4 Tips to Create a Cozy Home for the Holidays
Welcome your guests into a space that engages the senses inspiring effortless comfort
Valerie Lauritsen. | Photo Substance
The holidays provide a chance to host and share the fellowship of the season. There is no better way to celebrate than to provide hospitality giving visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the pleasure of gathering with family and friends. We asked Valerie Lauritsen, owner of Valerie Anderson Interior Design, how to create a cozy atmosphere that reflects the joy of the season.
Curate a cozy holiday atmosphere.
“Layers and textures help make a space feel like home,” Lauritsen says. She suggests using area rugs, drapes, lighting of different heights, and fabrics with textural contrast to make a space feel “hugged-in” and cozy. “Combine floor lamps with table lamps and candles to give your room a warm glow.” She also recommends creating a space that invites visitors to engage their senses. “Feather pillows that call guests to lean in, simmer pots of fragrant apple cinnamon, and dimmers on the lamps make it easy to achieve a welcoming effect.”
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Make your home festive.
Lauritsen suggests bringing outdoor touches inside to introduce the warmth and nostalgia of the holiday season. “Candles, pinecones, boughs and sprigs of spruce and evergreen, and pops of rich reds and greens all convey the alluring energies of the season,” she explains. She also recommends keeping décor natural and simple. “Too many little touches can feel overwhelming,” she notes. “Instead, steer toward bits of natural imperfection that make your space festive and cheerful.”
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Offer inviting guest accommodations.
“Flannel linens during the holidays are a great way to keep bedding inviting and warm,” says Lauritsen. Combine flannel sheets, a fluffy duvet, and euro and standard pillows for comfort that beckons. Adding some throw pillows and a warm blanket at the foot of the bed entices guests to make themselves at home. A vase of greenery on the bedside table will add color and a wonderful scent.
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Set a beautiful holiday table.
“Layers also work magnificently to create a lush tablescape,” recommends Lauritsen. “Use textured chargers or placemats under the plates and tie a vibrant napkin with a piece of natural material like jute or twine before placing it on top. Candles of varying heights create subtle light, and different types of greenery can be mixed to create visual interest. “A table appealing in its simplicity and elegance is conducive to conversation,” Lauritsen points out. “Nostalgia, tradition, and savoring the beauty of the perfectly imperfect is what the holidays are really all about.”
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