Learn How To Make Your Apartment Insanely Cozy in 7 Easy Steps

Credit: @modernly_you

There is something so special about this time of year. The weather starts to change and things begin to slow down slightly. The leaves begin to change into those beautiful fall colors and the smell of comfort food begins to fill the air. I don’t know about you but the smell of sweet potato pie takes me to a happy place. Its called comfort food for a reason right? Fall is one of those seasons that evoke an emotion of heartfelt kindness and tender moments. And once it gets chilly, you want those layers to make the house feel warm and cozy. As a renter, sometimes this is difficult to pull off. You search Instagram and Pinterest looking for inspiration but do not know the steps to get the look you desire. I’ve seen this play out a thousand times. We decided to take the guesswork out of how to make your apartment cozier.

So what exactly is cozy? How do you make your home cozy on a budget? Cozy is all about adding layers and warmth. To achieve a cozy look at home, you will need to add warmer colors and texture to your space, plus wood.

Credit: @rachelkathleenhome

Learn How to Make Your Apartment Cozy

Here is your complete guide of how to achieve a cozy vibe at home on a budget:

Paint Your Walls

One of the most cost-effective ways to change the mood of any room is with paint. To add the warmth you looking for, you will need to select colors of a warmer tone. Think apple pie, sweet potato pie, and mash potatoes. Think about all the colors seen during Fall. Find inspiration from your favorite cardigan or sweater you love to wear. Think of all the earthy colors that can be seen during this beautiful time of year.

Once you have a paint color selected, begin thinking about where you will want to apply the color. Be trendy and paint an accent wall, or try a new concept like half circles or abstract shapes to give your room some visual interest. Paint all the walls the same color or think about painting just half the wall. There really is no wrong option here. Adding the paint color is the step in achieving a cozy look for your room.

Add a Rug

The ideal outcome of a proper rug selection is to transform the space. Sometimes the right rug is just the thing you need to pull your space together. Besides the style, you want to choose a rug that is super comfortable. The kind of comfort where you won’t even mind sitting on the floor or falling asleep (no judgment here). Bright whites with neutral earthy shades instantly give any room a cozy vibe. Go for a textured pattern you would usually find in a Moroccan or Boho style room or go all out and select a plush style such as shag or even cowhide. Check out your favorite place to shop or mine, RugUSA.

Add Cozy Fabrics

The texture placed throughout your space is equally as important as the rug and the paint. If you were building a house, the rug and the paint would be the foundation while the fabrics would be considered the actual structure. So I know what you may be thinking, what type of fabrics are considered cozy? To answer that question will take many considerations as your personal style and aesthetic are weighed heavily. Cozy fabrics are the ones you can just sink into. The ones you want to be next to while reading a book and drinking hot chocolate. Maybe Cozy to you means rewatching a classic movie on the couch or it could mean cozying up next to the fireplace wearing your favorite sherpa socks. Cozy is a vibe. A feeling of extreme comfort. What cozy means to you should translate into the fabric of your choice. It could be knitted, jersey, linen, or textured cotton. Just purchase what makes you feel happy. You will know it when you see it.

Add Texture

This element is really important. Honestly, they are all important, who am I kidding? Skipping out on texture will just give you a freshly painted room with nothing more to look at it. Adding texture is what you need to get your space to the next level. So how do you add texture to your room? Its actually pretty easy but the process is often misunderstood. The best way to add texture to your room is by introducing elements of wood. Wood needs to light in color preferably. It should also be distributed intentionally throughout the space. Let me explain further what distributed intentionally means… yes you can add a coffee table and a side table but distribute intentionally means its inclusive in all your accessories. Wood elements could be applied to the wall in the form of slats or the widely popular shiplap. You could create abstract geometric patterns or opt for a more traditional style like panel molding. Don’t stop there, include wood elements with shelving and small accessories. The key is to keep your aesthetic simple and again preferably light in color. If you are not a fan of wood, you can create texture by applying wall stickers in a textured pattern. Wallpaper has made a strong come back and there are tons of renter-friendly options out there to still give your space a touch of cozy texture.

@oursouthwestnest

Add Storage

Cozy comes hand in hand with storage. Storage can be wood through wood furniture pieces and shelves but also in an overlooked favorite…baskets! Storage baskets in rattan, wicker, or other natural materials play a dual role in providing texture and added storage. Use storage baskets to store extra blankets and throws. Think outside the box also by using storage boxes to hide clutter such as desktop items and extension cables. 

@houseoftherisingdogs

Use a Ladder

Baskets, not your thing. One of the cutest things you can add to a cozy space is a blanket ladder. These multi-step wall leaners are perfect to hang your extra throws, blankets, or towels. They come in a wide array of colors and are sold at every home decor store I can think of, especially Kirklands. In fact, you can DIY your own blanket ladder for under $50 by purchasing materials from your local hardware store and assembling it yourself.

@therentlife

Add Plants

Nothing brings your place to life quite like plants. Adding potted plants is the perfect finishing touch to achieve cozy. I highly recommend doing your research and selecting plants that fit into your lifestyle and are suitable for the lighting in your space. Peacelilly and Monstera are a few of my favorites but feel free to choose something you really like. Purchase potted plants in various shapes & sizes and remember to choose pots that fit within your design aesthetic.

Now that you have learned how to make your apartment cozy be sure to share your space with Renter Friendly. We would love to hear from you!