorate a bookshelf with pressed leaves and pumpkins.

Hang a corn husk wreath.

Display green apples and acorns in apothecary jars.

Spray paint pumpkins silver and white. Make sure you use a variety of sizes. Display them on your mantle with pine cones. This is a very elegant look.

Decorate your dining room table by placing a row of pumpkins and gourds. Add a tall vase filled with wheat.

Fill your votive candle holders with pumpkin or squash seeds.

Make leaves out of decorative scrapbook paper. Glue them to branches for a whimsical look. Display the branches in tall glass vases.

Fill an old tool box with candles, clementines and pine cones.

Hollow out gourds and use them as vases for fall flowers.

Put single leaves, either pressed or fresh, in small glass vases or use old lab beakers — look for them at antique stores. Replace leaves as they brown.

Put together a colorful outdoor fall display using a sturdy wheelbarrow as a base. Fill the wheelbarrow with ornamental cabbage and peppers, grasses, chrysanthemums, flowering zucchini and other seasonal plants. Fill the wheelbarrow with soil and insert the plants loosely, or tuck containers into the wheelbarrow, making sure to fill in the gaps with more plants.

Nuts are as easy to decorate with as they are good to eat. Anchor a candle inside a hurricane lamp. Experiment with different varieties of nuts and a selection of clear containers.

Nestle a candle in popcorn kernels or other seasonal materials such as candy corn or colored clear round stones.

Don’t forget to break out the rich, warm colored throw rugs, pillows and rugs. Light a fire, pour a glass of wine and enjoy autumn.

Happy Fall Decorating!

Simple Tips to Improve Your Interior

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Does your interior need a lift? Not sure how to improve certain areas? Below are some simple tips that can uplift any room. You might be surprised how tweaking one or two things can lead to remarkable results.

Fabrics and upholstery have the power to give the “just re-decorated” look without having to actually redecorate. Try brightly colored accent pillows, or recover the ones you have. Pillow slipcovers are easy to find online. Fresh, plump accent pillows act as a face-lift for any worn sofa or chair. Fabrics also have the power to create warmth, drama, elegance and variety to any room.

Window treatments allow you to control light, give privacy and improve insulation. They can also help improve the appearance of a room. Wish you had a higher ceiling? Install full-length panels higher above the top of a window. If you don’t want wall showing in between, you can add a valance that only hangs down an inch or so past the top of a window. Panels and valance combined make a window look higher than it actually is. Treatments made of formal fabric add elegance. Casual fabric gives a room a comfortable feel. Different types of blinds also have the power to create the mood of your choice. White plantation shutters add a classic look to any window.

Try out one or all of the tips above! We would love to hear about your interior transformations!

Choosing Art for the Bedroom

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Bare, blank walls can make a room feel unfinished. Choosing what to hang where in the home can also be intimidating for some. Staring at a blank wall when decorating is kind of like a writer staring at a blank page when writing.  The blank stare can stifle us from making a decision. If you have blank walls in your bedroom, or anywhere in your home, we hope this article can help you take the first step to decorating your walls.

Bedrooms should be sanctuaries and calm places for us to restore our spirits as well as rest our bodies.  Comfortable textiles on the bed, soft flooring like carpet or area rugs on the floor, curtains that can block light all create the environment for good sleep.  You can add to the soothing and restorative qualities of your bedroom by what you hang on the walls.

Every wall in the room does not have to be filled with art. Empty spaces give the eye a place to rest. Art for the bedroom can be framed in frames that coordinate with the furniture, wall or floors. Metal frames can also add a little sparkle to the room. You can frame practically anything and it will look great on the wall. Framed art can include family photos, your wedding portrait or vacation photos. Fabric and paper can also be framed. Choose art that speaks to you. If you love it, you will love to see it as you fall asleep and wake up every day.

Where to Start When Creating a Gallery Wall

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Question: Where do you start when trying to create a gallery wall? The idea is great, but knowing how or where to start is difficult.

Answer:

Creating a gallery wall does not have to be difficult. Here are some tips to use when creating one in order to make your experience painless!

First, gather together the pieces you are planning to use in your gallery.  Lay them out on the floor and start by selecting the piece that is the largest, the brightest or the most eye catching. This will be the focal point of the wall. By starting with the desired focal piece, the rest of the picture placement on your galley wall will be much simpler.

There is no right or wrong when deciding on the placement of various pieces that hang in a gallery grouping. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Go with your intuition and try to balance the overall grouping throughout the placement.

The idea with your galley wall is to create a display of complementary pieces.  Each individual piece adds its own beauty, but the piece as a whole can also hold itself together.

Variety of subject matter will help the gallery grouping be more successful. Having variety will add interest and keep the eye moving around the grouping. It is fine to use color or black and white as a theme throughout the pictures. One idea is to to use a black and white center piece, surrounded by colorful pieces.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that it should feel balanced. Layout the grouping on the floor or a table surface and play around with different layouts. Decide the best layout and then install the grouping. It helps to create a sketch, so that you can remember where things go.

