Is cozy minimalism for you?

Is cozy minimalism for you?

Feb 13, 2020 | Uncategorized

Have you heard of cozy minimalism?  If you like the idea of minimalism, but not the typical minimal extremes, cozy minimalism might be the right fit for you!

Is cozy minimalism for you?

I would like to be a minimalist…to a point.  I see the benefits and would love the free time of not caretaking so much “stuff”.  I’m pretty sure I could live happily with very little. But my better half? Well, he could be considered a “maximalist”, if there is such a thing.  So, in an effort to keep us both happy and comfortable in our home, I needed to find a middle ground. That middle ground is Cozy Minimalism. 

What is Cozy Minimalism?

Consider cozy minimalism the lighter version of traditional minimalism.  Minimalism is a fantastic trend and has some pretty significant benefits. But it can also feel a bit cold and sterile. It’s not for everyone.  But if you feel the need to pare down and declutter, while still keeping a cozy vibe at home, cozy minimalism might be exactly what you’re looking for.  

Cozy minimalism is simply having enough.  Not too much, not too little. Exactly the right amount to keep you happy and comfortable…but not so much that you feel overwhelmed.  

It’s about creating a home environment that you and your family love, while being intentional about the possesions that share it with you. It IS a home decor style, but it’s also a lifestyle decision.  And it can be a great stepping stone if you think you might want to go “full-on minimalist” one day, but aren’t quite sure where to start. 

Cozy minimalism will look different for everyone and every home, but if you do a quick google image search, you’ll notice a lot of similarities.  Open space and lack of clutter. Cozy blankets and seating areas. Calm colors. And an overall welcoming feeling. And that really is a good way to describe cozy minimalism – welcoming.  It’s like walking into a nicely decorated hotel room, that looks comfy and peaceful, but has none of the cluttery distractions.

What are the benefits of cozy minimalism?

Imagine coming home after a long day and finding a calm, welcoming place to relax.  A place with fewer distractions drawing your attention away from life and family. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

That alone is a plus, but there are several more benefits of adopting a cozy minimalist lifestyle:

Saving money

You’ll be more aware of the purchases you make.  Are you buying something because you truly love it?  Or just because it’s on sale? Or because you feel like shopping?  Do you have a place in mind for that item to “live” or a purpose for it to fulfill?

By being more aware of the items that you choose to bring into your home, you’ll likely find that you are putting more things back on the shelf instead of in the shopping cart.  And that equals saving money!

More free time

With less “stuff” to take care of, you’ll free up so much time.  Think of all the time you spend organizing and cleaning and storing your things throughout the month.  If you didn’t have as many items calling for your attention, how would you spend that time? I don’t know about you, but I can think more fun things to do than taking care of my things!  You’ll still have to clean and caretake. No getting away from that fact. But both will be easier and take much less time, simply because there are fewer things!

A calm home environment

I get overstimulated fairly easily…too much to see or too much drawing my attention makes it hard to relax.  And that’s not ideal when it comes to your own home. A cozy minimal style will make your home a more calming place to relax and recharge!

A welcoming home

Cozy minimalism doesn’t have to be bare and colorless. Use color and bold patterns if you want! Your home can still look decorated.  You can feel free to have collections of things that make you happy, things that give you energy instead of demanding your energy to maintain.

Where can I learn more?  How do I get started?

Cozy minimalism is gaining popularity (yay!), but it’s still a fairly new term.  Luckily, there are lots of resources to help you get started! 

Learn more about cozy minimalism:

The Nester

A few quick tips on creating a cozy minimalist home

 

First, decide what cozy minimalism looks like for you

The goal is to create a welcoming, comfortable place for you and your family to live.  Think about how minimal you’d like to be. Consider what would make others in your house feel comfortable and at home.  Think about how you would like each room to feel as you walk into it. And do a little research! Look at pictures of how other people do this cozy minimalism thing for some inspiration.

Second, you may need to get rid of a few things

Or lots of things, depending on how “minimal” you’d like to go.  Cozy minimalism isn’t just about your stuff, but possessions are a great place to start!   Go through your home and decide if the items you own are giving or taking from you. When you start to look, you may be surprised to find out just how many of the things sharing your home are serving no real purpose!  When you notice them, feel free to donate or discard them!  

Third, surround yourself with things that you love.  

Your home is YOUR space in the world.  And it should be filled with things that are meaningful to you, not just the current decor trends.  If someone walked into your home, what story would it tell about you and your family? 

Fill your house with things that say “home” to you and your family, even if they’re not in style at the moment.  Your home should be the coziest place in the world…to you and your family. A place for peace and a place to relax.

Fourth, it might be a little uncomfortable at first

Especially if you are making lots of decisions about what stays, what goes, and where your things should live.  And that’s not a bad thing…change is usually a little uncomfortable in the beginning.  

Take it as slowly as you need to.  Making the decisions will get easier as you begin to notice the changes in your home and life.

 

Cozy minimalism is a great trend and I really hope it continues!

Do you consider yourself a cozy minimalist?

