For many of us, our home is our personal getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. After a long day at work or running around with the kids, our home is the place to unwind and feel a sense of serenity. Have you ever wondered how you can maximize your home's style and comfort so that you can feel like you're returning to a personal haven when you step foot through the door? Keep reading to learn about seven easy steps to make your home a personalized cozy paradise for you, family and friends.

1) Don’t Forget The Candles 

Buying a scented candle and personalizing it to the time of year is the easiest and cheapest way to make your home a cozy atmosphere. Change the scent depending on the season, something nice and floral in the Spring, a uplifting fruity smell for the Summer, pumpkin spice in the Fall, and you can't go wrong with pine or cinnamon in the Winter months. Place them all around your home to add a calming scent to each room and create a sense of warmth within your home. Candles are the perfect way to achieve the right amount of ambient, and romantic lighting around your home.

2) Throw Blankets are Your Best Friend 

Nothing is more comforting and relaxing than snuggling up with your favorite throw blanket on the couch. If you don’t have any, go out and find a few nice quality, fluffy or furry  large blankets and throw them along the top edge or across the armrest of your living room couch. When shopping, keep in mind what type of look you want the blanket to achieve. Do you want it to blend with the existing color pallet of the room, or do you want it to act as a big and bold pop of color? This adds texture to your space along with creating a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere for both you and your guests.  Not to mention they will keep you warm and extra cozy on those cold Vermont winter nights. 

3) Personalize Your Fireplace Mantel

Decorating and personalizing your mantel is a way to further make your zen living space represent you! Sometimes people can really over think it, but it's very simple to make a stylish and eye pleasing mantel that has the perfect balance. There is an easy algorithm in order to achieve this. 1) Start with a large painting, unique mirror or sculpture to act as a center anchor point. 2) Add something organic like a plant or flowers in order to add a touch of tranquility. 3) Stay with a consistent color pallet that is already present in the room. 4) Add a grouping of like trinkets and small art pieces at the corners, these can be crystals, vases, books or other smaller objects that you are attracted to.

4) Pillows on Pillows on Pillows 

Adding throw pillows is a fun and easy way to add comfort, charm, texture and a little bit of seasonal style to your living room! Have some fun with it! Purchase pillows for each staple holiday to make things a little bit more festive, look for interesting patterns that seem to attract you, or pops of color depending on the season, get some faux fur pillows to add texture and a little extra softness to a regular couch when you lay into it. Throw pillows are the ultimate way to sink back into the couch, to feel like you're being hugged by cozy goodness.

5) Set The Mood With The Proper Lighting

Setting a mood is all about lighting. When you want your home to be welcoming and upbeat it's best to have bright and constant lighting within your home, but when you are trying to create a different, more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, warm lighting is your best friend. Your candles can help create this look. Place them around your home or even in your fireplace if you can’t build a fire. Twinkle lights are also a good opinion for a unique and equally eye catching and pleasing look. A warmer light can also calm the mind down, and it’s a good idea to set your light to a warmer tone when you're trying to relax or leading up to the hours before bed.

 

6) Bring The Green of The Outdoors Inside 

Plants are a way to add some of Mother Earth's undeniable beauty into your home. There are so many different plants to choose from depending on what you're looking for. Do you have a shelf in a room, get a plant that hangs down over the lower levels of the shelf, hang them from the window, place them on windowsills or get a large fern to locate in a corner. You can also add some of your personality to your plants or even flowers by placing them in a unique vase that adds a little character to your room. If you're a person that likes the outdoors this is a perfect trick for you! 

7) Sprinkle Your Personally in With Art

Try not to have blank walls when designing your home. This creates a cold feeling, and unwelcoming space for both you and your guests. Pick 3-10 large prints, canvases, or even select and print some of your favorite family photos on a focal wall within your home. Try to stay within the same theme and color pallet so there isn't any clashing, make sure these pieces of art speak to you and represent yourself. These works of art will be some of the most important aspects that you place in your home, so make sure you love the theme you choose.