Hang the focal piece first, followed by the pictures closest to it as arranged beforehand.  Don’t worry if your arrangement changes as you hang each piece.  Your final arrangement on the wall will be the best layout of all!

Special Guest Bathroom Design

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guest-bath-vanity-webThe guest bathroom generally gets the least amount of attention in a home. It’s the smallest room in your house, and your focus when you’re planning your new home is on your kitchen first, and then on your master bathroom and other areas where your family will be spending a lot of time. It makes sense to place the guest bath at the end of your list of priorities.

But if you think about it, chances are almost every visitor to your home will see your guest bathroom at some point. So it has a direct affect on how they view your home. And this is actually the most cost-effective room to create design drama, because the space is so small. A minimum investment can provide the maximum design impact. Let’s take a look at some of the guest bathroom designs in recent Fulton Home models to get some ideas of approaches you might want to take to give your guest bath some extra style.

First Impressions:basha-legacy-powder-room-3-web

Think about what your guest bathroom will look like from the hallway. Even if your visitors don’t actually use the bathroom, they will probably walk past and glance in. That first impression will have an effect on the entire hallway.

In this photo to the right, the eye is automatically drawn to the copper artwork on the far wall. Other features such as the tile and the mini-chandelier come into focus later. Altogether this is a luxurious and well-integrated guest bathroom.

This first bathroom involves a serious investment in options to create a feeling of luxury. This was appropriate as it was part of the Legacy series of homes, which was a luxury line. But you don’t need to invest as much in options as was spent in this model to create drama.

view-from-hall-web

Take a look at the guest bathroom to the left. The vanity is nice-looking but fairly straightforward with a sink embedded in the countertop. The tub and surround are a solid surface which is less expensive than tile. But the tile chosen for the flooring and the coordinated tile inset added to the solid surface in the tub surround makes this bathroom pop.

In this case creativity and thoughtful style take the place of expensive options to make this bathroom stand out. Add an interesting coordinating shower curtain and some towels to emphasize the contrast and you have a guest bathroom that shows your personality without a big investment.

Lighting:basha-legacy-powder-room-2

Because of its small size, smaller light fixtures can have a big punch in a guest bathroom. And if you want to take a chance with a different look, a guest bath is a great space for experimenting. The simple wall sconce on the right adds a touch of charm in a guest bathroom. After all, this is not a space where you need bright lights, and a gentle glow is flattering when people look in the mirror.

guest-bath4-web

 

 

The photo on the left shows another fun way to use lighting in a guest bathroom. By adding a light under the vanity, the room doesn’t have a blinding glare when a guest hits the switch, and the look is unusual and interesting. In this case the sink is also translucent – notice the photo at the top of this blog – so the light also makes the sink glow. This choice gives you the opportunity to add some drama to your guest bathroom while not taking up any additional space.

Tile Trim:basha-legacy-powder-room-1

Whether you choose a simple row of tile to outline your vanity or expand your tile choices to cover an entire wall, tile has a special place in many bathrooms. In the photo to the right you can get a closer look at the Legacy bathroom we visited above. In this case a full wall of tile is complemented with a rich row of glass tile trimmed with a darker border just above the vanity, serving as a backsplash. It provides the feeling of wainscoting and pulls every element in this room together. The border also adds some welcome contrast.vanity-cropped-web

You don’t need to use this much tile to have a design impact in a guest bathroom. Take a look at the vanity on the left. The countertop uses a simple tile pattern to create a charming rustic feel. Then a six-inch backsplash of narrow rectangular tile picks up the tones of the vanity’s wood finish to create an integrated design element that makes this guest bath memorable. The oil-rubbed bronze hardware with its rustic flavor makes so much sense with this look.

Finishing Touches:bath-2-web

Don’t stop with the design elements. Once you move in, take the time to find the right art and accessories to complete the look in your guest bathroom. In the photo above, the design of the bathroom is enhanced by the choice of shower curtain, towels, art and accessories.

Notice that although the design itself is neutral, it left the homeowner open to introduce color into the room. By bringing in orange-red and the grey-blue, the neutral elements actually connect with the color palette. While you don’t need to be afraid to pull color into your design choices, if you would rather keep your permanent options neutral, think about what colors you will want to bring in with more temporary elements later. You may want to bring some of those colors with you to your design appointment.

Above all with a guest bathroom, have fun! It’s the smallest room in your home so it’s OK to take a few chances. And those extras aren’t going to break the bank with the minimum square footage involved. So as you wander through the Fulton Design Center, if you spot a special sink, faucet, tile design or light fixture you can’t resist, why not consider the guest bath for its home?

 

Create Cozy

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-074 - Copyit’s not hard to make your family room to feel cozy and welcoming like this one. Here are some suggestions to bring the cozy into your home.