6 quick & easy ways to cozy up your space

6 quick & easy ways to cozy up your space

Aug 5, 2019 | Uncategorized

6 quick & easy ways to cozy up your space

Need a little relaxation time, like right now? One of the best ways to recharge your batteries is to spend some time in a cozy space!  Curling up somewhere cozy can make you feel at-ease, safe, and comforted, no matter what kind of day you’re having. (There’s a reason we come home and put on pajamas right away…beacuse they’re cozy and comfortable, right?)  Have you ever found yourself somewhere, maybe a new-to-you coffee shop or a comfy Airbnb, and wished you could just settle in and stay forever? Why not bring that same feeling to your own space?  

Here are six easy ways to bring that cozy feeling home!

1. Declutter

Okay, I know we’re starting with the toughest one here.  While I’m a huge fan of minimizing and decluttering (and I’ll definitely be talking more about decluttering in the future), you really don’t have to go ALL out right now.  Just focus on the simple stuff. Get the clutter out of the way and get on with the relaxing!

First, pick a room. Go around a gather up any loose papers, random items that have accumulated, and things that should be in other places.  For now, just dump them in a storage tote, box, or whatever you have handy and move them to another spot.

Remember, this step isn’t meant to solve the clutter problem, it’s only a temporary fix. But by clearing out some of the clutter from one focused space, you’ll be able to let your mind relax.  Remember, we’re focusing on quick steps to get you to the coziness!

2. Soft blankets and pillows

Cozy is all about comfort!  And comfort is all about calm colors and soft textures.  Find a couple of soft blankets or quilts…the kind that you touch and just want to snuggle into.  Even if it’s too warm to snuggle under a blanket, lay on top of it! There’s something wonderful about the coziness of a soft blanket. You can move them from another room if you have them or order something new like this (I love sherpa blankets, but use whatever suits your taste).  Then, find a couple of soft, squishy pillows. Again, bring them from another room or try these.  Add them to your little space and it will almost immediately feel cozier!

3. Lighting

Harsh lighting is SO not cozy, but it’s also really easy to fix.  Aim for low and warm lighting. If it’s in your budget, add in a few small table lamps – grey or beige lampshades in particular diffuse light in SUCH a calming way.  Also, did you know you can actually paint a lampshade??? I just found this out!  If you don’t want to replace shades you already have, run to the hardware store for a small foam roller brush and a grey or beige paint sample.  Cheap, easy, and effective! Upcycle for the win!

If that’s not an option right now, switch out fluorescent or cool white light bulbs for warm white bulbs. 

Or if you’re looking for an even quicker fix, throw a colored scarf over that lamp to diffuse the light! (Be careful if you’re using standard lightbulbs instead of leds…catching the scarf on fire is decidedly un-cozy…)

I also LOVE salt lamps.  If you’ve never used one, they give off a warm pinky-orange glow that looks a lot like the glow of a fire.  I definitely recommend picking (at least) one up. I have them in several rooms!

 

4. Candles

Light a good quality scented candle.  Aside from the light of the flame itself (SO cozy…), a fresh scent will help your mind relax.  You’ll find it much easier to settle in for a cozy night if there is a lovely smell in the air.  Now, I say nice quality, because let’s face it, not all candles are created equal. But you don’t have to invest a lot.  Places like Marshalls and TJ Maxx carry surprisingly good candles! Pick out a scent or two that you like and try them out.

(If kids, pets, or health concerns are an issue, swap the candles for an essential oil diffuser and some flickering battery operated candles like these.)

 

5. Plants

Plants.  I love houseplants.  They add so much life and grounding to any space, not to mention the benefits like cleaning the air you breathe.  Okay, I do NOT have a green thumb. I can kill a cactus. (My husband says I love them to death…) But even if you’re like me, you can still have some sort of plant life in your space.  Look for hard-to-kill varieties, like snake plants or ZZ plants. (I must not be the only plant killer out there, because there are several companies that specifically market hard-to-kill plants.)  Another option is fresh flowers – pick some up at your local farmer’s market or grocery store.

 

6. Music

Music has all kinds of moods.  Energizing, emotional, fun, angsty…and even cozy.  These days, it’s REALLY easy to find the right blend of cozy background music, without having to go through your entire mental music catalog.  Spotify and even Google Music have stations for relaxing. You can even search by mood! Try a few, find one you like.  

No speakers?  I’m a little bit of an audiophile….my husband is a BIG audiophile.  But some of the small, bluetooth speakers on the market today have a remarkably good sound quality.  I like this one –  it’s small (so you can move it anywhere), bluetooth (so all you need to do is link your phone), and sounds pretty darn good.  We liked the first one so much that we actually picked a second!

 

Using even one of these steps will make your space a little more cozy and ready for a good unwinding session.  All of them together will make it a lot more cozy! Grab a glass of wine, cup of tea, whatever you like…settle in and recharge those batteries!

Want to read more about bringing coziness into your life?  Look into hygge!  It’s all about embracing a cozy lifestyle.  Here is a good place to start. 

 

What are your favorite tips for making your spaces more cozy?