Darker Walls: You may have heard that darker walls make a room feel smaller. Not true. Instead, dark walls make you feel more secure and enclosed. The dark grey wall in the back adds warmth even though it is a cool color. It also provides a nice contrast to the bright windows.

Comfortable Upholstered Furniture: Getting comfy is an important part of feeling cozy. This plush sectional offers plenty of room to sit or stretch out. Throw pillows add comfort. You can tuck one or two under your head or at your feet on the coffee table.

Floor and Table Lamps: Ceiling light fixtures alone can’t add the ambiance that floor and table lamps can. Set your ceiling lights at a low level and turn on the lamps to create a cozy feel to any space.

Low Furniture: The television, coffee table and console are all close to the ground. This means that you can sit on the floor and still access everything. It’s an inviting space for lounging.

Carpeting: The choice of carpeting or a large rug adds softness to a room. Once again, a comfy soft flooring surface invites lounging on the floor.

Make your family room a place where friends want to linger. Create a cozy space for relaxing and fun evenings with guests or just family. Visit the models at Warner Groves at Morrison Ranch for a closer look.

Layers in Decorating

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wWarner-Groves-at-Morrison-Ranch-052 - CopyWhen you’re planning to decorate a room, it’s easy to focus on the furniture and accessories, but there’s much more to consider. Let’s take a look at this photo and consider all the elements we see.

The view: From this angle, the first thing our eyes focus on is what’s outside the house – the backyard. In a way, the focal point of this space is actually the trio of waterfall fountains in the back yard. It’s nice to have this kind of special view from your back windows because it adds so much not only to the yard itself but to your home too. But even if you don’t have a view like this, be sure to think about what people will see when they look outside. Plan your landscaping with the view in mind and keep the yard free of clutter.

The window treatments: This room has curtains framing the back window that capture the accent color in the room – yellow – as well as shutters behind the sofa where drapes would be awkward. When you’re choosing window treatments be sure to consider how furniture placement will affect your choice.

Lamp and accessories: Notice that the shape of the jar on the side table echoes the base of the lamp. That creates a comfortable consistency that makes the room feel well pulled-together. The colors also work well together – staying in the background rather than pulling too much attention to that corner. And the curves flow with the soft upholstery and throw pillows.

Altogether, the layers of this room work well to make the space feel integrated and well designed. This makes the room a pleasure to spend time in and share with family and guests.

Cozy Guest Room Doubles as Lounge

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cozy-guest-room-doubles-as-loungewIf you have family and friends who enjoy visiting, particularly when the weather is wintery where they live, having a guest room makes everyone feel welcome. But that’s a lot of space to sacrifice for just a few weeks of use a year. Consider using it as an additional lounging space for family members the rest of the time.

This comfy guest room from the Capital model at Seaboard in Cooley Station has everything needed to make a house guest feel right at home. The bed is roomy and set up with a nice quilt and extra pillows and the desk includes a comfy chair for reading or writing smug postcards or Facebook posts to people back home in colder climates. There’s also a nice lamp for reading. The dark brown walls add to the warmth of the room.

Then once your guests are gone, this room can become an extra space for any family member who wants to relax and spend some alone time. Maybe it works for your high-school student who needs to finish a paper or study without distractions or a parent who wants some quiet time before dinner. It might be the right spot for a few of the junior-high set to plan a party or for mom to sit alone while penning a thank-you note to a favorite aunt.

Having an extra space for relaxing, thinking, reading or chatting that’s set a bit away from the rest of the living space can be nice at times. And this guest room is the perfect opportunity to create a room for this type of double duty.

Family Room Uses Brown

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family-room-uses-brownwWith a strong dark grey influence, it would be easy for this family room from the Capital model at Seaboard in Cooley Station to feel cold. But it doesn’t, and that’s because of the careful use of brown. From the light brown/almost beige of the sofa and loveseat to the dark brown leather on the coffee table/ottoman combo, brown pulls in a feeling of comfort and welcome. Let’s look at the design choices that warm up this space.

Gold walls: The rich gold-brown tone on the walls creates a cozy feeling. Using darker tones helps draw people to a room, making it feel like a special club. This tone is warmer than the flooring so that together they play on the grey and brown tones that make up the color palette of the space.

Plaid chair upholstery: Plaids have always said comfort, and this windowpane pattern in dark tones brings comfort to the foreground. With the ottoman and curtains, they are the darkest elements in the room, and help anchor it without making it feel dreary.

Area rug choice: The mix of greys has an almost tweedy feel, fitting well with the plaid and maintaining the traditional comfort approach. This is a room made for wearing slippers.

Plants: Houseplants in a room always make it feel fresh and homey. Just a few green plants make a difference.

When decorating your family room, think about the choices you can make in both color and style to create an environment that says comfort, to encourage family and friends to relax and stay a while.